One doubts many can see it, but The Zac And João Show that has been going on since the mercurial Brazilian Magic Man arrived in the city nine years ago, and with their competition getting more and more fierce over the past three years against a backdrop of a Hong Kong coming apart at the seams, this could be a Big Picture story for a mainstream audience staring the Hong Kong Jockey Club in the face.
Everything can’t always be about wagering.
The key word here is “story”. It’s used after watching, for the third time, “A Courtship Of Rivals”, the excellent documentary about the relationship between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, great competitors on the basketball court of life with its own dramas, and with mutual respect for each other.
These days, some of us are documenting our lives here because, again, as a story, Hong Kong has seen it all and done it all as have some Hong Kong Belongers.
Included should be the story that delves into the relationship of superstar riders Zac Purton and João Moreira, and a look into the world of horse racing in Hong Kong that an audience outside of horse racing has never ever seen.
After almost ten years of working with the Club- and only because of my respect for CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges from whom I have learned much about the game, and who had the vision to see what the Happy Wednesday brand could become, there’s now a need for me to up my own personal Jesus creative ante.
With this story of two extremely different personalities as its lead-off point, the Club has a timely marketing and creative opportunity to make more than the best of what is not a nearly fine situation taking place in Hong Kong.
Ironically, despite the inability to attract international tourism and an image problem, many eyes are on Hong Kong.
How the Zac and João Show and everything built around it is presented could even inspire the city into getting on the front foot for a change instead of continuing to go through the motions of an outta step foxtrot.
There would definitely also be tremendous interest in this project from people like Netflix, Apple, HBO etc- and global brands. But sitting there being a naysayer and wondering why something like this cannot work is not exactly the way forward.
Using archival footage and interesting interviews, tight, cutting edge editing and the right balance of everything, with their time in Hong Kong as the backdrop, the script about these two very charismatic riders writes itself.
In one corner, there’s the rough diamond who arrived from Australia fifteen years ago and was introduced to a five star lifestyle in cosmopolitan and vibrant Hong Kong.
Today, Zac Purton is seen as an “influencer” who, when not trapped in some bubble, is out there riding camels in Dubai one day, and then doing something nouveau riche in the Maldives, the next.
Sure, some may find this type of carrying on as gauche, but I really don’t think Zac is losing any sleep over it.
It’s funky theatre stuff with Gorillaz playing in the background and some falconry in the foreground.
It’s edgy and weird in its vive le difference method of fun madness.
In the other corner, meanwhile, there’s João Moreira, the brilliant Brazilian rider from São Paulo, quiet, savvy, with his own fascinating rags to riches backstory, and very possibly, many things that experience has taught him to keep to himself.
Having over the years interviewed both riders, and knowing them fairly well- I genuinely like and respect both- plus being a Hong Kong Belonger who can read the tea leaves, the very unique relationship between Zac Purton and João Moreira transcends the often one dimensional and Dad’s Army world of horse racing.
Theirs is a relationship that has never been explored- not in front of the cameras. And if it has, it’s been pretty banal stuff, not unlike the Season Opening fiesta of Eighties advertising clichés that’s been cobbled together by the resident, well, Hong Kong Jockey Club cobbler.
When there’s no idea, throw in the kitchen sink and see what floats.
Getting back to the Zac and João Show, included can be cameos by everyone from other riders, some of whom would probably love to see the back of them and their total domination of the riding ranks, trainers, owners, the grassroots Hong Kong racing fans- and with everything joined by what once was and is going on in Hong Kong today.
Even if what is going on these days is some oddity that’s a combination of the Monty Python Flying Circus and “Crazy Rich Asians”, it adds some spicy Szechuan chilli oil into a story about two riders, now in their forties, who, most likely, have done everything that they set out to do- and much more.
Personally speaking, this could also well be the home run that I have been waiting for from the world of racing after working on the game changing Happy Wednesday brand.
It’s needed for my portfolio before I return to where my heart lies- and the bigger world of entertainment. This story and project could be the re-entry point.
Bottom line: If not daring to dream big, why bother dreaming at all?
The key is confidence in being able to turn dreams into reality.
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