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he is now regarded as one of the industry. Her passion for film has in- body can enjoy. It appeals to not only
best cultural journalists in Hong spired her to become a cultural jour- a small group of people but also the
SKong. Her bylines can be seen in nalist. “I have always been interested general public.”
big name media outlets such as BBC, in arts throughout my teenage years. I She believes her job is more than
Variety, Quartz and the South China love performing. I love cinema. I love just a journalist. She tries to bring her
Morning Post (SCMP). painting. I used to paint,” she says. stories alive and conveys the message
The humble journalist, Vivienne Writing stories about film and en- of arts to her readers with the hope
Chow recalls she was not an outstand- tertainment is a perfect job for her. that these creative minds can inspire
ing student when studying journal- She was an intern at the Hong Kong others.
ism at the Chinese University of Hong Standard during her final year in col- Chow’s job takes her to explore
Kong. She never thought of becoming lege. She started her career as a junior different parts of the world such as
a journalist. “I always wanted to be a writer at SCMP after graduation. Europe and South America where she
film director, so initially I chose film During her 15 years at the SCMP, gets to see and experience different
school,” she says. she went to countless film screenings kinds of art forms and cultures. “Arts
Like most typical Hong Kong and interviewed famous artists and and culture are international languag-
parents, her mother worried about filmmakers including Tony Leung es and they always bring you a differ-
her future career. She signed up for Chiu-wai and Wong Kar-wai. She en- ent dimension,” she says.
CUHK journalism school which also joys meeting interesting people when When asked about the most
offered television production and film covering stories. memorable interview she has done
studies courses instead of majoring in When most people think culture so far, she cites the one with Wong
film. is quite distant to the daily life of or- Kar-Wai. “He is a mystery. He always
Yet Chow has never forgotten her dinary citizens, Chow argues: “Actu- wears his sunglasses so you can’t see
dream to pursue a career in the film ally it’s not. It’s something that every- his eyes. You don’t know what he is

Arts and culture are international languages
and they always bring you a different dimension

Chow with Cultural Journalism Campus participants at Art Basel in Hong Kong 2018
Photo courtesy of Vivienne Chow