Ignored by filmmakers for years, former boy band member William Chan Wai-ting may have finally found a niche in the movie business. The 24-year-old has appeared in seven films over the past year, some with A-list directors and actors such as Sean Lau Ching-wan, Daniel Wu Yin-cho and Louis Koo Tin-lok.
'It's beyond my expectations. I started going to film auditions and meeting directors years ago, but none made any offers. I'd almost lost hope on movies and told myself to focus on my singing,' says Chan (right). 'All of a sudden directors started giving me opportunities last year. It was a real surprise.'
Chan, who was in the now-defunct bubblegum-pop group Sun Boy'z, appeared in Ex, a youth romance by director Heiward Mak Hei-yan, as the boyfriend of Gillian Chung Yan-tung.
He got his start in show business at the age of 17, after winning a singing contest, and hosted a children's programme before joining Sun Boy'z in 2006.
Chan released his first solo album, Will Power, in 2008. Last year, he made his film debut with a small role as a detective in Overheard, the thriller by Alan Mak Siu-fai and Felix Chong Man-keung.
'Making movies doesn't just benefit my career; it's good for my personal growth,' Chan says. 'When preparing for my roles, I've learned to analyse characters and see things from different perspectives.'