Director Derek Kwok's firefighting drama is more about smoke than fire
Derek Kwok Tsz-kin's new firefighter drama shows the director continuing to live up to the promise of his earlier films, writes Edmund Lee
Derek Kwok Tsz-kin has been basking in the limelight during the publicity blitz for his latest film As the Light Goes Out. His moment has arrived, at last, so he is understandably a little giddy with delight.
The 37-year-old director-scriptwriter's last promotional outing was marred by questions about his disappearing credits in Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, a Hong Kong-mainland co-production that became the highest-grossing Chinese film of 2013 at the mainland box office.
I deal with the choices and predicaments facing Hong Kong people
Although he started as co-scriptwriter and the sole director, Kwok subsequently co-directed the action comedy alongside Stephen Chow Sing-chi, and his name was left out of the opening credits.
"Actually, nothing unusual happened [on Journey to the West]," he says diplomatically. "When the budget increased, we became obliged to take on a famous, heavyweight figure to support the project. That's how Mr Chow came to join us.
"Of course, there are rumours alleging that I'm being oppressed by him," Kwok continues. "But I've always understood that it was never going to be an easy ride working with such talented people.
"I have no major complaints. It's more about whether I can learn something from the process," he adds.