How to get in to the Entertainment Business?

[charxyeung]

hey

some girls i have spoken to do take the "pageant" route to the entertaiment industry, some go to the "acting school" in tvb.

no worries, i'm still young (younger than all of you at the forum i'm younger than the profile age but i didn't get kicked out yet because rana knows lol) and i dream of being famous too. my mom thinks dreaming it is a waste of time and i'm stupidof always dreaming.

but a strong advice is to build up ur education first, people without a degree or even went to university do get picked on by press, crew members, collegues etc. leanne li did not get picked on when she first entered the industry because she had a crown, and a few years of university education. if u read hk news then u can see that people without a proper education DO get picked on

you could send me a private message and maybe we can talk more

best regards
charmaine
charxyeung.tripod.com

[charxyeung]

melbourne2006 said:

Hi Charmaine,

Thank you for your reply.

I'm in university now. But I'm scared that by the time I finish my studies I would be too old for TVB or other entertainment business in HK. Because I believe you do have to start young.

That's why I'm thinking of starting now and resume my studies later.

I hope that a few years of university education is good enough for them.

Thank you so much Charmaine!

Other suggestions people?? The more the merrier!

Thank you!!

a few years of university is actually enough. linda chung has one year of university experience and it was still good enough for her. my advice is to finish university first. there are lots of people 25+ in the industry.

[lil]

I personally agree with Charmaine to finish school, JUST in case you don't make it big.

When you do win in the pageant and go to hk, enormous doors open. I was offered to ...i forgot the word, it's where you go in to read lines and they'll cast you in a movie, etc. I forgot ;D But that's not my dream.

However, if it's your's, pursue it. Go to school for acting, music lessons, dance lessons, everything. If you have a strong background, they'll take you more seriously. Work on your voice, there's always room for improvement. Take ballet, modern, jazz, and folk. I recommend ballet because it teaches poice, confidence, body movements and stance, and most importantly, discipline.

May I ask why you want to go into the entertainment industry? Let me tell you one thing, no matter how confident you are, they will try to crush you. I'm not saying this to discourage you, but letting you know what you'll be facing later on. People can be VERY [/b]mean. Sometimes they're jealous, sometimes you're just being honest. Are you prepared for that? You also can't have a boyfriend if you're in the industry.

If you want, I can help you with your pageant. I think that would probably be the best option so far. [/color]

[katz]

Hey melborne2006,

If you want to go into singing, you can start by joining a singing contest. A lot of stars today started their career with a contest (eg. Joey, Hackin, Sammi, Denise, Miram, Jade Kwan, Eason, etc.).

Another option is to work as a background singer, which is a good way to learn and work with people behind the scene (connections). If i remember correctly, i think janice and charles both used to be backup singers and so did many other famous people.

But most importantly, you have to have singing talent and LOTS of it.

Hope this helps =)

[lil]

Unless you're over the age limit, try the pageant again!

[pagfollower]

oh i dun think its stupid.. coz i have the same dream too.. not as brave as u to say it out til now.. =)

[charxyeung]

aww i'm glad someone listened ot me for once. i say follow your dream (after you finish school) lil is right, the press can be really mean and can think of a way to critize you in every way.

hope to see you on the screens soon!!

and what lil said about dancing, that is really important too, you'll get more jobs (like bernice). bernice liu wanted to be in the industry ever since she was really young, therefore she took voice and dancing lessons.

[chatterbox]

I think its wonderful that you love to perform but you should also keep in mind that being in the lime light is very very tough work. The entertainment industry is not always the glitz and glam that we see on TV. Actors, actresses and singers typically go sleepless for days on end and hardly ever have time to see their friends and family.

I've always wanted to enter in MCV but my school schedule has never permitted me to. Next year would be my last chance but I doubt I'll be able to enter then either because I'm hoping to get into my teaching program which is very hectic. I also love to perform so I'm kind of considering entering the local New Talent Singing Contest.

I admire you for your determination in following your dream! But it is important to have an education. With the entertainment industry, you can be in one day and out the next. At least you'll have a degree to fall back on.

Good luck!!

[rain]

Hi Melbourne2006!

Though I dont share the same dreams as you, I totally admire your determination in pursuing yours.

Have you already decided to go to HK? Whilst youre in Melbourne, why dont you try approaching some modelling and acting agencies? Though Melbourne is not the ideal place to break into the entertainment industry, you can still gain some experience. Deferring is a good idea! Never give up on your studies! Learning is a luxury and gift that we are very fortunate to be able to pursue. Knowledge is power.

That also goes for developing yourself. It's to your advantage, in fact almost necessary, to be able to sing, dance and act - the package for the entertainment industry. Build on those skills and approach some modelling and acting agencies in Melbourne - it'll give you a taste of the industry. Although it is much more laid back in Melbourne. From what I can see and imagine, HK is quite cut-throat. So all the more reason to be developed and learned. You might want to consider enrolling in an acting/singing course? Those schools may have connections/information as to where you can head. And you can network there too. Connections ar very important these days, especiallyin Asia.

