Big screen gangster: taking on the Triads in film

sgupta — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 09:13:31 +0000

Big screen gangster: taking on the Triads in film sgupta Fri, 11/08/2013 - 04:13

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Alumnus Derek Tsang (photo by Mike Tjioe, courtesy of Reel Asian International Film Festival)

Nadia Siu Van

Author legacy

Nadia Siu Van

Features

Faculty of Arts & Science

Alumni

UTSC

University of Toronto alumnus Derek Tsang may be a popular Hong Kong actor known for his gangster roles, but his first love is filmmaking.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada since the age of 10, Tsang had aspirations of becoming a screenwriter and director yet pursued a degree in sociology from ��οScarborough, graduating in 2001.

“To become a good scriptwriter, you have to approach a story from various angles,” says Tsang, 33. “Sociology broadens your understanding of the world by offering different perspectives on how people and society function.”

Following his studies at U of T, Tsang returned to Hong Kong and made his acting debut in Men Suddenly in Black, a parody of Triad films (crime flicks featuring Chinese secret societies). He’s since played several roles in Triad movies, including The Thieves – an action-comedy that is the second highest-grossing movie in Korean film history.

“People tend to romanticize the Triad way of life, which is why I like acting in dark comedy gangster films,” says Tsang. “They highlight some of the menial, and even ridiculous, things that Triad members do.”

Tsang’s filmmaking takes on a different tone. He co-wrote the script for his directorial debut, Lover’s Discourse, which depicts relationships about love and affliction – and for his next feature, he hopes to shoot a film revolving around a dysfunctional family.

Tsang also hasn’t stopped striving to become a better actor. “It’s easy to be a mediocre actor in this industry – but to become a top-notch, respected actor? That is the hard part.”

The Thieves can be purchased on Blu-ray or DVD at Amazon.ca, or viewed on Netflix.

Nadia Siu Van is a writer with ��οMagazine where this article originally appeared.

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String theory: a yo-yo master unwinds

sgupta — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:24:04 +0000

String theory: a yo-yo master unwinds sgupta Tue, 01/08/2013 - 03:24

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Wayne Ngan, president of the University of Toronto Yo-Yo Club, practises outside the Bahen Centre for Information Technology (photo by Mark Balson)

Nadia Siu Van

Author legacy

Nadia Siu Van

Wayne Ngan has yet to complete his PhD in astronomy and astrophysics – but he has managed to discover inner cosmic balance while studying galactic mysteries.

His secret? Mastering the art of the yo-yo.

Last August, the University of Toronto graduate student travelled to Calgary for the 2012 Canadian Yo-Yo Nationals. Ngan manipulated both butterfly-shaped yo-yos (pictured at right) and imperial-shaped yo-yos to create intricate looping tricks, bouncing the yo-yo off the string and, unusually, mixing four yo-yoing styles.

“Combining all styles into a single routine was probably shocking for some viewers,” says Ngan, 27. “But I think bringing something fresh to the table worked to my advantage.”

It did – he finished third in the open freestyle division.

Despite his success, Ngan plans to return his yo-yoing to its roots – as an activity that relieves stress, rather than creates it.

“I don’t want to associate it with the pressures and anxieties of a competition,” he says.

Like video gaming, the art of yo-yoing requires hands-on skills and lots of practice. But Ngan’s game doesn’t cause carpal tunnel or confine him to the house.

“It’s relaxing, fun and rewarding,” Ngan says.

When the current president of the University of Toronto Yo-Yo Club isn’t researching dark matter in galaxy halos, you can probably find him effortlessly swinging a yo-yo around his head in horizontal circles (without getting a concussion) at the Bahen Centre for Information Technology every other Sunday afternoon.

“There’s a steep learning curve, but you can’t be afraid to stray from the rules,” he says. “That’s how some of the most amazing tricks are invented.”

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