Once Upon a Time in HKDSE marks the feature film debut by viral YouTube collective Trial and Error. Co-founded by actor Neo Yau at the height of the pandemic, Trial and Error seeks to explore alternative avenues for Hongkonger creatives as they struggle to make it to the big screen. Therefore, their first feature film represents a full-circle moment. The subject of this documentary is Hong, a high school senior and a finalist in the channel’s 2022 idol contest. As Hong struggles academically ahead of the life-and-death public exams known as HKDSE, Trial and Error puts together an intensive, star-studded study plan while filming Hong’s journey. Featuring appearances by celebrities including valedictorian pageant queen Louisa Mak and household-name language tutor Lam Yat Yan, Once Upon a Time in HKDSE reflects the absurdities of the Hong Kong education system and family culture at large. That it is shortened and edited together by William Chang Suk-ping (In the Mood for Love) from a web series originally published on the collective’s YouTube channel only adds to the team’s exploration of future possibilities for Hong Kong cinema.

Toronto screening presented by CHIME

San Diego screening presented with The Hong Konger Club as part of the 2nd San Diego Hong Kong Film Festival

《公開試當真》是網絡上爆紅的YouTuber團體試當真的首部長篇電影。在疫情高峰期間，演員遊學修與許賢、蘇豪創立試當真頻道，嘗試為香港下一代電影工作者另覓媒介與表達方式，最終在四年後踏上大銀幕。本齣紀錄片的主角為試當真「校花校草2022」選秀殿軍騰毅康。當就讀中六的毅康在應考香港中學文憑試前成績一落千丈，試當真為他編制了星級補習課程，嘗試在四個月內把毅康的成績提升至及格水平，期間輯錄整個過程。團隊亦訪問了明星補習老師林溢欣和狀元港姐麥明詩，從而反映香港教育制度和育兒文化的處處荒謬。此外，試當真原先在YouTube上發佈毅康的旅程，其後再邀請了傳奇剪接師張叔平縮短成此齣電影，挑逗了網絡與銀幕之間的紅線，達成了當年成立頻道的初衷。

多倫多場次由 CHIME 呈獻

聖地牙哥場次與香港會共同呈獻

Director’s bio
Leung Yik Ho is an alumnus of the Baptist University of Hong Kong Academy of Film, graduating in screenwriting. He was a cinematographer and journalist, focusing on documentaries and profiles. He is currently a member of Trial and Error and the director of Once Upon a Time in HKDSE.

導演簡介
梁奕豪（贊師父）畢業於浸會大學電影及電視編劇寫作，曾任職攝影師及專題記者，以製作紀錄片及人物採訪為主。現為YouTube頻道「試當真」成員之一，紀錄片《公開試當真》導演。