A holder of a bachelor's degree in economics and theatre studies at Yale University, Duc Luu started out in acting and directing. In 2007, he shifted gears and took another road, founding the Edge Learning Center which encourages students to reach their potential, and prepare them for higher education. It offers a variety of programmes, such as subjects in IB, AP and A level. The school also offers test preparation programmes, such as for the SAT. The centre will open its first branch in China in six months.
You were very active in the entertainment industry before. Why found a learning centre?
I spent several years as an actor and director in Hong Kong, which culminated in my winning a production deal from a major foreign production firm to get a movie I had co-written on to the screen.
I was given a US$3 million (about HK$23 million) production budget and spent about two years attending festivals and working with talent agencies to cast the film. In the end, I couldn't get the stars I needed.
This experience made me think much more carefully about my values as an artist and as a person. I thought about all the scripts that I had written and realised that there was always a strong social message. Whether it was a romantic comedy or a gangster flick, the underlying message was often about the individual benefiting society in some way. Once the movie deal fell through, I realised I wanted to leave a legacy. I hope the Edge will be that.
You mention on the website of your centre that you always felt education would be significant in your life. Why was this?