Hong Kong girl pursuing theater dreams

Originally from HK, a student with the Central Academy of Drama majoring in directing is living her theatre dream on the Chinese mainland. 

Born in 1997, Zeng Wenxin is set to turn 20 less than 2-weeks. She was born just days after Hong Kong's return to China. 

"My name is Zeng Wenxin, I come from Hong Kong. My birthday is 9th of July, 1997, I liked my birthday, and it's a very meaningful birthday." 

The first time Zeng Wenxin visited the Chinese mainland was when she was 6.

She now studies directing at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.

A screen shot showing Zeng Wenxin from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. [Photo: China Plus]

A Cantonese speaker growing up, Zeng Wenxin admits she still struggles with Mandarin.

"The biggest challenge here is the language. Lines are so important for my major, and I admit it is still difficult for me. Cantonese and Mandarin are two different languages, and have different pronunciation, intonation, tones and the word order. My intonation often sounds flat when I speak mandarin, while Cantonese is a lot more tonal" 

Despite the language challenges, Zeng Wenxin says there are numerous reasons for choosing the mainland over Hong Kong to study, including the rich history and culture.

She says Beijing itself has its own unique feel.

"Compared with Hong Kong, Beijing has a sense of grandeur and decency. The streets in Beijing are accessible from all directions, arranged in a normal, grid-like order. The buildings are not as dense as Hong Kong. There are also a lot of historic buildings and sites, as well as courtyard homes and hutongs. You really get a feel of history in Beijing. By contrast, Hong Kong is built on an island. The buildings are all compact. It's a crowded feeling."

Like all artists, Zeng Wenxin tries to use her life as an influence for her craft.

As such, she says she hopes to put her impressions of Hong Kong on to film.

"Since I was a freshman, I wanted to direct a play about Hong Kong, so that everyone can get to know Hong Kong. This is the last semester I'll have to do an original piece. Every director's homework, in fact, is a reflection; it is meaningful or has something you're trying to say."

Huo Ying, one of her professors at the Central Academy of Drama, says she supports Zeng's vision for her film.

"The students all want to know what life in Hong Kong is really like. Zeng Wenxin also wants to bring us her vision of her home town. I want to support her ideas. We really don't know what went through people's minds, and what their lives were like, during that particular period in Hong Kong in 1997."

Asked about her plans for the future, Zeng Wenxin says she hopes to break into the film and television sector on the mainland, saying the prospects and advantages are much wider in a larger market.