TVB's acting classes attract record applications

[Oriental Daily]

With Hong Kong's soaring unemployment and the results of this year's HKCEE Public examinations last week, many disappointed students are looking for a way out and TVB's 19th Artiste Training Classes have had record breaking number of applicants, reaching 3600 for this year with many young people looking for a chance to fulfil a dream before finding another job.

Those getting through for the first interview number 1100 people and from yesterday these have been taking place over two days at Tseung Kwan O. Although the sunshine was extremely hot, there were already queues of people from 9am waiting for their interviews. From those seen yesterday, the quality seemed very average and they were very young, including those who had just completed their Form 5 (High School) studies.

According to Production Resources Deputy Director Au Tai Kwan, the Television Production Professional Training Centre has met with its biggest number of applicants this year since it was created in 1989, totalling 3600 people consisting of 2000 men and 1600 women. The first interview will look at their appearance, then they need to read a script to check their speech. In the second interview, they can then show their individual talents but only a few dozen people will be accepted into the class and this will depend on the quality.

Mr Au denies that this year's numbers are down to the unemployment rates, but thinks that TVB's classes are a great training opportunity with a few thousand dollars subsidy it combines learning with a modest income so it will naturally attract many people. The 19th class will begin in November and will consist of three and a half months theory followed by three months practical experience.

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