Finally, dont be disheartened if youre knocked back a few times. That's just the industry; it's not a personal thing.

I wish you every success!

"Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars."

[dreamz]

charxyeung said:

hey

some girls i have spoken to do take the "pageant" route to the entertaiment industry, some go to the "acting school" in tvb.

no worries, i'm still young (younger than all of you at the forum i'm younger than the profile age but i didn't get kicked out yet because rana knows lol) and i dream of being famous too. my mom thinks dreaming it is a waste of time and i'm stupidof always dreaming.

but a strong advice is to build up ur education first, people without a degree or even went to university do get picked on by press, crew members, collegues etc. leanne li did not get picked on when she first entered the industry because she had a crown, and a few years of university education. if u read hk news then u can see that people without a proper education DO get picked on

you could send me a private message and maybe we can talk more

best regards
charmaine
charxyeung.tripod.com

haha.. actually personally i feel that education can be deferred and resume later. in this industry.. i think youth is more important especially for the ladies.

degree is not exactly important. i guess artistes still get picked on with or without a degree.

seriously, if leanne or linda win MCI even before they went university, i think they will still be offered a contract. and this have nothing to do with there qualification.

different opinions. hope you guys would not mind. =)

[chatterbox]

melbourne2006 said:

Yeah I know, but I know that I can always defer my course here to a maximum of 2 years here, and if things don't work out for me in HK, then I'll come back to resume my studies.

I just need to save up enough money to go to HK now. If I go, what job should I get and earn money to survive while I chase my dream?

I agree with everyone else that having more talents under your belt will be beneficial especially if you're going to HK as a newbie with no internal hook up or titles. I have a friend who tried getting into the industry and he even knew a big time actor in HK, too. In the end, he didn't get very far because he didn't have much to offer.

You mentioned that you want to try out your luck for two years and then resume your studies. Keep in mind that it may take a couple of years for you to achieve any sort of success. Unless you miraculously get discovered upon your arrival, then otherwise you'll likely have to enroll into acting and singing classes, encounter someone who is willing to promote you, etc. Most of the HK actors and actresses have been in the field for years and years before they've achieved any success (ex: Gigi Lai acted for 10+ years before she achieved her current status; Janice may have risen to faime in the last 2 years but she has actually been in the industry since the late 90s). So really, you're going to be putting in more than just 2 years of your life.

[charxyeung]

dreamz said:

charxyeung said:

hey

some girls i have spoken to do take the "pageant" route to the entertaiment industry, some go to the "acting school" in tvb.

no worries, i'm still young (younger than all of you at the forum i'm younger than the profile age but i didn't get kicked out yet because rana knows lol) and i dream of being famous too. my mom thinks dreaming it is a waste of time and i'm stupidof always dreaming.

but a strong advice is to build up ur education first, people without a degree or even went to university do get picked on by press, crew members, collegues etc. leanne li did not get picked on when she first entered the industry because she had a crown, and a few years of university education. if u read hk news then u can see that people without a proper education DO get picked on

you could send me a private message and maybe we can talk more

best regards
charmaine
charxyeung.tripod.com

haha.. actually personally i feel that education can be deferred and resume later. in this industry.. i think youth is more important especially for the ladies.

degree is not exactly important. i guess artistes still get picked on with or without a degree.

seriously, if leanne or linda win MCI even before they went university, i think they will still be offered a contract. and this have nothing to do with there qualification.

different opinions. hope you guys would not mind. =)

i think one mhk didn't know any english for miss universe and when she came back to hk, the press taunted her like mad.

elva ni could have won the mci crown if she had better education. that's just my opinion. and yes nicholas tse was picked on because he didn't have a degree, there are a couple others but they aren't in my head.

melbourne, i say go for your dream since you do have a couple years of university

[lil]

melbourne2006 said:

Again?? That would be embarrassing! If I don't win, it would be even MORE embarrassing! But I don't think it's allowed anyway.

I'm going to be mean now...

If you think trying again and failing is something you can't do, then, Honey, showbiz is not your thing. You have to be confident. If it's not allowed (although i have a huge feeling it is) then find another one. Melbourne is not a small city. Find all the pageant and do them all. It will only gain you experience. I've learned sooo much from HK it's not even funny. My head hurts w/ all the little details you have to do to your body just to pose for a picture.

You have to be aggressive and assertive but humble at the same time. Failing once and you quit? That's not going to get you anywhere in life, ESPECIALLY showbiz. Get back up on that stage, strut your stuff, show them what you've got. And make sure they see your talent. You WILL get rejected every now and again until you're so big that even your mistakes are imitated.

