“The Iceman Cometh 3D” Lacks Support from Hong Kong Government
The press was invited to visit the studio set of the upcoming action blockbuster, The Iceman Cometh 3D <3D冰封侠>, located at the now defunct Kai Tak International Airport in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
A request to shoot at the actual Tsing Ma Bridge has not been approved by the Hong Kong government, prompting the crew to build an imitation set of that Tsing Ma Bridge at Kai Tak for the convenience of explosion scenes and other grand scale effects. With a total film budget of $250 million HKD, The Iceman Cometh 3D has now become the most expensive action film of Greater China.
The scene being filmed at the set was an action sequence that involved Donnie Yen (甄子丹), a Ming Dynasty general who accidentally travels to modern day Hong Kong, battling out his four friends-turned-enemies in an epic life or death situation. The epic fight will not only include car races and helicopter chases, but also one unique scene involving a running white horse.
Donnie admitted that he is disappointed with the Hong Kong government, feeling that the government has not been as supportive of local movie projects as before. “Not only was our request to shoot at Tsing Ma Bridge disproved, we also received complaints from the police for our bus chasing scene earlier when we filmed in the city. They complained to us that our lights were too bright. Was it really that bad? I think it’s hilarious. They weren’t as bright as street lights! I just feel that they do not seem to be that supportive of local film productions.”
Donnie laughed and professed that the meteoric rise of the film’s production budget does not worry the investors, and Donnie himself is not afraid that the film would be a box office bomb, as costar Wang Baoqiang (王寶強), star of mainland China’s best-selling film of all time, Lost in Thailand <人再囧途之泰囧>, is a box office miracle. Costar Simon Yam (任達華) exclaimed, “With Wang Baoqiang, The Iceman Cometh 3D’s box office can reach 2 billion RMB!”
Source: ntdtv.com
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
“They complained to us that our lights were too bright. Was it really that bad? I think it’s hilarious. They weren’t as bright as traffic lights!”
Wrong translation there. “路燈” = street lamp, not traffic lights, huge difference.
If donnie yen honestly thought light equipment used for filming aren’t as bright as traffic lights, I would think hes an idiot.
Nicole,
The phrase has been corrected.
Donnie yen is pimping for sympathy! If HK govt is not supportive of local productions then HK movie industry would have been dead now?! Also agree with Nicole re street lamp vs light equipment.
Well with an over blown budget he needs to 1. Find excuse, so blame HK government for refusing to let him use the bridge thus costing more. In reality, that is just poor planning by the producers, they should have foreseen that such disruptions will not be tolerable (plus government will also consider users welfare as Funn Lim said). 2. Ridiculous statement like this will get him free publicity… He needs it to break even for the movie.
Thank you to HK govt for not selling out and refuse to consider the safety of everyone, bridge included in granting permit. HK govt must consider safety and welfare of bridge users first and foremost and kudos to them.
Funn, “for not selling out and refuse to consider the safety of everyone”? Do you mean for not selling out and consider the safety of everyone? 🙂
Is that Donnie Yen 2nd from left in the photo?
Oh dear.. What happened? Hes practically a face match for that obnoxious+b*tchy dude from 5566 who wears a ton of make up.
Men should learn to age like Simon Yam.
I would have thought you would need to get all permits before filming is even approved or started filming.
To complain about it in the middle of filming expecting a certain outcome, even though that outcome is unrealistic, is insane.
Contrary to what donnie yen thinks, the world does not revolve around him, even though I’m sure he wishes it did.
I know I sure as hell would be mad if I was late to work or inconvenienced because some b-actor wanted to close a bridge to shoot some overrated remake of a movie.
– It’s a bridge for god’s sake, not some road where you can just take a detour. How selfish.
Unfortunately, we’re talking about the same government that will grant anything to Hollywood productions, especially big-budgeted ones. Hell, even Johnnie To and Anthony Wong have complained about local productions being denied shooting permits regularly while the government be sucking up to foreign productions.
You make a good point. But in a way, Donnie does make a valid point himself about the government lacking support of this and (implied) other local productions in general. It’s a shame.
Donnie Yen thought that after Ip Man he is now the “Tai Koh”. All HongKongers have to “Kow Tow” to him and the film industry.
All inconvenience to other Tax Payers does not matter.