Oscar-winner Peter Pau’s film about a demon slayer piles on the special effects

Based on blood ties and merit, Peter Pau Tak-hei is a member of Hong Kong cinema royalty. The son of famous actor Bao Fong and brother of award-winning actress Nina Paw Hee-ching (The Way We Are), he lifted the best cinematography Oscar in 2001 for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Still, Pau didn't envisage that when the time came to have a distinguished-looking older man play the Jade Emperor in Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal, opening this week, he would be the choice of producer Ann An Xiao-fen and co-director Zhao Tianyu.

Although the 62-year-old film veteran has appeared on screen before, he much prefers to work behind the camera. So, for that and a number of other reasons, "I was the last person I wanted for the role", he says.

In the end, however, logistical issues mandated that Pau take on the role in this epic fantasy action-drama, which he initially joined as co-producer and photography and special visual effects director but also went on to co-direct.

Three years in the making, Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal tells the story of a hot-headed demon slayer, the beautiful icy demon who beguiles him, and a powerful artefact he steals from hell for the good of humanity. As one would expect of a production that bears Pau's imprint, the film looks impressive, with visual effects used in 77 per cent of the scenes.