We’re looking forward to introducing you to Tyler Ham Pong. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Tyler , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
My business relies heavily on photography, videography and editing. What’s most misunderstood about it is the time and skill it takes. This is mainly because these tools have become to accessible on a consumer level through Instagram, TikTok and CapCut, which can create fast edits at a lower quality. However, when you look closely, that’s where the seams begin to show. Tom Waits said that Jim Jarmusch once told him, “If it’s fast and cheap, it won’t be good. If it’s cheap and good, it won’t be fast. If it’s fast and good, it won’t be cheap.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tyler Ham Pong and I operate a small production company in Los Angeles called Kill the Pig Productions. My main reason for founding the company was the create a opportunities for myself as an actor and writer; so we have a whole catalogue of short films and projects that we’ve created in-house. We have a few projects in the pipeline that we’re really excited about getting off the ground, including a found-footage horror film! In addition, we also specialize in headshots and actors’ services, because I can relate and understand the needs of other actors; and we also create content for social media for other businesses.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I starred in a full-length movie that never saw the light of day. And then it happened again. You might wonder how a finished production could be shelved, but in reality the world of independent film has little to no accountability. Indie film can feel like the Wild West, and it’s more common than you’d think for indie filmmakers, especially first-timers, to realize they didn’t have the quality or story for which they aspired. So I try not to take it too personally as an actor, which is harder said than done when you pour your heart and soul into a character. Would these films have changed the course of my career? Maybe, but maybe not. What I can take from these experiences are the lessons I’ve learned, and can apply to myself as a filmmaker. I appreciate how guerrilla filmmaking taught me to be prepared, fast, efficient and adaptable. But I release the guilt I harbor for these films never being released themselves, because I learned so much from being a part of them.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
A defining wound is when I lost my dog. One thing that helped me heal is how she taught me to love dogs in general, which helps me when interacting with animals on set. Last year, I booked at PetCo commercial because of my ability to interact with dogs. I also just starred in a short film in New York where I spend a lot of time with a furry co-star. But I also hope to honor my dog’s memory by finding and loving another dog one day.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Right now, the biggest lie is that artificial intelligence isn’t advanced enough to replace artists. The jumps in advancement within a few months or years has been astronomical, and people have lost jobs. So I think that mentality made some of us complacent when fighting for safeguards against AI. The reality is that AI isn’t going away, so it’s up to the Creative to use AI responsibly, and ultimately up to the consumer to support human-made art. We’ll see how far that takes us anyway.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I had 10 years left, I would stop putting off my passion projects. I would produce the film I’ve been working on for 3 years. Knowing that I can always make the screenplay better has made me overthink the project, putting me in an “analysis paralysis,” as my dad would say. That question is a really good reminder to live without hesitation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.killthepigproductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ktpproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killthepigproductions
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcL95TxsevIrkbc9GXn3Ww
Image Credits
Peyton McCormick, Rahul Rai, Alex Lynn Ward, Jamie Miller, Aston, Nate Timmerman.
