Cast Member Survives Near-Fatal Rope Accident During Hong Kong's First Wakesurf Film
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's first wakesurf-themed film "Waves of Men and Women" faced production challenges even before cameras rolled. Director Patrick Fung (馮志強) revealed that an investor backed out just before filming was set to begin, forcing him to invest over a million dollars of his own money to complete the project. The movie stars Jeffrey Ngai (魏浚笙), Renci Yang (楊偲泳), and Kevin Chu (朱鑑然), who play characters learning and performing wakesurf stunts.
Key Points
- Jeffrey Ngai suffered a near-fatal accident when a hemp rope coiled around his neck during filming, strapping him underwater for 3-4 seconds
- Renci Yang witnessed the entire incident and immediately asked if he was conscious, noting a blood mark on his neck
- KB (Lee Kinwang, who plays the boatman) quickly steered the boat to pull Ngai out of the water
- Ngai recovered after resting for one month before resuming filming, though he now has trauma looking at ropes during the sport
- Director Patrick Fung had to self-finance over one million dollars when an investor withdrew support right before production
- The movie features both solo wakesurfing performances and double routines between Ngai and Yang
- Kevin Chu plays a professional instructor character nicknamed "Joe God" with a signature greeting of loudly saying "Good Morning"
Why It Matters
The production challenges faced by "Waves of Men and Women" reflect broader difficulties in Hong Kong's film industry amid economic uncertainty, while the near-fatal accident underscores the genuine physical risks involved in performing water sports stunts for cinema . The film's success could pave the way for more locally-produced extreme sports movies in Hong Kong, showcasing the territory's watersports culture to a wider audience.
The production challenges faced by "Waves of Men and Women" reflect broader difficulties in Hong Kong's film industry amid economic uncertainty, while the near-fatal accident underscores the genuine physical risks involved in performing water sports stunts for cinema . The film's success could pave the way for more locally-produced extreme sports movies in Hong Kong, showcasing the territory's watersports culture to a wider audience.