World's first 3D erotic movie to be made in HK, says producer

Hong Kong filmmakers hope to attract audiences back to the cinema by producing what is believed to be the world's first three-dimensional erotic film.

Shooting will begin in April on the HK$30 million movie, titled 3D Sex and Zen, and its producer vows to make the love scenes as realistic as possible.

'Just imagine that you'll be watching it as if you were sitting beside the bed,' said Stephen Shiu Jnr, chairman of One Dollar Production and the movie's producer.

Around 25 to 30 per cent of the movie will be love scenes. 'There will be many close-ups. It will look as if the actresses are only a few centimetres from the audience,' he said.

The producers expect to use adult video actresses from Japan and Taiwan, but not the more conservative local actresses, he said.

'But we're having trouble finding a male lead who is willing to undress in front of the camera. It's a lot more difficult to find an actor than an actress for this kind of movie.'

The movie will be an update of one of Hong Kong's most memorable erotic movies, Sex and Zen, which was produced by Shiu's father, media veteran Stephen Shiu Yeuk-yuen. It was based loosely on a classic of Chinese erotic literature, The Carnal Prayer Mat, written by Li Yu in the 17th century. Mr Shiu Jnr said the 3D version would be a tale about how overindulgence in pleasure can lead to tragedy. 'This 3D erotica will probably be the world's first,' he said.