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Thomas Lim (Traditional Chinese: 林毅煒) is Head of Sun Entertainment Culture Los Angeles and a prominent filmmaker [1] in the Macau film industry, originally of Chinese Singaporean descent. He is best known for directing and writing the Macau movie Roulette City, which was commercially released in theaters in Japan and Singapore in 2012,[2] and Macau in 2014. Lim is also known as an actor in leading roles in Chinese TV drama series such as The Game,[3] musicals like The Wizard of Oz (as the Cowardly Lion), and movies like Hong Kong's One Last Dance.[4]

In 2016, Lim began production of his new directorial feature film Sea of Mirrors in Macau. Shot on the iPhone, principal photography was completed in Los Angeles in the summer of 2017. The film stars Toru Uchikado[5] (from NBC serial drama series "Heroes Reborn") and Japanese actress Kieko Suzuki. News of the production were widely reported by all major Macau press: such as the Macao Daily News,[6] The Macau Post Daily,[7] Macau Daily Times,[8] Hoje Macau,[9] Jornal Tribuna de Macau[10], Macau Closer, Va Kio Daily,[11] M-Art [12] and TDM TV station. The film premiered in Macau on May-24, 2019. Lim is reported to be planning a third feature film to complete a planned trilogy of films set in Macau.

Career

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China

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In 2004, Lim moved to Beijing, China, and became a TV and film actor for both American and Chinese productions. He played a principal role "Zhou Fan" in the Chinese TV Series The Game,[13] which aired nationwide in Mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.[3]

Macau

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Lim moved to Macau in 2008 [14] where he wrote and directed the feature film Roulette City. The film premiered at the Singapore International Film Festival [1], and was commercially released at cinemas in Japan [2], Singapore [3] and Macau.[15] The film also aired as a 2013 Chinese New Year film at primetime on Macau Cable TV [16] These releases garnered Lim over 100 press interviews and articles [17] in Japan,[18] Singapore,[2] Macau, Taiwan,[citation needed] and the U.S.[19]

Lim has spoken in interviews about making independent films in Asia, saying: "I personally think the word 'passion' is overrated when it comes to describing filmmakers. Many passionate people end up just talking about what their goals are, but it's the tenacious ones that get things done and make progress."[20]

In 2014, Lim was dubbed "An Ambassador for Local Films" by Macau Closer magazine.[21]

Japan

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Following the release of Roulette City in Japan, Lim began residing in Tokyo, where he made the short films Mari and The Last Room.

Mari is a film about the struggles of single mothers in Japan. When describing his inspirations for the film, he explains: "People don't usually associate Japan with being poor. But upon further research, I learned that two groups of people fell under the country's poverty line in Japan: the net cafe dwellers, and single mothers. I was shocked to discover that there are more than 1 million single mothers in Japan, and even thought it was a typo."[22]

The Last Room is Lim's first attempt at directing a horror project.[20]

Los Angeles

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Roulette City was invited to screen at the University of Southern California[23] in Los Angeles on January 23, 2015[24] and February 4, 2016.[25] Scenes from the film were included as part of USC's curriculum and final exams in 2016.

Speaking on his move to Los Angeles, Lim states: "If I can make Hollywood films, kids in Macau and my native Singapore will forever be allowed to take their Hollywood dreams seriously. It was something I didn't have as a child." Lim became Head of Sun Entertainment Culture Los Angeles (head office in Hong Kong) in September 2018.

Filmography

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Year Film Role
2019 Sea of Mirrors Director-Writer-Producer
2017 Mari Director-Writer-Producer
2017 The Last Room Director-Writer-Producer
2015 Returnees Director-Writer-Producer
2012 Roulette City Director-Writer-Producer
2011 Incredible Tales Actor
2008 Foreign Devils Actor
2008 The Game Actor
2007 Marco Polo Actor
2006 Last Seen At Angkor Actor-Producer
2006 Watch Me Actor
2006 Son of the Dragon Actor
2006 One Last Dance Actor

References

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  1. ^ "Thomas Lim Biography".
  2. ^ a b "The Macau Post Daily features Roulette City's Japan cinema release". macaupostdaily.com. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  3. ^ a b Lim, Thomas. "Pojian erchu (TV Series)". IMDB. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  4. ^ Lim, Thomas. "One Last Dance". IMDB.
  5. ^ "Sea of Mirrors aiming at 2018 premiere | MACAU DAILY TIMES 澳門每日時報". macaudailytimes.com.mo. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
  6. ^ "澳門日報電子版". www.macaodaily.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  7. ^ Leong, Monica (Apr 29, 2016). "Fog and Rain Major Challenge When Shooting "Sea of Mirrors."". Fog and Rain Major Challenge When Shooting "Sea of Mirrors.". The Macau Post Daily. Retrieved Apr 29, 2016.
  8. ^ "'Sea of Mirrors' being filmed in Macau". MACAU DAILY TIMES. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  9. ^ Nunes, Manuel (2016-04-06). ""Sea of Mirrors", novo filme de Thomas Lim, começa a ser gravado amanhã". Hoje Macau. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  10. ^ Ferreira, Liane (Feb 24, 2016). "Muitos cineastas locais têm relutância em usar Macau como cidade de jogo". Jornal Tribuna de Macau. Retrieved Feb 24, 2016 – via Jornal Tribuna de Macau.
  11. ^ Daily, Via Kio (May 9, 2016). "Thomas Lim returns to Macau to direct "Sea of Mirrors."". Thomas Lim returns to Macau to direct "Sea of Mirrors.". Va Kio Daily. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "A mobile new film in Macau". mART | Macau and Lisbon on the same page. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  13. ^ Lim, Thomas. "The Game". YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  14. ^ "New Arrival: Singaporean Actor and Director Thomas Lim Plans to Shoot in Macau". Macau Closer magazine. August 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  15. ^ Chan, Alice. "Interview: Actor-director Thomas Lim". Time Out Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  16. ^ Lim, Thomas. "'Macau Post Daily' newspapers reports on Roulette City's airing as a Chinese New Year film on Macau Cable TV". islandmanpictures.com. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  17. ^ Lim, Thomas. "Publicity for Thomas Lim". IMDB. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Finally Landing in Japan - Roulette City". Info Ninja Daily Web Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  19. ^ "Thomas Lim Interview: Actor.Writer.Director". Asians on Film. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  20. ^ a b Sullivan, Mike. "Interview with Thomas Lim – Actor, Producer and Director based in Tokyo". JapanStore.jp.
  21. ^ Costa, Kelvin. "AN AMBASSADOR FOR LOCAL FILMS". Macau Closer. Retrieved 4 August 2015.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ Sullivan, Mike. "A Foreign Director Brings the Story of a Japanese Single Mother to the Screen". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Roulette City film screening and discussion with writer/director Thomas Lim | USC Events Calendar". www.usc.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-04.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ "Chinese film director Thomas Lim "Roulette" USC player". ChineseDaily. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  25. ^ "US-China Today: Q&A With Thomas Lim, Director of Roulette City". www.uschina.usc.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
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