[Alumni dialogue] Hong Kong film star Lo Chun-yip (Siuyea)’s inner world

Hong Kong is known as one of the most fast-paced cities in the world. Lo Chun-yip (Siuyea), alumnus of Lingnan University, pauses and thinks for a moment, describing himself in this way, “I am now calmer and move at a slightly slower pace, which may have been my personality for a long time. For me, this lag is good. It gives me some space to think, especially in such a fast-paced place as Hong Kong.”

Having majored in film art at a local university, he acquired skills in craftsmanship and learned how to create films, however he delved into contemplating the deeper connotations and meanings behind films. As a result, he then decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies at Lingnan University. Now, after gaining 10 years of industry experience and having directed several projects, Siuyea has recently turned his attention towards pursuing an acting career. His film Time Still Turns The Pages was released recently, and the Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs’ Alumni Relations Team interviews Siuyea in his studio about his filmmaking experiences and his years at Lingnan University.

A habit of questioning everything

Unwavering curiosity and a strong eagerness to explore new roles are crucial for an actor. The Master of Cultural Studies programme at Lingnan offers a comprehensive exploration of various humanities subjects, with core courses ranging from Perspectives in Cultural Studies to Critical Thinking through Popular Culture, Pedagogy and Cultural Studies, and Methods in Cultural Research. The programme suited Siuyea’s innate curiosity, and has inspired him to consider different perspectives and made him question everything. Whenever he comes across something new, he asks himself “Why?”.

“During classes, we learned many theories and discussed current social issues. This process taught me to continuously seek connections. The learning experience during those years instilled in me a habit of seeking connections in social situations I come across in the news or on social media,” he explains.

Siuyea highlights the importance of curiosity to actors in order to explore the world and, also to embrace its diversity. This principle also applies to directors, who need an open mind to discover which aspects of the world are worth transforming into film. He believes that this curiosity helps in teaching as well. This September, he went back to teaching and started giving film courses at a higher education institution, referring to the teaching methods he learned from Cultural Studies.

Looking back on his time at Lingnan, Siuyea regrets not investing enough effort. A 20-something years of age, he juggled postgraduate studies, filmmaking, and so many other interests right after completing his undergraduate studies. It was all overwhelming, and he even contemplated giving up studying altogether. However, he has kept the notes and articles from the programme, and intends to look at them again when time allows.

Siuyea feels proud to have known professors and lecturers like Mr Benjamin Ma, Prof Hui Po-keung, Prof Ip lam-chong, Prof Law Wing-sang, Prof Hui Shiu-lun, Prof Lisa Leung, and Prof Dai Jinhua at Lingnan. “The newspaper columns during that era were dynamic, and our professors actively contributed to them. Our professors made a strong impression on me, because they were a dedicated group of scholars, deeply engaged with society, and inspiring role models for our generation.”

Embracing new possibilities as an actor

After graduating, Siuyea directed several independent films. In recent years, he has shifted his focus to acting, approaching each role with an open mind. Unfortunately, a few years ago the film industry, along with many others, was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in far less work for him, and he has only made two films, Suk Suk and Time Still Turns The Pages, since then.

“In the past few years, my career has not been particularly active in films or television. Even when I was in a film, though people recognised me, I would not consider myself truly active. During the pandemic, I was fortunate enough to be involved in several music videos, which were valuable learning experiences, and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to perform in different media, whether television, music videos, or films.”

After the release of Time Still Turns The Pages, Siuyea began reflecting on his past performances, and realised that he truly enjoys acting. He looks forward to playing different characters in the future, and does not limit himself. Each role is a fresh opportunity for experimentation.

“A couple of years ago, after being nominated for Best Supporting Actor for my role in the film Suk Suk, I was often asked about the roles I wanted to try. I actually wanted to portray the character of a young father. Although the character in Suk Suk can be considered a young father, due to the nature and length of the film, I did not have much of an opportunity. I am looking for the role of a young father because I feel that stage of life is actually over for me, however, in the world of film, I can play characters in their late 20s or 30s, and really experience that.”

When discussing demanding roles that diverge from his own personality, he expresses that it was different from when he worked behind the scenes. “When I worked as a director and conducted casting, I looked for actors who resembled the characters. However, as an actor, my approach is somewhat different. There are occasions when I find myself playing 10 roles that are similar in terms of personality or background, and that may not always be helpful to an actor. Actors need a variety of roles to fully engage in life experiences and explore the possibilities.”