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- Acclaimed actor Lam Ka-tung visited the campus and shared his ups and downs in life
Acclaimed actor Lam Ka-tung visited the campus and shared his ups and downs in life
Date: 27/05/2024
Mr. Lam Ka Tung, Gordon is an accomplished actor who joined the television industry in the late 1980s. He started off as a film extra before becoming a leading man. He then ventured into the film industry, initially taking on supporting roles, and subsequently earned the Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2017 for his portrayal of the character Kwai Ching-Hung in the film "Trivisa". In addition to his acting work, Lam has also taken on the roles of producer and screenwriter, both of which have been well-received by the industry, earning him multiple awards. Success often requires hard work and perseverance, as well as a genuine passion for one's craft. With the assistance of the Project WeCan school initiative, Lam recently (on May 27, 2024) visited our school to share his ups and downs in the entertainment industry and to encourage young people to identify their goals early on and plan for their future.
Mr. Lam Ka Tung, Gordon visited our school to share his experiences and journey in the Hong Kong film and entertainment industry with the students.
The theme of the sharing session was "Mastery Leads the Way Through Life's Ebb and Flow".
Giving It One's All for the Performance - Forgetting Fatigue and Pain
Lam shared that he had been acting and impersonating characters from a young age, such as pretending to "spit blood" after eating sweet sauce, or gelling his hair to look like Superman in secondary school, which amused those around him. His passion for watching movies during secondary school also greatly influenced his decision to join the TVB artiste training program to pursue acting.
However, the romantic dream of acting was not without its challenges. Lam shared that in the beginning, he was only given minor roles, such as playing junior or senior corpses, and he had to make do with a meager few thousand dollars in earnings, sometimes having to survive on canned food or sausages alone. Yet, Lam emphasized that despite the apparent hardship, he was actually very happy during that period, as he could use the savings to purchase more movies and continuously hone his acting skills.
Lam also shared instances of the physical toll acting can take, recounting times when he had to work for 96 hours straight without sleep for a drama shoot. However, he expressed that he thoroughly enjoyed the process, feeling a sense of transformation and losing himself in the character. He even downplayed the injuries he had sustained, such as breaking 4 ribs while filming an action movie, stating that getting hurt is normal when one truly loves and immerses themselves in their craft.
During periods of financial hardship in the past, Lam could subsist on a single can of food or a single sausage for all three meals, in order to save money to purchase film discs.
Transitioning to the Film Industry and Behind the Scenes: Contribute to the Industry to the Best of One's Abilities
"I am curious about people, curious about human nature. I enjoy exploring and understanding human nature." The more greedy and curious one is, the more they want to break through. In 2001, Lam transitioned from being a television leading actor to entering the film industry, starting from supporting roles. In addition to being an actor, he later also took on the roles of producer and screenwriter, working both in front of and behind the camera. In recent years, he has collaborated with new talents from time to time, nurturing new blood for the film industry, and has even worked without compensation on more than one occasion, quietly contributing to the industry.
Lam believes that films should not only serve an entertainment function, but also carry educational significance. "Why are the films in the market often limited to certain types of subject matter? I am not satisfied, I am not content. As long as I still have the ability, I want to try, want to change, tell the stories I want to tell, express the messages I want to convey, and let more people pay attention to different social issues." For example, the 2021 film "Time", which Lam produced and wrote, covered issues such as elderly care, housing, and medical care, revealing the social situation of the elderly being abandoned by the younger generation, showcasing Lam's care for the underprivileged.
Every word shared by Lam during the sharing session revealed his deep love for the film industry. His persistence in his beliefs, his unwavering pursuit of his dreams, and his diligence and enthusiasm, inspired all the students present. Even though he portrayed ruthless characters like Kwai Ching-Hung, Kwan Chiu, and Cham Lau on screen, off-screen he is humble, very humorous and approachable, engaging in lively conversations with the teachers and students, keeping the entire sharing session filled with laughter.
During the Q&A session, our students enthusiastically asked questions.
Mr. Lam Ka Tung was humorous and approachable, and gained a lot of fans
After the sharing session concluded, the teachers and students were extremely enthusiastic, vying to take photos with Mr. Lam Ka Tung.
Mr. Lam Ka Tung was interviewed by the Campus TV team after the sharing session.
