SIFFORUM | The Demanding Industry Requires Young Performers with Strong Inner Resilience

In recent years, the young talents of Hong Kong cinema have risen rapidly, standing out with their impressive acting skills amidst a myriad of local themes, injecting innovative vitality into the film industry.

On the afternoon of June 17, SIFFORUM of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival, themed “Emerging Power of Hong Kong Cinema in Conversation with Derek Yee”, featured veteran director Derek Yee alongside emerging Hong Kong performers discussing “the development of talents”. Derek Yee, with nearly 50 years in the industry, emphasized that “young performers must not only respect this industry but also possess strong inner resilience”. The young performers expressed gratitude for the guidance from their seniors and, facing an unlimited future, aspire to challenge themselves and explore different roles.

Derek Yee

Screenwriter, director, producer from Hong Kong, China

Chairman of Hong Kong Film Awards Association Board of Directors

Honorary Chairman of Hong Kong Directors’ Guild

Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Screenplay, Best Director

For the actors present, participating in variety shows poses significant challenges. While one may not always learn something concrete, they can learn improvisational skills. Engaging in variety shows is a form of training, but true growth comes from acting in films. Personally, I believe acting is a passive profession, and filming poses great challenges to an actor’s mental fortitude. It’s a high-pressure industry that demands strong inner resilience. Having been an actor myself, I understand how ruthless this industry can be. When you reach the peak of public attention, the fall can be excruciating. Thus, you must be resilient and face challenges positively. Young performers should first respect the industry; you must love acting, instead of seeking after fame and fortune. If you don’t love acting, you won’t achieve much.

Chung-Hang Leung

Actor

Currently, Hong Kong cinema faces limited funding, but within this environment, creativity among filmmakers is still sparked. Our generation of filmmakers faces the challenge of producing the best work with the most limited resources. In my debut film, ZERO TO HERO, I acted alongside Sandra Ng. Initially being nervous because of her extensive experience, I was like a blank slate with no concept of facing the camera. However, Sandra Ng was supportive, asking me how I thought the scene should be played, and we tried it together. Her encouragement helped me overcome my fear for senior performers and focused on delivering the best performance.

Renci Yeung

Actress

Whether it’s a major production or a small one, we all want to collaborate with different directors and actors, which is a great learning opportunity for us. I grew up watching comedies, but now I watch mostly social and action films. I really want to try action roles and experience both being hit and hitting others. Speaking of the pressure of acting, I have moments of fear too. During filming in Hong Kong, everyone was reserved on the first day, but after breaking the ice, it became more relaxed. Senior figures in Hong Kong cinema take good care of us, knowing we might be shy or nervous. They often chat with us and ask, “How did you think that scene went?” Working with seniors is really enjoyable.

Henick Chou

Actor

I love the profession of acting because I love watching movies; it’s the best way for me to tell stories. Being an actor is actually very fulfilling; we can experience different lives and creations. Making movies requires close collaboration among different departments; through collaboration, we deeply understand each other and learn to be better people through our performances. My first film was A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT, where I worked with Sylvia Chang. I was like an inexperienced child at first, cracking jokes that weren’t really funny. But Sylvia Chang knew I needed to find a suitable way to connect, and she patiently guided me into the role. Such collaborations are wonderful processes.

Rachel Leung

Actress

Hong Kong’s annual film production is relatively limited in volume, so as an actress, I don’t resist any opportunity. Like Derek Yee just mentioned about online movies, we are willing to try filming them. Performers always aspire to connect with the audience, so every opportunity must be seized. I feel lucky to have met supportive seniors. During the filming of IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, director David Chiang would chat with us every day and share his past experiences.

Louise Wong

Actress

I believe actors should believe in their unlimited potential. We don’t just want to play one type of role; we want to challenge ourselves and try different roles. As long as the director thinks we are suitable and gives us the opportunity, we will definitely strive to do our best. I feel very fortunate to have entered the film industry with ANITA and played a challenging role in A GUILTY CONSCIENCE. In the process of trying to understand the role and working with the team, I have learned a lot. Seniors also share a lot of work experience and life stories; I feel like I’m constantly improving.

Natalie Hsu

Actress

For me, acting is something that happens naturally. I was studying at IFS in Hong Kong and had taken drama classes there. My first film was directed by Zhang Yibai, THE DAY WE LIT UP THE SKY, with many dance scenes. Since I had studied dance since childhood, I decided to give acting a try and gradually continued to film.

Kevin Kam-Yin Chu

Actor

Speaking of future challenges in roles, I agree with Louise Wong’s idea that performers should not limit themselves. Of course, I also have roles I want to challenge, such as historical dramas where I hope to have more action scenes. Having been a swimmer, I believe I have advantages in action scenes.

Yoyo Tse

Actress

Winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer was honestly just luck. I only stumbled into the film industry by chance and fell in love with this profession after trying acting. I believe acting is a lifelong learning process that requires a lot of effort, especially since I’m a newcomer. Like Louise Wong, I want to try all sorts of roles, but if I had to choose, I’d love to challenge comedic roles.