The Glasgow overseas Chinese film festival represents a rare opportunity to see a unique collection of British Chinese movies alongside some great classics. This is aside from the fact that you will also witness another rare occurrence - British Chinese faces on the big screen. Laiyan Man spoke to David Yip, the festival's patron about his career, "The Chinese Detective" and the lack of British Chinese representation on TV and the big screen.

When interviewing David Yip, a question about "The Chinese Detective" is unavoidable, as it is a role he will forever be known for.

"The Chinese Detective" came from good stock as the writer of the series, Ian Kennedy Martin, also wrote "The Sweeney" and "Juliet Bravo", the character he created broke all traditional stereotypes of Chinese people as he "used his brains not his fists". David Yip was fortunate to land such a well-scripted role, which won the BBC a lot of praise at the time. However the BBC did not build on the initial critical acclaim they received as David pointed out "after the series finished they started showing Charlie Chan films again".

Unsurprisingly, the series had a huge impact on his life, as he became probably the most high-profile Chinese person of the time. The impact was equally as great on people of my own generation, I remember being amazed to see a Chinese person on screen, speaking perfect English, a Chinese acquaintance of mine remembers being nicknamed "David Yip". Apart from the usual celebrity openings, he would give talks to all members of the Chinese Community of all ages. Today David still enjoys a role on various arts councils and sits on "Race in the Media Awards" board.

When the series finished he returned to his first love - the stage, and has worked in minor roles on film as well as writing and directing "Chinese Whispers" (also being shown at the festival). "Chinese Whispers" is a short film about the Liverpool Chinese Community; the oldest Chinese Community in the UK The film came about when he had successfully applied for a grant from Liverpool Council, who was commissioning three films for the Millennium.

The aim of the short film was to re-create the history of Liverpool Chinatown. The original Chinatown had been bombed and destroyed in 1942. As a Liverpudlian, David wanted to tell the story of the Chinese Community Pre -1942. He felt it was important for the existing Chinese Community in Liverpool as well as other Chinese Communities through-out the UK, to document the history of The Chinese Community, as David put it "if you don't know where you have come from, you don't know how far you've travelled". Alongside the film, David was able to compile an archive of photographs of old Chinatown, taken by the photographer, Burt Hardy; these were used to mount an exhibition. The exhibition was eventually attended by 2,500 people, which exceeded all expectations.

Despite all of David Yip's recent achievements, nothing has been as high a profile as "The Chinese Detective" - why, since the series ended, have we not seen anything else to equate his initial success? "We need more writers and more directors," said David, which makes perfect sense, but could the pressure to go into more lucrative careers be the primary reason for holding the Chinese Community back?

Such pressures are not the only factor - any talent we do have leave the country and go abroad where there is more opportunity for Chinese people. The emergence of Ang Lee hasn't really opened doors for Chinese people in this country - he is still an outsider and not homegrown talent. Our failure to be represented in the arts and media means that we will remain invisible to the British Community, therefore voiceless and powerless, we must do all we can to support what we do have.

David says, "The Glasgow Overseas Chinese Film Festival" (the name being slightly misleading) should be supported by the Chinese Community as it promotes some homegrown talent we do have like Kevin Wong. The festival shows films from a variety of directors from a variety of backgrounds and it's good start".

"This will be the first time, to my knowledge that our true voice has been brought together, in the collection of films and artists that are being screened in this Season. We could pat ourselves on the back and say, "haven't we done well!" Or we could do ourselves and our community a lot more good and let our voices be heard in constructive and meaningful debate and discussion during the festival. It will inspire us to make further steps towards reclaiming our own identities and our own voice!"