[2023.10.18] ANDY LAU, NICHOLAS TSE REUNITE FOR THE UNLEASHED BLAZE

Albert Yeung, Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse lead the staff to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal for the production start ceremony

Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse joke that their rare reunion has no investment ceiling from boss Albert Yeung

As the new film starts production, Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse spreads the RAGING FIRE lai see

Sammy Sum, Lam Chau Nam, Nicholas Tse, Ci Sha are all manly men

Working with Ray Lui, Carlos Chan can often learn from his elder

Michael Hui would make a "special performance"

Ci Sha in his first Hong Kong plays a villain, while Xie Miao describes the fight scenes as "every punch lands on the flesh"

Jeana Ho
courtesy of on.cc

Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse reunite after NEW SHAOLIN TEMPLE
courtesy of singtao.com

Ray Lui plays a successful businessman, Carlos Chan a high ranking police officer

Mainland actors Xie Miao and Ci Sha come to Hong Kong for the film

Michael Hui makes a super exaggerated heart shape
courtesy of mingpao.com

The Andy Lau Tak Wa and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung starred film THE UNLEASHED BLAZE (NO FOR MAN YIN) held a production start ceremony yesterday. 12 years after working together on the late director Benny Chan Muk Sing's SHAOLIN (SUN SIU LUM JI), Wa Jai and Ting Fung reunited in hopes of being able to continue Chan Muk Sing's spirit, preserve the soul of Hong Kong film, and make a fantastic and innovative action film. Wa Jai as the producer was responsible for spending money and had no pressure, citing that the budget had no upper limit. He joked that he was Tse Ting Fung's little brother.

Yesterday at the ceremony, Emperor Motion Pictures boss Albert Yeung Sau Sing, director Derek Kwok Chi Kin, producer Lau Tak Wa, action director Tse Ting Fung, actors Ray Lui Leung Wai, "special performer" Michael Hui Koon Man, Carlos Chan Ka Lok, Jeana Ho Pui Yi, Angus Yeung Tin Yue, Fong Ping, and mainland actors Ci Sha and Xie Miao all participated in the production start worship ceremony. Wa Jai and Ting Fung even distributed production start lai see to the cast and prayed for a smooth production.

Wa Jai and Ting Fung this time would not only be actors but also had behind the scene posts. They said that working together again after 12 years, they felt as familiar it was yesterday. NO FOR MAN YIN would not be a sequel to RAGING FIRE (NO FOR), Wa Jai said that this time would be an all new story. He and Ting Fung both hoped to be able to continue Chan Muk Sing's spirit and create the story of another world. "It would be a more abstract, more fantastic action film." Would they oppose each other in the film? Wa Jai joked, "We play brothers, I am the younger brother." Ting Fung was stunned and joked, "I don't dare to accept that!" In the film reportedly they played biological brothers but on opposite sides with a rather complicated relationship. They would have their share of action and fight scenes. Action director Ting Fung joked, "This time they are all on Brother Wa." He said that many action and explosion designs would still being created. Wa Jai said, "We already shot the opening scene, yours truly has already fought for a few days!" Ting Fung praised, "He's great!" Speaking of Ting Fung's eight pack abdominal muscles from the training, "I want to work even a little harder, I want Brother Wa to see I have improved from before." Wa Jai stated that his physical abilities have also been elevated, but he would leave the showing off to Ting Fung. "This time the action scenes are very highly physically demanding, they have already exceeded all of my previous action demands. Ting Fung would design the scenes, first using computer technology to shoot them then trying them on the set. If they would work then I would perform, if not they would have to accommodate me a little."

As the star and the producer, Wa Jai admitted that he felt no pressure and instead was the most relaxed because he had a good team. Director Kwok Chi Kin's first film GALLANTS (DA LUI TOI) was his company's production. In the past he has also made many important films, so he would have certain creative space. Everyone was in agreement with the idea. The producer had to control the budget, Wa Jai joked that someone else would manage the books. He instead was responsible for spending money. Whatever Ting Fung wanted to shoot he would definitely approve, because the boss has not given any production budget upper limit. Ting Fung boisterously laughed, "Thank you Brother Wa". Ting Fung said that actually this time many major scenes were very expensive and still being created, but he felt that they should not be measured with money. "The most important is being able to preserve Chan Muk Sing's spirit, preserve the soul of Hong Kong films, but also to innovate."

Lui Leung Wai in the film played a successful businessman. In comparison to his performance in RAGING FIRE, this time he would need to perform more action. Already in great shape, he would not need to show off his muscles so he would not need to work out more, but on the set he saw that Ting Fung has already achieved eight pack abdominal muscles. "Other than me, his muscles are the firmest." Brother Lui said that even with his ample action film experience, he was still afraid of injuring his co-stars. "Once while working in the mainland, I knocked out a big guy. Fight scenes have to be vicious, I would rather take a hard shot so the director would accept the take quicker."

Chan Ka Lok played a high ranking police officer, Lau Tak Wa's superior. Being able to work with his idol this time, he praised Wa Jai was very focused on the production conditions on the set as the producer. He also helped new actors like them, testing their marks and making them suggestions. Ka Lok said, "During the shoot I am both happy and worried, because I have to keep my distance from my idol. If I watch his every move too closely it would turn into staring at him squarely, so I would try to avert his eyes." Did he have many scenes with his idol? Ka Lok joked, "We have scenes together, I even have to yell at him. As soon as the cameras are rolling, I don't love him anymore!"

Mainland actors Ci Sha and Xie Miao also took part in the film. Ci Sha came to Hong Kong to make a movie for the first time and was still getting used to it. He admitted that in the past he mainly worked on costume films. He felt that the Hong Kong cast and crew were fast and professional. Having come to Hong Kong and worked with Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) on MY FATHER IS A HERO (CUP BA BA DIK SHUN), Xie Miao joked, "My scenes with Mr. Lau are dramatic, with Brother Fung we have action interaction." Did he feel Ting Fung's action choreography was amazing? He said that he still has not gotten to it ye, but he already felt that he was very amazing. Thus he got a little tense. Speaking of CREATION OF THE GODS I reaching 2.6 billion yuan RMB at the mainland box office, Ci Shan thanked everyone for their support and liking his character. The film recently has opened in Hong Kong. He said that earlier he attended the premiere and would not be too nervous about the box office performance, because the audience would have to experience how good or bad a movie was truly in person. The two would stay in Hong Kong for two to three months, returning to the mainland after the end of the year production wrap.

Ho Pui Yu basically was the only female in the film. To avoid making everyone look bad, she has already accepted striking training two months before. She even admitted, "I am not afraid of getting hurt, injuries and bruises from the shoot are very casual. As long as I am not losing an arm or a leg I am fine!" Her co-star Yeung Tin Yue praised producer Lau Tak Wa for being friendly. He said, "He treated everyone to food, and would sit with us and chat about the movie together. Aside from work we have learned a lot."