Education
Shum graduated from the University of Hong Kong, and subsequently undertook further study in the United Kingdom and United States.
Shum graduated from the University of Hong Kong, and subsequently undertook further study in the United Kingdom and United States.
His English name is sometimes written as John Sham. Whilst known primarily for his comedic acting roles in Hong Kong cinema, he also spent time as a political activist. Upon his return to Hong Kong, he co-founded "City Magazine" with John Chan, and worked as its editors
At the same time, he began working in television and radio.
In 1983, he set up the film production company Doctorate&B Films, along with Sammo Hung and Dickson Poon. He later founded another film company with John Chan, Maverick Films Limited.
Shum"s most prolific period working as an actor was during the 1980s.
Of the 45 films he has appeared in, 33 were during this period. Shum is credited as a producer on over 20 films including Hong Kong 1941 (1984), Legacy of Rage (1986) and The Banquet (1991).
He worked as assistant director on the 1987 Michelle Yeoh film Magnificent Warriors and also has credits on a number of other films, with roles such as planning, executive production and presentation.
In 1992, Shum co-hosted the Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony. Throughout much of the 1990s, films took a back seat as Shum was heavily involved with the Pro-Democracy movement in Hong Kong. In 2005, he was appointed the Executive Secretary of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, by the government-sponsored Film Development Committee (FDC).
His latest role is as executive producer, alongside Jackie Chan, for the forthcoming film Wushu (2008), which will be directed by Antony Szeto and will star Sammo Hung.
He was also a student activist in the 1970s back in his youth and was a member of a Trotskyist vanguard party the Revolutionary Marxist League. In December 2007, he was enrolled as an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild.