Top-notch actor and producer invest in 3-D Firestorm

Andy Lau, Hong Kong's most famous star, and Bill Kong, the island's most successful producer, are working together on a 3-D gang thriller, the first of its kind among Chinese films.

Lau, 52, invested in, and leads the cast of Firestorm, to be released in December. Producing and jointly investing in the film is Kong, a low-profile tycoon behind hit films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero and Lust, Caution.

The director who won their trust is Alan Yuen, a veteran Hong Kong scriptwriter whose works include the Jackie Chan vehicles Rob-B-Hood and New Police Story.

Firestorm is his directorial debut.

Both Lau and Kong have been known for their insight in finding new talents and generosity in supporting them.

Lau initiated Focus: First Cuts in 2005, the project that has benefited more than 10 young directors, including Ning Hao, whose black comedy Crazy Stone made him a household name.

In 2012, Lau financially aided mainland director Liu Juan in her directorial debut Singing When We Are Young. The film won Jury Prize at the Asian New Talent Awards of the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival.

Kong produced Ocean Heaven in 2009, a film on autistic children.

Director Xue Xiaolu was then a teacher at Beijing Film Academy who had not directed any feature film. The film won both popular and critical accolades. Xue's second film Finding Mr. Right, also produced by Kong, is one of the most successful films of 2013, grossing 500 million yuan ($82 million) with a budget of only 30 million yuan.

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