I came to Hong Kong primarily to act in and make art for the The Voyage (2012). Read more here.

For the first week and a half there, I spent practically every day on the art. I didn’t actually spend much time seeing Hong Kong, until after the filming in Amsterdam and Hanover. So it wasn’t until flying back to Hong Kong for the second time on this plane-hopping journey that I actually got to see Hong Kong. And here it is.

While in Hong Kong the first time around, this is all I did–art.

The second time around, I explore the hustle and bustle.

“Shopping Capital of Asia” or so I hear

“The capital of efficiency” This I see. Everywhere.

Scud invites us out on a boat trip. And, this is his boat.

Hong Kong Bay

We leave big boat. We ride small boat. I smile.

We land. We’re hungry.

We point at things.

We eat them.

We come back.

I eat snake. It’s even better than it looks!

Plenty for everyone!

It’s my last morning in HK.

Climbing up

Beautiful

At peace with the universe, HK’s universe

Last night, I only really got to see Hong Kong’s nightlife for the second time during my stay—with a celebrity packed birthday party to boot.

Francis Cheng

Since I got to Hong Kong, I have either been preparing art for the The Voyage, preparing my acting for the Voyage, traveling somewhere else to film for the Voyage, or filming for, you guessed it, the Voyage.

Direk Scud kindly took me out to the B-day party of friend Francis Cheng— the man behind Occasion’s PR and Hong Kong’s biggest of parties/events/launches/runways. Those that know me, know I love a birthday party like no other—I was deprived the first 18 of mine. Cheer’s to making up for lost time! (Childhood sob stories can always wait..Life cannot.)

I met Francis for the first time after our group had come back from Lady Gaga’s second concert in HK. Naturally, HK was a-buzzing. They say Francis knows everyone. Mother Monster, not excluded.

Lady Gaga and Francis Cheng

A concert to remember!

Post-Gaga-concert-frenzy, I overheard Francis say that he had only felt this way about meeting someone two other times in his life. The first was Actress Lin Qing Xia and the second was Jude Law.

My Birthday Present Portrait

Knowing not much more about him. I decided to take this little tid-bit I did know, scratch my head, pump up the creative juices in my head, and pop out what you’re looking at.  I give you–my latest piece, a Francis Cheng portrait.

So it turns out @NumberOnePR #FrancisCheng loved his B-day present! Cheers!! http://t.co/i6skHDUV—
Sebastian Castro (@Sebastianslife) May 07, 2012

A Few More HK Celebrity Snapshots To Come… 

I’ve been commissioned to produce art for the upcoming motion picture The Voyage, a project I’ve been looking forward to for two years. Yes, just short of two years!

This will be the fifth of Hong Kong Director Scud’s films. Below is the trailer to his last film, Love Actually..Sucks. And, above is some of the art behind the promotion of Love Actually.. Sucks. I’ve admired the aesthetic of his films—their beautiful compositions and seamless editing. For years, Scud has made an undeniable impact in the Mandarin-speaking world. But this will be his first film primarily in English.

This would be his latest film Love Actually.. Sucks :

The Voyage film will include the story of an artist, an artist that paints the woman of his obsession to no end.

And, his art in the story will be my own in reality!

Tune In! I’ll be posting early sketches of pieces to come right here.

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4 AM 2.25.12 -London

I’ve been sketching late into the morning here while still in London. I need to sleep before that little light bulb in my head breaks a fuse. I’m playing with the human figure and dramatic linear shadows. She’s laying in a bed the blinds filter light across her. The early concept:

**I will have to find a way for you to vote on your favorite art pieces. I love to hear random ideas. As I work more soon, I’ll post more soon. Sleep more than I do! Night!**