Siu Wai
Post-80s videographer Siu Wai has been gaining notoriety for his satirical YouTube videos, which he scripts, performs in and produces at home. In the videos, he wears a signature bob hair wig and makes fun of Henry Tang, commuters who don’t give their seats to the elderly and big corporations that mislead consumers. He talks to Grace Tsoi about video-making and Hong Kong’s greatest problems.
HK Magazine: When and why did you start producing videos of your own?
Siu Wai: I wanted to be a secondary school teacher after graduating from university. My wish was a simple one: I wanted to educate young people. But after completing an internship, I decided that I wasn’t fit to be a teacher. I started making videos about eight months ago as I was idle at the time. Making videos is a way to spread your message and influence people. In a way, it is similar to teaching.
HK: How much time do you need to produce a video? What equipment do you use?
SW: I don’t produce videos regularly because it isn’t a job. But once I get the inspiration, I will write a detailed script (around 1,000 words) for a three-minute video. I write the script very carefully because I want my jokes to be precise and witty. I use a very cheap video camera and tripod. I’ve got some props, too. A wig and a cloth—that’s it.
HK Magazine: What is so special about your videos?
SW: My videos are not just for laughs—I hope to get messages across to people. Through fun videos, I hope that people who don’t care that much about current affairs and society will also pay more attention to things happening around us. Some of the older generation may not quite agree with what I think, but through these videos, I hope that they can try to think from the perspective of the younger generations.
HK: Many of your videos reflect problems in our society. In your opinion, what is the greatest problem with Hong Kong?
SW: Many Hongkongers only look for material comfort, stability and short-term interests. Some Hongkongers can’t see the bad side of Hong Kong. Even if they realize that injustice is happening, they lack the courage to fight against it. They seem pretty accepting of injustices.
HK: Was it your childhood dream to be a comedian?
SW: As a child, I always liked telling jokes and talking to people, and I loved performing in front of others, too. But sometimes, the older generations were not very encouraging and sometimes they stopped children from talking and expressing their opinions. But I have dreamed of organizing a stand-up show of my own.
HK: You have a degree in philosophy. Do you think there is a relation between your comedy and philosophy?
SW: If you tell jokes, you should speak precisely and to the point. You need to keep the right rhythm and put the punch line in the right place. All of these are related to thinking with clarity, and philosophy—for example, the study of logic—helps a lot in thinking.
