Juno Mak: An Artistic Journey to Reinvent Hong Kong Cinema

Juno Mak, renowned for his multifaceted career as an artist, musician, and fashion designer, made a bold debut in the world of film directing with the 2013 supernatural horror movie Rigor Mortis. This film, with its distinct narrative and striking visuals, immediately showcased Mak’s unique vision and command over the cinematic medium.

The making of ‘Sons of the Neon Night’

Two years after Rigor Mortis, Mak embarked on an even more ambitious project, Sons of the Neon Night. This announcement stirred considerable interest but was met with a long period of silence, leaving many to wonder about the film’s fate. Recently, however, Mak resurfaced with thrilling news: the film is largely completed and is slated for release in early 2025.

A star-studded ensemble cast

Adding to the excitement, Sons of the Neon Night boasts a remarkable cast, including some of the biggest names in East Asian cinema: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Sean Lau, and Louis Koo. This impressive lineup alone sets high expectations for the film’s reception. Moreover, Mak’s intriguing choice to set the story in a reimagined, icy version of Hong Kong gives it a distinctive backdrop that is both unfamiliar and uniquely captivating.

Challenges and persistence during production

Mak’s journey with Sons of the Neon Night was far from smooth. Principal photography wrapped up in 2017, with an extended post-production phase ensuing. Just as the film seemed on the brink of completion, the COVID-19 pandemic halted production. This period of pause was a time fraught with technical challenges rather than a reassessment of the storyline.

A unique genre blend

Interestingly, Mak does not categorize his film as a typical futuristic police thriller. “I’d say it’s a crime drama,” he explains, though it’s far from stereotypical. The narrative delves into complex themes such as greed, addiction to power, and various types of addiction, including prescription drugs. Central to its plot are the torturous relationships among family members bound by blood. This multifaceted approach ensures that the film makes no direct references to other works, standing out as a unique reinterpretation of crime drama.

The butterfly effect and a unique world

One of the compelling aspects of the film is its setting. While Hong Kong serves as the backdrop, it is an imagined version where snow covers the landscape. The story revolves around the butterfly effect, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of a single decision made by one of its characters, thereby unsettling the delicate balance of this world.

Assembling a stellar cast

Mak feels particularly blessed to have gathered such a noteworthy cast. After the success of Rigor Mortis, the prospect of a sequel seemed like a natural progression, but Mak had other ideas. “I felt the message and content I sought were all in the original film, with no point in a sequel,” he recalls. Instead, as he traveled between film festivals, he began scripting Sons of the Neon Night. This project, different from anything he had previously envisioned, took four years to script.

Scripting and cinematography

Mak’s process involved not only meticulous scripting but also personally meeting with actors and actresses, explaining how this film differed from his supernatural-centric debut. He assured them no ghosts or supernatural elements were involved; rather, each character in Sons of the Neon Night would be unlike any roles they had portrayed before.

Connecting through sound and visuals

Mak emphasizes the timelessness of his work, whether in films or music albums. He believes his background in music production has finely attuned his sensitivity to sound. During Rigor Mortis, he provided the cast with a complete soundtrack, a method he found effective despite lacking extensive visual references. This interplay of words, music, visuals, and sound effects is where Mak finds the true beauty of filmmaking.

The long journey of creation

The principal shoot of Sons of the Neon Night spanned an impressive 142 days, an unusual length for Hong Kong cinema. Managing a large ensemble cast of 20 to 30 characters, Mak faced the challenge—but also found the joy—in wearing multiple hats, ensuring all communications were direct and one-on-one. This extensive and intense production phase was a magical journey, especially for a filmmaker directing only their second movie.

The aesthetics and atmosphere

Before embarking on production, Mak created a comprehensive reference Bible detailing the characters’ costumes, scene aesthetics, and overall vibe. Unlike many big-budget Hong Kong films where the camera itself becomes a character, Sons of the Neon Night maintains an aesthetic distance, documenting interactions rather than intruding upon them. The unique coldness of this imagined Hong Kong, a stark contrast to the tropical reality, profoundly influences character choices and behaviors, offering a fresh twist on the Hong Kong cinematic experience.

A future with endless possibilities

As for future projects, Mak remains open and non-specific. While still engrossed in the post-production phase of Sons of the Neon Night, he continues scripting various stories, some destined for music albums, stage performances, films, or TV mini-series. Mak thrives on creativity, finding joy not in the product, but in the journey itself.

A transformative vision

Ultimately, Juno Mak’s journey reflects the resilience and transformative power of creativity. As he reinvents Hong Kong cinema with a $50 million film, the world watches eagerly for the magic that Sons of the Neon Night promises to deliver.

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