Trial & Error (company)

Trial & Error Limited

Company type	Private
Industry	Video production, Digital media
Founded	October 2020 (2020-10)
Founder	Neo Yau, ,
Headquarters	Hong Kong , Hong Kong
Products	Comedic videos, music videos, sketches, parodies

Trial & Error Limited () is a Hong Kong-based video production enterprise that focuses on creating comedic content for online platforms. Established in October 2020 by Neo Yau, , and , the collective rapidly established a strong presence within the digital media landscape.

With a background in film and television, Yau launched the channel driven by dissatisfaction with mainstream media’s inadequate representation of his generation. He joined forces with Hui and So, who contributed their expertise in managing YouTube channels. Within half a year, the channel achieved nearly 200 million views alongside close to 200,000 subscribers. By 2021, Trial & Error had become one of Hong Kong’s leading YouTube channels, boasting over 350,000 subscribers and having produced upwards of 210 videos in just over a year.

The channel’s productions are heavily influenced by Stephen Chow’s signature style, encompassing formats such as game shows, music videos, comedic sketches, and parodies of well-known songs and films. Their material often tackles themes like social dynamics, workplace politics, and contemporary trends through slapstick comedy, mo lei tau humor, and exaggerated pranks that resonate deeply with Hong Kong audiences. Notably, they have released satirical tracks parodying Dear Jane and mocking Mirror. In June 2021, their song was recognized by the South China Morning Post for capturing the emotional struggles experienced by many during the wave of emigration from the city.

History

The Chinese name of Trial & Error, "試當真", symbolizes a filmmaking philosophy centered on embracing experimentation without fear of failure. Founded in October 2020 by actor Neo Yau alongside YouTubers and , all native to Hong Kong, the team combined their prior experience from channels like Diamond Crew and CapTV. Yau’s background in acting and content creation fueled his desire to articulate his generation’s perspectives via digital platforms, while So cited financial reasons as a key motivator.

Starting with limited resources, Trial & Error initially produced low-budget videos from home settings. Within six months, they attracted almost 200 million views and 200,000 subscribers, enabling them to generate enough income through advertising and fan support to rent studio space and hire staff. The group later expanded its lineup to include Locker Lam, Kaki Sham, Jessica Chan, Kathy Ngai, and Yanny Chan.

In the wake of the 2020 Hong Kong national security law implementation, Trial & Error’s content gained increased visibility amid tightening industry constraints. Founder Yau emphasized the necessity of operating within “grey areas” to sustain creative endeavors. In April 2021, the team partnered with other notable Hong Kong YouTube creators for a livestream event that drew as many as 15,000 viewers.

By December 2021, Trial & Error ranked as Hong Kong’s fastest-growing YouTube channel in terms of subscriber count, surpassing 350,000 subscribers and producing over 210 videos in just more than a year. Multiple videos exceeded one million views including "Don't tell me that she has a boyfriend" () and "Channel needs girls" ().

In April 2022, the collective introduced an NFT-based membership scheme named Next Trial Run (NTR), which provided perks such as early ticket access to live performances and artist training sessions. Despite facing some public scrutiny over its fundraising approach, the program sold one-third of its total 6,000 tokens on launch day alone, raising upwards of HKD 10 million (around US$1.28 million).

Performers

• Neo Yau, one of the channel’s founders, is an alumnus of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and gained acclaim for his performance in She Remembers, He Forgets. He contributed as a writer, director, and actor in the ViuTV series .
• , also a founder, collaborated with So to co-write the ViuTV series and constitutes one half of the music duo .
• , another founding member, partnered with Hui on both scriptwriting and musical projects as part of .
• joined the group within six months of its inception through Neo Yau’s recruitment. His film credits include Weeds on Fire, P Storm, and A Witness Out of the Blue, alongside appearances in ViuTV productions such as . Lam’s distinctive comedic style was integral to the channel’s initial content. In 2021, he publicly shared his relationship with fellow member Kayan9896.
• Kaki Sham, a member of the ensemble, featured in High Noon () and Weeds on Fire. He attracted attention as a host on ViuTV’s program .
• Jessica Chan, who joined following her modeling career and completion of her university studies in 2018, became a regular presence on the channel after starring in the short video "Godfather" (). She is frequently cast in advertisements for brands like the mixian chain and appeared in ViuTV’s .
• , selected via the recruitment initiative "Channel needs girls" (), emerged as the most frequently appearing female performer by October 2021 and participated in ViuTV’s 2021 reality competition .
• Yanny Chan, formerly part of the girl group Super Girls, featured in ViuTV’s and is represented by Louis Koo’s management company. She often portrays inquisitive female characters () in Trial & Error productions.
• Kayan9896 gained popularity through the 2020 Trial & Error video "Don't tell me that she has a boyfriend" (), appeared in Ian Chan’s music video "DWBF", and collaborated musically with MC $oHo & KidNey.
• , recognized for portraying an inflatable doll in the skit "No masturbation" ().
• , originally from Malaysia but raised in Hong Kong, played the student union president in ViuTV’s 2019 series . With a background in directing from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, he shifted from assistant directing to acting within Trial & Error. Tong frequently embodies suave romantic roles such as Vincent in "A fairy tale without autumn" ().
• , previously affiliated with the group.

