As the entertainment industry heads into a slow period, many artistes have been exploring different avenues of work. Ruco Chan (陳展鵬) recently posted a video on social media titled, "Say No to Job Discrimination," expressing admiration for former colleagues pursuing honest work. He also commented on the slowdown in drama production at TVB and what it means for actors.

Experiencing less filming work, Kitterick Yiu (姚亦澧) from Come Home Love: Lo and Behold <愛·回家之開心速遞>, has numerous side gigs. Besides running a restaurant and real estate business, he is also a tutor and a barista for a coffee truck. At night, he livestreams English lessons and draws in an audience with his toned physique.

Kitterick's side jobs also caught Ruco's attention. Ruco emphasized the importance of seeking opportunities in life, likening it to the popular concept of career transformation. Ruco comes from a humble background-his father was a firefighter and his mother a garment factory worker. He has climbed his way up to Best Actor purely through perseverance and hard work.

In the video, Ruco said, "In life, there's no one right path. If there's a road, walk it. Most importantly is that he's not hurting anyone. For instance, some may recognize him and [Kitterick] merely mentioned he was once an actor. Now he's just selling coffee. If people didn't know him, they wouldn't even know about his acting past. A lot of things require personal reflection."

Ruco stressed that as long as you have a clear conscience and are not hurting others, what you choose to do does not matter. The key is being accountable for the consequences. "When I was in the TVB artiste training class in my early 20s, like most young people, I cared a lot about face. Through life experience, I've worked on construction sites and done side gigs with my own hands and there's no shame in that. I truly admire many former TVB actors who now rely on their own hands or ideas to make a living. I don't see it negatively at all. I think they're brave. If I were in their position one day, I'd do the same. Why not give it a try?"

A former member of the Hong Kong Youth Table Tennis Team, Ruco even said that if he were to switch careers, he would become a table tennis coach. He believes it is enough to set goals for oneself in life. Now that he has a family, a stable income is important to him, "There are jobs I take purely to earn money. For others, I do what I enjoy. Of course, it's ideal if you can find work you both love and earn from, but life isn't always perfect."

Since the 2024 drama Sinister Beings 2 (逆天奇案2), Ruco's only unreleased project is The Queen of the Castle <巨塔之後>. Responding to rumors that he and others may soon be out of work due to slowdown in Hong Kong filming, Ruco said he does not feel that way. He believes the industry is full of ups and downs and sees each experience as a form of training. "As an actor, life often imitates art and vice versa. Right now, I'm chasing quality in the dramas I film. Everyone knows it's no longer about quantity, but quality. Some actors may say there are fewer opportunities now and that's true. But we've also gained more chances to build our own brand and voice. This personal space where you can speak up and work hard for yourself is far better than being controlled or judged by others."

Ruco's views resonated with many netizens, who praised not only his acting and looks but also his grounded values.