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I didn’t pick the entertainment business—I believe it picked me.
I had no clue what I wanted to do even when I got to college as a communications major at Baptist University.
The school newspaper then was very dull—everyone wrote whatever the Gang of Four propaganda told them to. And then there were this lovey dovey stuff from this guy in a corner. That was me­—my heart was broken at the time.
One day, a classmate gave my writings to a Commerical Radio producer. Radio shows then were too old for the younger generations so the producer asked me to write a radio drama script for him.
So I did. It was so easy because basically I wrote about my life as a university student.
Then he asked me to go on air to because all the radio personalities were in their 30s and they needed a younger voice. That’s how I became a lead character when I first got into the business.
Soon after, they asked me to host an hour-long music show. A whole evening of just playing my favorite music? Why not?
Of all the different jobs I’ve done, I enjoy being a radio DJ the most.
Even when I am driving in my car now, I’m selecting songs and doing a little monologue in between tracks.
I have a mic at home and I record on my hard drive. When I have the time, I dig it out and listen to myself.
Podcasts? No. I don’t want to share my music collection and thoughts anymore. I made my stamp in the 80s. It’s just for my purely personal enjoyment now.
You have to be absolutely crazy to want to be in the film industry, because it really isn’t making any money.
So yes, I’m a bit crazy.
I didn’t have to do “Break Up Club.” I can do other stuff—write for others, do talk shows. I didn’t have to invest in it myself—I could’ve just asked other investors.
But there’s no use in constantly saying, “I’m so passionate about films!” I did this film to show people exactly how passionate I am about films.
And there’s no excuse for a shoddy product, because there aren’t any other investors or producers to blame this time.
I really love having old people around the house.
It’s very important to include grandparents in the family for a child’s growth.
Sure, it’s just the usual old folks’ nagging: “Wear warm clothes, greet people, be careful on the street.”
But in our memories, the respect for old people will be embedded subconsciously.
When my daughters get married now, they’ll know how to get along with their in-laws.
I feel like I’m lucky to have tried my best, and reaped my rewards during Hong Kong’s golden years, in the 80s.
But I feel that, in any given era, if you tried your best, you will reap your rewards.
In the 50s and 60s, everyone was poor. Yet there were still many success stories.
Once you have chosen this industry, you just have to try your best in it. Never give up.
It’s the same as if you’ve chosen Hong Kong as home. Make the best out of this city. Why complain? If you don’t like it, just leave.
Hong Kong people have always depended on themselves. Why depend on the government now?
I started learning to be thankful in the past decade.
You don’t need to be religious to be thankful.
I’m 55. I play goalie at Southorn Playground—it’s a concrete floor—and I haven’t broken any bones. So I’m grateful.


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Entertainer Cheng Dan-Shui

Magazines

“Ah Dan” Cheng Dan-Shui is a show business icon. His radio drama, “Diary of a Small Man,” was adapted into a blockbuster movie in the 1980s. He recently co-produced “Break Up Club” with Barbara Wong. The multi-talented entertainer talks to Johannes Pong.
