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Elaine Yau

Name: Caspar Keung Kam-kui Age: 19 Occupation: Stuntman

Young Post: How did you become a stuntman?

Keung: I've always liked martial arts and I'm a taekwondo enthusiast.

After I graduated from Form Five, I didn't know what I wanted to do.

One day, I watched a  programme about a film production course on Roadshow. I was fascinated by the prospect of learning stunts and other aspects of moviemaking. I applied and got on the course.

After I finished  a one-year course, I got a job as a stuntman.

YP: What qualities does it take to be a good stuntman?

K: The most important quality is guts. You have to have the courage to jump off a flyover, leap off a pier and do all kinds of dangerous tasks.

You also need to have extraordinary strength and agility. You also need  a nimble body so that you won't get hurt.

We are taught all kinds of techniques to avoid injuries.

For example, when you land on the ground from a fall, you have to make sure four points of your body - the tip of the feet, palm, elbow and back - touch the ground first. The right pose can cushion the force of the fall.

YP: How much do you get paid?

K: Novice stuntmen are often underpaid. Once, I was asked to fall off a flight of stairs for only HK$100. I didn't accept the offer as the pay was totally unreasonable.

The difficult period has  passed though. Now I can get 15 to 20 jobs in the busiest month. Depending on the level of difficulty of the stunt, I can get HK$700 to HK$1,400  per job.

YP: Have you ever  been injured?

K: All the time. Bruises and scrapes are unavoidable, but I'm  used to  it.

Having worked in the industry for two years, my body has endured  a lot of wear and tear.

My doctor said my neck and  spine are  slightly skewed and asked me to give up my job.

YP: Have your parents and girlfriend raised objections to your work?

K: Yes. They're worried that I'll  get hurt. I know that being a stuntman is not a lifelong job. People usually quit after turning 30.

I plan to earn  more money when I'm still young. I hope that I can become an action choreographer one day.

YP: Do you enjoy your job?

K: Immensely. I get so much satisfaction when I  successfully complete a stunt. I also get to see the inner workings of showbiz.

The only bad thing about my job is that I've grown accustomed to the  thrills. I no longer visit theme parks.

Plunging from a free-falling machine seems nothing special.

I'm sad that I no longer enjoy the rides that I used to love when I was  a child.

YP: Which is your most unforgettable performance?

K: My Name is Fame (2006), starring Lau Ching Wan.

I was the double for the female protagonist,  a new actress who  gets insulted by  everyone in the movie industry.  I had to wear a dress and high heels.

She was shown falling down several times on the screen. But it was actually me  who stumbled on the ground,  more than a dozen times.

To me, the film has a poignant sense of irony.

By playing a newcomer who  is treated unfairly  in the film industry, the actress was  telling my  story.

RESUME

2004: Graduated from Form Five

2004: Enrolled in a film production course at Institute of Vocational Education (Kwun Tong campus)

2005: Completed  course  and began work as a stuntman

How to get there

Course: Comprehensive Training Programme on Film Production

School: Institute of Vocational Education (Kwun Tong campus)

Duration: 46 weeks

Characteristics: Students are taught inner workings of the film industry. How to perform action stunts is an important component of the course. Basic stunt movements,  such as somersaults, are covered. Students are also taught to perform stunts on wires, trampolines and other machinery.

Enquiries: http://film.vtc.edu.hk/intro2.html

Course: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Creative Media (BACM)

School: The City University of Hong Kong

Duration: three years

Characteristics: Different aspects of film production like cinematography, lighting, art direction and film editing are covered. Creative skills in the field of media aesthetics, digital video production and post-production are also included.

Enquiries: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/cityu/prgm/index.htm

The path

Graduates are qualified for a wide range of positions in the media industry, including producers, production managers, scriptwriters, directors, cameramen, sound designers, special effects designers and animators. They can also find employment in sectors such as film, television, and video production, advertising, Internet and multimedia design, and other creative areas.



The unsung hero