'Flying Tiger': HK police drama successful in Chinese mainland

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Stiff competition from the Chinese mainland and other markets in Asia has seen Hong Kong's famed TV dramas in decline for several years now. But the success of cop show Flying Tiger may signal a turning point. Now its producers are eyeing growth beyond the region with a second series in the works. Patrick Fok reports.

It's a classic theme of Hong Kong TV dramas - undercover cops infiltrating criminal gangs. But the on-screen action and star-studded cast weren't the only ingredients that made Flying Tiger stand out.

This was one of several projects rolled out by Shaw Brothers following a management shake-up in 2016. To tap the Chinese mainland market, the production house teamed up with streaming platform Youku to create the web series.

VIRGINIA LOK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHAW BROTHERS "The audience is a little bit younger, so we had to think of something that was suitable for young people and also for other demographics."

Strong-male leads and slick uniforms were part of the formula that helped bag the show more than 2 billion views in the first month it screened, according to Jaynestars.com.

Filming for the second series is well underway ahead of release in early 2019. But sustaining online growth means keeping up competition with big-budget shows from across the border.

VIVIENNE CHOW, FOUNDER CULTURAL JOURNALISM CAMPUS "The production values are very high. You're talking about incredible production designs, costumes, and also the talent, do you have enough talent that can deliver a top-notch performance?"

PATRICK FOK HONG KONG "The Internet Movie Database says the first series of Flying Tiger had an estimated budget of $17-million. That would certainly put it on a par with some of the major productions from the Chinese mainland."

The bill for the second series could come in even higher – Some of it's to be filmed in Thailand and the UK, And there's an added element to the cast this time round.

VIRGINIA LOK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHAW BROTHERS "We brought in a Hollywood actor that is popular on the Chinese mainland – Lee Pace. I think it gives us the opportunity to appeal to that market and also make it international."

Still, Shaw Brothers says it's focusing on what makes Hong Kong TV dramas unique, regardless of the budget and line up.

SEMIQUAVER IAFETA ACTOR, FLYING TIGER "It's important they get the story lines right because that's where the sweet spot is, if you have a good story, straight away you hook the audience."

And if Flying Tiger gets that right this time round, it could set the stage for Hong Kong to make it big on the small screen once again. PATRICK FOK, CGTN, HK.