Brace yourself for an action-packed film, honoring the legacy and influence of the Heroic Bloodshed genre. A genre that shaped cinema history in Hong Kong in the late 80s and had considerable impact for films across the world. NEO HONG KONG 20XX leans into the inspirations of chivalry, honor, courage, and romance. With a heavy touch of stylized violence, dramatic stories, and emotional flair -- it's an incendiary dance burning passionately and gracefully on the silver screen. A revitalization of yesteryear's genre, revolutionized into a science fiction. This film merges past, present, and future in explosive entertainment.

Synopsis

Three childhood friends are pulled into the Underworld of Triad society. Chasing dreams of a bright future, they fight to cement themselves in a world that rejects them. Through years of arduous challenges, they are taken in as protégés by the lead Triad Boss. Afterwards, all hell breaks loose when a hierarchal shift for leadership shakes up the syndicate. A contest for power, conflicting ideals, and romantic interests unexpectedly shapes their sworn loyalties. Eventually leading to devastated bonds and emotional despair, how will each one persist? Never break code. Never betray the dream.

Why this?

Heroic Bloodshed represents a cinema revolution that spurned on a golden period of filmmaking. It's very bravado is much needed in this industry: the resplendence in taking risks through all-out cinema!

Stills from our previous VFX films

Asians have infrequently been the leads within the science fiction genre and often marginalized to a point of erasure. Many of these Hollywood sci-fi worlds are influenced by Eastern culture, but with a lack of Asians. Please check out the long-term research series from Astria Suparak Asian Futures, Without Asians. It's time for reclamation: Asians in the Future! Being a part of VFX blockbuster spectacles and paving the way for more.

Why me?

I'm super passionate about this genre of filmmaking. My first few films were Heroic Bloodshed. It's what got me making movies in the first place. Growing up in middle America, I share in the stories of being one of the few Asians in town. I didn't have a sense of community and infrequently interacted with others of my ethnic background. Dealing with racism and hardly fitting in, it was constant isolation. I honestly don't look back on my youth with fond memories. It's that of pain and trauma.

About the only time I saw myself being represented is through films. It was my only outside window to the world. Seeing Asians be the leads in such epic stories, cultivated a sense of acceptance -- despite the harsh realities around me. Call it escapism, but I call it inspiration. These are the people I aspired to be; these were my role models. And that's the transcendent design for me as a filmmaker: to inspire others as such. 

Behind the scenes photos of previous works

I'm a multi-hyphenate filmmaker. From pre-production to marketing, I have been involved in many fields. Specifically in the visual effects department, I have been doing VFX and graphic design work since 2016. Making this film is a calculated decision. It is a culmination of learning, knowledge, and experience. I'm one of the only filmmakers that's going to be able to pull off such an ambitious project, especially at a low price tag. Even if it's a seemingly impossible endeavor, I'm always adapting and overcoming challenges despite the odds. This film is going to get made.

Why Now?

In a time of studios being risk-averse, generative AI, and micro dramas, the future of filmmaking has been riddled with uncertainty. We need to keep the cinematic spirit alive. It's important more than ever that we provide opportunities for people -- with work and further development of their craft. As the industry moves away with runaway productions and tries to rebound from the Hollywood strikes, an independent film renaissance through human art has been the conversation.

A few posters of my directorial features

And that's what this film is dominantly about: human art. It's a collaborative effort to create with other people. While I can't say no AI will be involved, it's usage for this film is and will be less than 10%. Even so, that will mostly be AI enhanced tools such as advancements in rotoscoping and neural rendering. I'm making this movie to work with people; it's the sole objective. It's of the utmost importance that we persevere, develop, and grow as living beings. Telling human stories and humanizing these works of science fiction.

For Our Future.

The Cast

The Crew

The feature length film for NEO HONG KONG has been a long time coming. Originally, we shot conceptual material back in 2018, but I decided to put post production on hold for new tech that was arriving at the time in raytracing. One thing led to the next -- 2 years of a pandemic lockdown, the Hollywood Strikes, and an industry on the rebound. I never got around to finishing the work on the concept short film, especially since there was no budget to begin with. 

Examples of our green screen work

Now in 2026, I made the decision to just go for it. This film will mostly be shot on green/blue screen with CGI (computer-generated imagery) effects. We live in a precarious time where the lines are blurred, but using CGI doesn't mean using Generative AI. As a way of thinking: Gen-AI copies CGI work along with real footage that's out there -- it'll mostly be an emulation of what it's trained on or referencing.

Examples of the work in progress

I have been a VFX artist for many years now, doing all facets from modeling, character work, environments, and too much others to list. VFX is such an umbrella statement, but there's many things that go into it -- and each part of the process is a dedicated position: previs, compositing, rotoscoping, mocap, graphic design, art direction, etc... And while I have seen the advancements in technology through the years, my stance on Generative AI is that it's an insult to life itself. It can't know struggle, is not affected by criticism, hasn't the need to pay bills, and doesn't make sacrifices. Deeply for me, Gen-AI has only spurned an existential crisis: of what was all those years hard work and suffering for? This campaign, promotional materials, and footage involve real people and are visually constructed by human work and artistry. This film will be done by humans, for humans. Because I'm human, and I refuse to be overtaken.

Making a film costs money. These Generative AI users will humble brag about how cheap they can make something, but it means they're not paying people and largely removing them from the equation. That defeats what filmmaking is: it takes a village. It's a system that supports many fields: from cast to crew, down to catering, marketing, legal affairs, etc. Creating jobs for all kinds of trades means providing a living for as many people as a production enables.

Your donation helps out communities. Support people in bringing an entertaining experience for the world to enjoy and be inspired by. Be part of a cinematic revolution.

The bottom-line is the initial goal will not cover all of production costs. It's purpose is to pay for cast and some crew. I will be self-financing a good portion of this film, and in truth, I am trying to avoid as much debt as possible. This movie can only get made at a bare minimum, and making a pledge helps bring us closer in fulfilling this initiative.

Should we reach our initial goal, all further funds will be put to paying for the rest of production.

Stretch Goals

• $30,000 - Props, wardrobe, makeup, hair, and styling
• $40,000 - Insurance, legal fees, transportation, and catering
• $50,000 - More cast and crew

1. Follow - Click the “Follow” button on the Seed&Spark campaign page. We need 350 followers, for a chance to become a finalist and possible winner in receiving additional funding opportunities through Gold House.
2. Pledge - No amount too small. Every bit counts. Your pledge goes directly towards production costs and raises the quality of the film.
3. Share - Please share our campaign with your friends and families. Informing your community and anyone who might be interested in the movie, would be of tremendous help in raising visibility. 

Film Comps -- edited by Francois D