Education is important. Finishing it would be idealistic and practical. But if your passion is really that great, then here's a test for you. Can you give up EVERYTHING in your life for it? That includes time away from friends and fam. You will like in a little closet. (Have you ever been to HK?) You have to be a millionaire to live in a 2 bedroom apartment.

Leanne Li only makes enough to get by. (This source is extremely relizble) So does Fala. Tong Ling Ling had to play a very unattractive role to get famous. (I was changing next to her once) Are you willing to endure all this? Hk is in some ways worse than Hollywood. Ppl in HK can be very vicious. You have to be accomplished in many ways, including intelligence, to simply get by. What can you bring to the industry that several million Hkers can't? You have to original, versitile, extremely talented, but most importantly, hard working and able to survive the hell you will have to endure.

I have to be mean so you truly understand the task you're trying to accomplish. I admire your courage if you do decide to go through with it, but I don't envy you. The experience is HK was priceless, but it also scarred me too. I've never felt so ugly in my life. I'm not a vain person, but when so many people kept pointing out my flaws, though innocently, it starts to get to you. And I was only there for 3 weeks. Can you handle this for the rest of you life?

p.s. you would definitely need more than 2 years to be discovered.
p.p.s a revision to rain's quote: "Shoot for HK, because even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars."

[fee]

HEy lil..

I'm pretty sure Leanne Li and fala chen only ake enough to get by because their not famous yet... Linda Chung + Bernice Liu are already buying apartments!

[dreamz]

lil said:

melbourne2006 said:

Again?? That would be embarrassing! If I don't win, it would be even MORE embarrassing! But I don't think it's allowed anyway.

I'm going to be mean now...

If you think trying again and failing is something you can't do, then, Honey, showbiz is not your thing. You have to be confident. If it's not allowed (although i have a huge feeling it is) then find another one. Melbourne is not a small city. Find all the pageant and do them all. It will only gain you experience. I've learned sooo much from HK it's not even funny. My head hurts w/ all the little details you have to do to your body just to pose for a picture.

You have to be aggressive and assertive but humble at the same time. Failing once and you quit? That's not going to get you anywhere in life, ESPECIALLY showbiz. Get back up on that stage, strut your stuff, show them what you've got. And make sure they see your talent. You WILL get rejected every now and again until you're so big that even your mistakes are imitated.

Education is important. Finishing it would be idealistic and practical. But if your passion is really that great, then here's a test for you. Can you give up EVERYTHING in your life for it? That includes time away from friends and fam. You will like in a little closet. (Have you ever been to HK?) You have to be a millionaire to live in a 2 bedroom apartment.

Leanne Li only makes enough to get by. (This source is extremely relizble) So does Fala. Tong Ling Ling had to play a very unattractive role to get famous. (I was changing next to her once) Are you willing to endure all this? Hk is in some ways worse than Hollywood. Ppl in HK can be very vicious. You have to be accomplished in many ways, including intelligence, to simply get by. What can you bring to the industry that several million Hkers can't? You have to original, versitile, extremely talented, but most importantly, hard working and able to survive the hell you will have to endure.

I have to be mean so you truly understand the task you're trying to accomplish. I admire your courage if you do decide to go through with it, but I don't envy you. The experience is HK was priceless, but it also scarred me too. I've never felt so ugly in my life. I'm not a vain person, but when so many people kept pointing out my flaws, though innocently, it starts to get to you. And I was only there for 3 weeks. Can you handle this for the rest of you life?

p.s. you would definitely need more than 2 years to be discovered.
p.p.s a revision to rain's quote: "Shoot for HK, because even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars."

hmm.. i realised alot of u mentioned that talent is important in hk entertainment business. actually i really don't know how important it is. to me, LUCK probably plays a bigger part. yea indeed for bernice, she's really talented.

but for linda, she actually don't know dancing (sources from hk news article some time back that mentioned that linda admitted that she duon't know dancing). the talent segment she performed for mci was only trained for a period before the pageant.
so for her case is more of her performance on the pageant night instead of talent (im not saying she don't have talent though. but the reason she shot to fame is not based on her talent.)

so linda is really very very lucky especially given the fact that we can see now that she is leading in most series, and the chances and opportunities that TVB gives her (besides bernice) is almost on the par like TVB lead actresses-- charmaine, gigi, myolie even though she is only in the industry for 2yrs+...
so much more than kate tsui MHK 04, shirley MHK 01, sharon chan & tavia yeung (actresses).. in which TVB was actually promoting shirley, sharon n tavia before linda.

N personally i think after TVB starts promoting linda, chances for the 3 of them decreases.

of coz, supporting lil said... there's not many out there that are as lucky as linda... so do be prepared to have a tougher time.. a path that is not that smooth....