Born in Hong Kong to a Xinhui family, Norman Chan studied film and television at the University of Southern California and graduated in 1976. Back in Hong Kong he joined Commercial Television as an assistant director and was promoted to director within half a year. Encouraged by his university classmate Allen Fong, he produced Fong's debut The Beasts (1980) and went on to produce New Wave titles including The Happenings (1980), Love Massacre (1981), Cream, Soda and Milk (1981) and Lemon Cola (1982), having earlier written the screenplay for The Crazy Instructor (1979). Noted for cost control and efficiency, he was recruited by Cinema City in 1983 and in 1986 joined D&B Film as production manager, overseeing the trio of Clifton Ko, Ronny Yu and Fung Sai-hung and introducing computerised budget control. He made his directing debut with the middle-class romantic comedy Single Nobility (1989) and later directed adult-themed films under the pseudonym Otto Chan. In 1990 he helped found the Hong Kong Film Producers' Association. His 2008 feature, co-directed with Siu Wing, won a jury prize at the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival, and he later taught at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Moving from directing at Commercial Television to production, Norman Chan was an active behind-the-scenes figure in the New Wave and D&B years and an early adopter of computerised budget control. He oversaw large commercial productions while also directing adult-themed films under a pseudonym, proving remarkably versatile in both role and genre.
Achievements
- 1983 · Recruited by Cinema City, producing The Spiritualist (1984) and Kung Hei Fat Choy (1985).
- 1986 · Joined D&B Film as production manager and introduced computerised budget control.
- 1990 · Helped found the Hong Kong Film Producers' Association with Chui Po-chu, Wan Pak-nam and Cheung Kuen.