Crafting Your Own Life – Poonsan

Nicknamed the “Wandering Lyricist”, Poonsan (Calvin Poon) began writing lyrics in the 1980s and 1990s, with over a thousand works to his name. He is also a film director, screenwriter, and football commentator, making him a true multi-talented pioneer.

In 2020, Poonsan moved to Taiwan, initially planning to travel between Hong Kong and Taiwan, setting up a creative base and collaborating with young artists. However, after his arrival, pandemic-related border closures forced him to stay in Taiwan, leading him to rethink his path.

Before the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill Movement, he had hosted a concert in Hong Kong, using secondary creation (fan-made) songs to respond to the times. Today, such content might already be considered taboo. Poonsan questioned whether Hong Kong still had room for secondary creations. Unwilling to see his creative freedom restricted, he ultimately decided to settle in Taiwan and embark on his “secondary creation” life.

At the end of 2023, he hosted the “Poonsan: You Not Only Live Twice” concert in the UK, performing multiple secondary creation pieces. He spoke about the struggles of Hongkongers immigrating to Taiwan, universal values, and the red lines of censorship.

*Remark:The lyrics translated from Cantonese songs in the film are purely interpreted for meaning to help the audience understand and are not translations by the original creators.*