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Alumni Profile: Stephen Fung

Graduation year: 1996

Major/degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the Stamps School of Art and Design

Home state/country: Hong Kong, China

Current state/country: Resides in Hong Kong, Works Frequently in LA

Current occupation: Television and film producer, director, actor

Why did you originally decide to study at the University of Michigan?

Both of my brothers went to colleges in the US. When I was growing up in Hong Kong, I heard about Michigan being a good school with good sports programs. I wanted a good education, and I’m also a big sports fan. I guess I just always wanted to be a Wolverine!

What do you miss most about campus and/or Ann Arbor?

I miss the sporting events — when I was there it was during the Fab Five era — so, going to basketball games and going to the stadium for football games. Also, all of the friendships I made there, and the fun memories. I used to have a summer job at a Greek restaurant on Main Street. I also worked part-time for a talent agency and I would book rock bands and other talent.

When and how did you decide on your current career path in the film industry?

Ever since high school I was always interested in playing the guitar — my first aspiration was to be a guitarist — but like most Chinese parents, mine didn’t want to send me to a music school. I was always a creative and artistic person, so I decided the closest thing to music would be visual arts and graphic design, which is what I love and what my degree is in.

I started my career in Hong Kong as an actor right after I graduated, and I started directing about ten years ago. Now I’m more behind the scenes and I enjoy it even more than acting.

What ways have you found to keep in touch with the U-M community while living outside of the US?

I was back on campus in 2012. I directed a film called Tai Chi Zero and I was in Toronto for the Toronto Film Festival, so I made the trip from Toronto to Ann Arbor to see campus. I have quite a few friends from Michigan that are originally from Hong Kong that I keep in touch with all the time. I also attended an alumni event here in Hong Kong a few years ago and I’ve tried my best to stay connected with the alumni group as often as my schedule allows.

 

Are there any interesting projects that you’re currently working on in your personal or professional life?

I travel to Los Angeles a lot, which is how Into the Badlands began. It’s a project that we collaborated on with AMC. A lot of the pitching and writing goes on in LA. The martial arts piece is something that is very common in Chinese cinema and is something I’ve done for the past 10 years, so that’s how I ended up working on this project.

The film industry in China is booming, and there is a lot of crossover between studios. Warner Bros. recently started a company called Flagship, in partnership with the Chinese company China Media Capital. I’m working on a currently untitled project with them that will be filming in Prague. It’s a co-production and we’re going to have American actors in it. There are lots of these types of projects going on and it’s something I am spending a lot of my time focusing on right now.   

Any other details about yourself that you’d like to share?

I grew up in a very culturally diverse environment — I went to an international high school and then went to the University of Michigan, where a lot of friends were very different in terms of their backgrounds and ethnicities, so that’s what I’m trying to do with my film projects. I tend to work on films that are not catered to a single demographic of audience. I like to make films that are more commercial and appeal to a worldwide audience, and that’s what I hope to continue to do in the future.