Credit: Sam Fresh
Frustratingly, there’s quite a bit I’ve had to leave out of this post, but what I can report is that stunt performer and indepedent filmmaker Kyle Wong (Vendetta, The Line) is in longstanding development on a new comedic action horror thriller as of last year. That’s the good news, although the bad news does take some sifting, so bear with me.
Plot details on the project are unknown, but things began evolving last summer with Wong in preliminary discussions about the project with a partner based in the U.S. (more on this person later). As things stands, 2021 should’ve been the major turning point for it all as talks between Wong, his partner, and an unnamed local producer in Winnepeg eventually ramped up back in January through February. Wong then organized a viewing party for his Crow-inspired fan film, Nightwatch, where producers and potential backers joined in on the fun and reportedly took an active interest in what Wong and his partner had their hands on, with things looking further up between April on through October.
So what happened?
From what I’m told, communication with the unnamed producer backed down. Wong’s partner saw the signs and walked from the project while Wong stayed temporarily to work with the company on a commercial and a pending documentary, and that was until an abuse of power occurred by one of the company’s employees. Indeed, it’s the kind of filmmaking horror story nobody wants to hear about, but indeed, it does happen.
You might notice how careful I am with mentioning Wong’s affiliations in terms of his partner. To be clear, I know who it is, and I was respectfully requested not to mention their name as the person in question has worked in the independent arena before and had long since retired from the field. What I can say is that this person also played a major role in the proliferation of Hong Kong action fandom and the stunt community online well into the early two-thousandsies, which is why my enthusiasm extends so far into covering this project as much as I’ve wanted to.
For this, a project like what Wong has in mind would be in some pretty solid hands, coupled with his own experience in film and stunts dating back to 2012 under his Black Ice 140 indie banner. Wong has also served as production assistant on a number of projects, including Curse Of Chucky (2013), The Parts You Lose (2019) and Hulu thriller, Run (2020).
It’s not unusual for a movie to take years to get off the ground, though Wong has assured me that his latest action horror venture, while temporarily shelved and with discussions with more potential producers currently slated, still breathes life. And, fans who’ve closely followed indie action and stunts in the last twenty years will be delightfully surprised when I can finally help lift the veil on who’s who.
