We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyler Ham Pong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyler, would love to get a better understanding of the role tech plays in your industry?
Kill the Pig Productions specializes in photography and videography, so we are very dependent on tech. Without technology, I wouldn’t have a business. Aside from the obvious ways we use technology to operate, it’s also been important for marketing and reaching out to new clients. The quick advances in technology can make it hard to keep up, but that’s when taste and a good eye can be your greatest ally. What a filmmaker lacks in resources, they can make up with resourcefulness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m very proud of the films I’ve made with my production company. Our short films, “Leap” and “Dreamer in Exile,” are currently on Amazon Prime. As an actor, you’re often auditioning to fit other people’s vision of a role or project, but by taking control of the roles you play, you’re able to create opportunities for yourself. That being said, you have to learn a whole new set of skills, which takes time and patience. There’s a lot of work to be done behind the scenes before anyone sees the final product. As a filmmaker, you have to be knowledgeable about so many different specialities that add up to something greater. I’m always learning new tricks from watching other filmmakers and asking them questions. YouTube is a great resource too. My story is that I’m an actor, who is also a filmmaker, so I know how to work with actors.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Los Angeles is an amazing city! There’s a lot to do when a pandemic isn’t keeping us indoors. I’m pretty cheesy with my tourism when people visit, so you’ll probably find me at a theme park at some point. I definitely take my friends on a walk down Melrose Avenue, starting at Golden Apple Comics and walking towards Groundlings.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The 72 Hour Film Shootout is a filmmaking competition from the Asian American Film Lab, and I can’t tell you how much I love this competition. They’re devoted to showcasing Asian and Asian American filmmakers by challenging them to write, film and edit a movie in 3 days. I first participated over 10 years ago, and I’ve been competing annually ever since. Last year, I won both Grand Prize and Best Actor Prize, awarding me mentorships with NBC Executives. This year, I’m honored to be the Shootout Coordinator, and facilitate these opportunities for emerging diverse filmmakers.

Website: www.killthepigproductions.com
Instagram: @ktpproductions
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerhampong/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tylerhampong
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killthepigproductions/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcL95TxsevIrkbc9GXn3Ww

Image Credits
Photo 1 left to right: Chris Vongsawat, Jamie Miller, Tyler Ham Pong, Marlo Bernier, Zack Wallnau Photo 2 left to right: Meghan Pool, Nate Timmerman, Tyler Ham Pong, Jamie Miller Photo 3 left to right: Jenna Enns, Jamie Miller Photo 4: Tyler Ham Pong