Hit man in a hurry, director Johnnie To is running on adrenaline

Next time you feel like you're working too hard or have a punishing schedule, spare a thought for director Johnnie To Kei-fung.

At the more artistically driven end of the Hong Kong film industry, directors such as Wong Kar-wai can spend four years making a single film. But To, who is a proven hit maker and pursued by every film company in town, juggles two or three films at the same time.

This revered filmmaker is so busy he was unable to collect the best director prize bestowed on him at the recent Hong Kong Film Awards for PTU or to jump on stage when another of his films, Running on Karma, picked up prizes for best film, best actor and best script.

Of course, working on more than one film at the same time is common practice in Hong Kong and unavoidable due to the demands of release windows and the crowded schedules of the major stars.

But not every film To directs is made this way.

Some of his more personal projects, such as PTU, are filmed between commercial movies and can take months or even years to complete. But mainstream films need big stars and are usually released during the peak holiday seasons - Christmas, the Lunar New Year and summer.