Production Team

• Leung Ho-gam (), also known by his nickname "Match Guy" (), serves as a camera operator and was among the initial members joining the team.

Videos

Trial & Error specializes in producing budget-conscious short videos, primarily formatted as mockumentaries. Their repertoire encompasses game show formats, music videos, comedic sketches, and parodies that lampoon popular songs and films. These works reflect the founders’ perspectives on social dynamics, workplace culture, and contemporary issues. The comedic style draws inspiration from Stephen Chow’s mo lei tau brand of humor.

The group’s debut short film premiered on 26 October 2020, parodying Tenet. Titled "The Realistic Tenet: the full version" (), it centers on a YouTuber tasked with traveling backward through time to prevent the outbreak of the Third World War. The fight sequences pay tribute to those in Tenet and garnered favorable responses online. Among their early productions is "Don't tell me that she has a boyfriend" (), presented from an otaku viewpoint and starring Kayan9896, who attracted significant attention through this role.

Following their involvement in the ViuTV series , Trial & Error developed a spoof called "140520," featuring actors from 940920 and its prequel Leap Day. This parody satirizes scenes from these shows as well as from Beyond the Dream. On 4 July 2022, they released "The vampire and I have a misunderstanding" (), a comedic take on My Date with a Vampire, which was lauded for its accurate scene replication and high production values.

Additionally, Trial & Error created a television commercial for Hang Seng Bank, entitled "Try to be mature, try to be serious" (), starring Yau, Hui, and So. The advertisement aired on ViuTV on 10 May 2022 and was uploaded to both Hang Seng Bank’s and Trial & Error’s YouTube channels. The concept employs a multiverse theme where the trio navigates various cinematic worlds and past Trial & Error videos to promote embracing experimentation.

Songs

On 3 December 2020, the group unveiled a humorous rendition of the Dear Jane track "You & Me" (), retitled "Traffic jam on Tsun Yip Street" (), with lyrics co-written alongside lyricist . The parody humorously portrayed the daily congestion experienced by commuters in Kwun Tong District. Angela Yuen, who appeared in the original Dear Jane music video, returned for this spoof, which quickly gained viral traction and generated widespread conversation.

In June 2021, Hui and So introduced a Cantonese track titled , translating to "see you later." The accompanying 1980s-inspired music video depicts a party scene where So Chi Ho’s character sings about wanting to leave early, with the lyrics, "Let me go first, that's that. Let's play again next time!" This song struck a chord with younger listeners, becoming a favored alternative farewell expression and maintaining its position atop Spotify’s Cantonese charts for several weeks. It subtly mirrored the internal dilemmas faced by many Hong Kong residents contemplating emigration.

To lampoon the widely popular group Mirror, Hui and So released "Black Mirror," a satirical take referencing Mirror’s pervasive presence in Hong Kong advertising and humorously suggesting that there should be more than just a dozen attractive men worldwide.

Shows

Trial & Error staged two performances at Star Hall on October 26, 2021, under the title "Trial & Error's first anniversary show: the in-person version" (). To deter scalpers, they implemented an uncommon Dutch auction ticketing model in Hong Kong—starting at and decreasing incrementally to over a span of 24 days. Remarkably, all 3,600 seats were sold out within four days, generating estimated earnings of .

Each two-hour event featured a blend of sketches, dance routines, musical performances, and stand-up comedy. Special guests included actor Louis Koo, bands such as Dear Jane and , alongside YouTube channels like Pomato and FHProductionHK. During these shows, Yau delivered stand-up segments that actively engaged the audience.

In 2022, Trial & Error’s pioneering approach to ticket sales was highlighted as a multiple-choice question within the economics section of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) exam. The question explored economic principles related to price rationing versus distribution.

Reception

Emily Tsang from the South China Morning Post observed that Trial & Error effectively harnessed fan enthusiasm through their satirical take on idol culture combined with clever use of Cantonese slang. Gary Tang Kin-yat, assistant professor of social science at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, commended their "high-quality productions," noting their strengths in storytelling, humor, cinematography, and linguistic creativity. He credited their sustained multi-platform efforts for their widespread appeal in Hong Kong. Psychologist Peter Chan Kin-yan emphasized how their use of metaphor and self-deprecating humor enables them to tackle sensitive issues in a manner that resonates by addressing underlying fears and desires. The BBC characterized their videos as distinctive for their humor, irony, and metaphorical content, which has earned them considerable popularity among younger demographics. Ba Ze of Harper's Bazaar highlighted that Trial & Error’s content reflects contemporary values that deeply connect with youth audiences, fueling their success.

External links

• Official website