Hong Kong dubbing agent order platform recommended: 5 free channels for novice beginners to watch

To be honest, when I first started in the industry, I was really confused when looking for dubbing jobs in Hong Kong. After searching on the internet, a lot of information was either outdated or on foreign platforms which were of limited help to the local market. It's hard to make a living, especially when you're new and have no experience or connections, so it's important to have a free and reliable channel to start. After a few years, I have stepped on a lot of pits, and found a few free ways to get orders which are really friendly to newbies, I would like to share them with you, and hope you will take a less detour.

1. Local communities: Facebook Groups are a treasure!

Don't underestimate Facebook! There are several active groups in Hong Kong related to dubbing, film and TV production, and advertisement production, such as "Hong Kong Dubbing Valley", "Hong Kong Freelance Jobs (Film and TV/Advertising/Media)", "HK Sound & Music Production Community". I have dived in and exchanged ideas with them, and found that there are really hidden tigers and hidden dragons. Many small studios, independent producers, and even company employees looking for help in a hurry would post directly to the group, "Urgent! Looking for a Cantonese male voice for a 30-second commercial, limited budget..." These are your opportunities! The key is to be active, fill in your specialties (e.g. good at cartoon dubbing, voice-over, commercials), and better yet, record a demo and put it on your homepage. When you see a suitable post, take the initiative to send a private message, remember to attach the link of the demo, and introduce yourself in a polite and professional manner. My first paid commercial came from a small group.

2. Digging deeper into the local forum area: HKGolden Not Blowing Off Water

HKGolden's "Creative Media and Production" section is full of surprises. Although there are a lot of postings, if you pay attention carefully, there are some production companies or individual project managers looking for voice-overs. These posts are usually more casual, and may say something like, "I'm shooting a movie, but I need a good voice-over, so if you're interested, PM me". As a newcomer, these small scale and less demanding projects are great opportunities to practice. Show your voice quality and sincerity by PMing them. Remember to be quick! Good opportunities are fleeting. However, you should be careful when it comes to advance payment and so on.

3. Clinging to the "big boys": trade associations don't get names

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts or Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) don't give out direct jobs, but their resources are invaluable to newcomers. Keep an eye on their websites and social media, they post free voice over workshops, seminars and training courses all the time. I attended a weekend voice workshop at the Academy of Performing Arts and not only did I learn something, but I also got to know the instructor and the students. The mentor is an industry insider, and will sometimes introduce small projects to good performers, while the mentees may be freelancers (e.g. directors, scriptwriters) in other positions, and will think of you when they have a project in hand. This kind of networking is much more efficient than going blindly. Remember, when you go to these occasions, you are not there to listen to lectures, you are there to "show up" and "meet people"! Bring more cards with you.

4. Don't waste government resources: LCSD has the facts

Didn't think so? The venues of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), such as public libraries and community halls, sometimes organize small-scale arts festivals, community theatre or documentary film screenings. The production teams of these events are usually on a tight budget, but because of this, they are more than willing to give opportunities to new talents with potential. Reach out to the staff in charge of event planning, or directly to the local independent directors and producers exhibiting at the event, and express your willingness to participate in their projects on a volunteer basis, or at a very low cost (even in exchange for experience). This experience will not only enrich your portfolio, but you will also get to know the creators who are doing the work, and there is a good chance that they will come back to you when they have a budget commercial project next time. That's how I got my first documentary narration. Although I didn't get much money for it, it was shown in a few local film festivals and became a solid part of my demo reel.

5. Don't be lazy in offline activities: Coffee Chat may become Job Chat

Don't hide in your house all the time! Hong Kong's film, TV, advertising and media circles are actually quite small. Go to offline events such as independent film screenings (especially post-screening talks), small-scale advertising/creative sharing sessions, and even author talks at book fairs (many authors have to do voice-overs for promotional videos). On these occasions, don't just hang around for refreshments, be bold and talk to people. Instead of trying to sell yourself right away, you can genuinely appreciate the other person's work and naturally bring out your own interests and specialties: "Your movie has a great voiceover! I do voice-overs, mostly as a narrator..." Exchange cards or add a WeChat. Many opportunities arise from such informal networking. I once saw a short film at an art center, talked to the director, and a month later he asked me to do the voice-over for the trailer of his new project. Remember, it is important to give people an impression that you are nice, professional and enthusiastic.

When starting out, it is important not to be afraid of losing money. The purpose of free channels is not to do free labor, but to accumulate practical experience, polish your work, and - most importantly - build up your first contacts and reputation in the community. Every time you take an order, no matter how small, treat it as your masterpiece. Your reputation is your trademark. Good performance will bring repeat customers and word-of-mouth recommendations. As time goes by, opportunities will come to you!

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