“The Vampire of Sheung Shui” by Shreyom Ghosh is a horror-comedy set in Hong Kong that has an Indian protagonist. It has been chosen for the project market that runs alongside FilMart, the 22nd Hong Kong, Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
The film, which is based on a story by D.F.W. Buckingham (“Finding Love in Sisters”), centers on Lokesh, a thirty-something slacker who lives in a quiet neighborhood of Hong Kong with his orthodox Jain parents. He is waiting to buy the family jewelry business and travel to the UK after selling it. Lokesh has to prove to his father that he can be a responsible man and uphold the traditions of his family when his father announces his retirement, or else his obnoxious cousin will take over the shop. The issue lies in Lokesh’s transformation into a vicious vampire. Now he has to prove to his family that he’s not a complete leech and figure out how to feed on blood without harming anyone.
The joke about an Indian man who was vegan turning into a vampire was the beginning of it. We found that amusing since vampires and the specific Indian culture we wished to portray, the Jains, have a dislike for garlic. After putting our concept out there and observing how people from all over the world responded, we came to understand its broad appeal. This led to the creation of an Indian vampire movie. This inspired us to continue working on it and make it into a movie that is frightening and humorous at the same time, but also relevant and enjoyable,” Ghosh reportedly told insiders.
Michael J. Werner, a seasoned producer who formerly co-headed Fortissimo Films, is producing the movie. Werner has produced and distributed several Asian films, such as Wong Kar Wai’s “The Grandmaster” (2013), Zhang Yimou’s “Shadow” (2018), and Ray Yeung’s “Suk Suk” (2019). Peter Yam, the producer of “The Sunny Side of the Street,” winner of three Golden Horse Awards, and Ghosh are also involved in the production.
Werner told sources, “The film’s audience consists of vampire and genre-film enthusiasts from Hong Kong and throughout the world who would appreciate this new take on a well-loved but frequently repeated horror tale.”
The initiative has a $1.2 million budget and will be conducted in Hindi, Cantonese, and English. “We have garnered adequate cash to support development and the initial phases of pre-production; but, there are significant signals of interest from funders and potential investors from certain important markets that might contribute significantly to the budget,” Werner stated.
“We expect nothing but vigorous engagement with industry delegates throughout the globe. We are searching for international co-production and financier partners on this trip,” Yam said. Tasia Films and 70 Plus Production Company are the production firms involved in this project.
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