Some Malaysians, however, have dreams that diverge from their parents’ hopes, as in the case of a boy named Vin Chee, who dreamt of being an entertainer.
Today, the 29-year-old is an accomplished magician who has performed internationally and even taken part in competitions such as “Asia’s Got Talent”. He has also delved into acting, and if his early filmography is anything to go by, things are looking very promising.
“I have wanted to be an entertainer since I was young. When I was five, my parents let me watch all of Bruce Lee’s films,” he tells FMT.
His mum and dad were initially less than enthused by his aspirations, but the lad was undeterred. After concluding that dancing and singing were not his forte, Vin Chee focused on his love for magic, honing his craft through books and DVDs before ultimately enrolling in the McBride Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas.
He has subsequently travelled and performed around the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom and Taiwan.
Vin Chee specialises in mentalism and telekinesis, meaning he can seemingly move things without touching them.
“I can make a coin appear out of nowhere and disappear into thin air, and I’m even able to bend metal with my mind,” he says. Impressive!
Acting advantage
Magicians, as entertainers, need to come up with new and innovative ways to keep their audiences captivated – a challenge Vin Chee faces as well. One solution he has found is to combine his magic performances with his acting skills.
He astounds his audiences by “reading their minds”, being able to tell which Hollywood celebrity they are thinking of, or which playing card they are holding behind their backs.
While one might think Vin Chee truly has the gift of mind-reading, his secret is that he simply makes educated guesses through body language.
“It takes many years of practice,” he confesses with a wink, adding that he spends time with fellow magicians to pick up tricks and tips.
He hopes to one day make a full-size vehicle appear out of nowhere and disappear into thin air, à la David Copperfield, one of his idols.
“The best part of being a magician is making people smile and laugh,” he says. “If someone’s having a bad day, being able to show them some mind-blowing magic and illusions to cheer them up fulfils me.”
Vin Chee’s time in the US also opened doors for his acting career. He has appeared in Michael Mann’s “Blackhat”, starring Chris Hemsworth, as well as “Crazy Rich Asians” – a role he managed to snag despite his own expectations.
“I made it onscreen!” he exclaims. “I had actually auditioned for a part but didn’t get it. So I found ways to make myself useful on the movie set.”
This got the production team’s attention, which led to him being given a small part in the movie.
Vin Chee was also cast in a Hong Kong web drama, “The Impossible 3”, just before the pandemic began. And while he is keen on more action movies and series, he is open to different genres as well.
“In America, there’s a lot of room for opportunity. Anybody can be a somebody there,” he says, citing the example of the Malaysian-born Henry Golding, now well on his way in Hollywood.
As a new actor Vin Chee has had to cope with rejection, but he remains optimistic, sharing how a cardiac arrest in 2016 has made him more aware of not giving up on his ambitions.
“It changed my life forever,” he says of his close brush with death. “As long as you’re alive, you should keep doing what you love.”
Even the pandemic has not held him back. Currently home in Kuala Lumpur, he spends his time wisely by enrolling in online acting classes as he believes there’s always a chance to learn.
“Everyone should keep aspiring as they grow, and I want to be a role model for the younger generation,” he says. “I hope to make an impact so people know it is possible to follow your dreams.”
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