Derek Said...

Thank you,
from the bottom of my heart.

The Private Man

Derek's real name pronounces as Kok Kam Hung in Cantonese, and Guo Jin Xiong in Mandarin. Please note that Derek's last name spells as Kok, not Kwok. Derek's age, well, that's a secret. If you must know, Derek said, let it be 26 of age forever. His birthday is November 18. That is right, he is a scorpion.

Derek is still a bachelor. He has a close girl friend. Club members give her a code name, Lisa. No plan of marriage yet. He has a little sister. She identified herself as Hung Mui (literally Derek's sister and sounds like cherry in Cantonese) on the guest books of Derek's several web pages. . Derek described his family as close, caring and empathetic, and he himself as tenderhearted.

Derek is 5 feet 9.5 inches tall. Medium build. Club members agree that Derek looks more martial on screen than in real life. Derek said, his athletic look might due to the practice of Chinese kung fu starting at about 10 years of age. Derek learn a mix of several kung fu styles.

Derek likes to eat young pigeon. Vinegar is his big favorite. He orders Cantonese style dumpling needle in restaurants just for the accompanying vinegar. He wears size 8 shoes and medium size shirts. Derek swims to keep in shape.

Gratitude

Derek was delighted when he knew about the new fan club. He felt that his hard work was finally being recognized. He would like to meet with the club members someday.

(Note: A small birthday party for Derek was held in November 2001. About 10 club members celebrated with Derek. Several overseas members talked with Derek on long distance calls during the party. I was one of the lucky few.)

Derek concerned very much about the safety of the fans in the United States after the 911 attack.

Snail Mail and E-Mail

Derek does not use a computer. He has his sister's assistance to fetch his e-mail, and go online to his own fan club. During the live chat, Derek was asked about learning to use a computer. He admitted that he was "out". He promised he would catch up. Therefore, at the meantime, do not send him e-mail. Send him snail mail instead.

(Note: Derek has never replied to e-mail. But he managed to leave messages on the guest books of his web pages.)

Derek's Concerns

Do not list personal addresses or telephone numbers anywhere online as a means of communication with him.

(Note: A person, claiming to be Derek's sister on a bulletin board, and was later confirmed to be a fake by Derek. Anyway, Derek's real little sister did leave messages on the guest books of Derek's several personal websites. Each time, the club Chairlady, Carmen, would confirm with Derek and let the members knew.)

Derek wants his fans to read more books to broaden their knowledge base. Derek also wants his fans to learn more about the Chinese culture. He felt for the need of knowledge when Derek co-hosted a travel show to the Silk Road.

Derek's Blues

Derek despises the politics involves in the show business. Hard work is not always rewarded fairly.

Derek gives a hundred percent in each of his performances. Unfortunately, actors have no control on the broadcast schedule of their work. Viewers will not notice a good show in an unpopular time slot.

Derek is a private person. To avoid negative reporting from the mass media, Derek has never contacted any female colleague after work. Derek's low-key attitude makes him a rare breed in the complicated show biz. However, he was caught on photo exposing his thigh in costume. It was so sad. In late 2001, Derek was filming a drama in costume. He was joking with another actor about the design of his costume - heavy at the top and merely few pieces of cloth at the bottom. He did not realize a news reporter was nearby. That picture made the news.

Show Time

Derek started out as a kung fu double when he was 18 years old. In 1983, Derek participated in the 4th New Talent Singing Competition which brought him an acting role. Shortly afterward, he enrolled in the acting class of a local television station, the TVB. He has been a professional actor ever since. Derek would concentrate in his acting career. His singing career can wait.

After all these years in acting, Derek considers experience is the key of a good performance. For example, the actor must be able to channel his inner feelings to his eyes from where the audiences receive the messages.

Derek involved in numerous television drama, taking up a variety of roles.  Because Derek mastered Chinese kung fu, many of these were supporting roles in costume dramas. Kung fu brought him a place in the industry. Kung fu was also a stumping block to Derek's career. Television producers remembered Derek by his action, not his acting. Derek was frustrated to be typecasted. At one point, he almost gave up kung fu.

Pressure was inevitable when his peers heading to stardom one by one. There were times of disappointment but never too desperate to give up.  When people called Derek names in the street for being the villains in the television dramas, he said to himself, looked who would live to see him succeed eventually. Derek is such a man of persistent.

More chances are coming to Derek's way. Last year was probably the most fruitful year of his career. He had a new fan club; at least five web pages in Chinese and one in English surfaced.  A few more are on their way. Derek shot his first television commercial. He was a school teacher demonstrating the right way to eat instant sushi. Most of all, he got a fantastic role in a drama about horse racing. Derek appeared as a disciplined, well mannered racehorse trainer. As a tradition in the racing ring in Hong Kong, all trainers wear suits in the racing days. A formally dressed Derek, completed with suit and tie, earned a stand-up applause of the fan club members. This role brought him public recognition. Derek proved that, he could handle action and acting equally well.

Derek has the most number of fans than ever before. During the live chat, Derek said his fans were accumulated through he advanced from different stages of his career, from an innocent new kid of the block to a mature professional actor of nowadays. He would treasure this period of time no matter what might come.

Derek's most favorite character was the villain monkey in the Journal to the West II. It was a difficult part because of the extreme heat wearing the hairy costume filming under the summer sun. Although with a good cast, a good crew, and Derek's endless preparation for the part, it did not bring him the recognition as he expected.

Performing in dramas in modern setting and taking up positive roles are two of Derek's wishes.But it takes time to change. After the racehorse trainer, he was a cunning manager who tried to take advantageous of a company during the chaotic civil war China. That was a part in a drama about country wine making.

Recently, starting in April 2002, Derek is filming a new drama in which he will be the streetwise brother of the leading actress. Although not the leading man, Derek is taking up more important roles than before. One thing certain is, we will see his acting getting even better each day. It is because Derek enjoys his work. Fame is no longer what he is after. "Take it easy" and the performance will come natural. Derek said, he was "hooked on" acting.

May 20, 2002

NieHuChen