To Live and Die in Tsim Sha Tsui

Andrew Lau Wai-Keung (born 4 April 1960) is a Hong Kong cinematographer and filmmaker. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film director and producer. Apart from making films in his native Hong Kong, Lau has also made films in China, Korea and the United States. A highly prolific filmmaker, Lau has made films in a variety of genres, and is most notable in the West for his action and crime films which include the Young and Dangerous film series, and the Infernal Affairs trilogy (the latter co-directed together with Alan Mak).

Andrew Lau was born 4 April 1960, and is one of six siblings. As a child, he was raised in the New Territories of Hong Kong. His father worked as a construction worker on Hong Kong Island. Since his parents did not have time to concentrate on all of their children, Lau had developed an interest in photography. Lau was also a Catholic, and would go to church every week, learning how to play a guitar. As a child and high school student, Lau admits to not liking Hong Kong, since it was a British colony.

Lau joined Shaw Brothers Studios after graduating from secondary school. He made his film debut as a semi-skilled cinematographer for Lau Kar-leung’s 1982 film, Legendary Weapons of China. He later served as a cinematographer for Sammo Hung’s 1986 martial arts film Millionaire’s Express and Ringo Lam’s 1987 crime thriller City on Fire, where he become known for his use of lighting and hand-held cinematography. His work on As Tears Go By (1988), the directorial debut of Wong Kar-wai, earned him his first Hong Kong Film Award nomination for Best Cinematography. He also shot the beginning portion of Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express in 1994 (Christopher Doyle was cinematographer for the film’s second half).

Lau become a film director and producer on top of still being a cinematographer. He made his directorial debut with the 1990 action film Against All. Lau went on to make films for prolific filmmaker Wong Jing, including the 1993 Category III film Raped by an Angel and the 1994 film To Live and Die in Tsimshatsui. In 1996, Lau directed and photographed the 1996 film Young and Dangerous, a film centered on Hong Kong’s Triad society. The film was a huge success in Hong Kong, but also gained controversy for its glorification of Triads. The film spawned a several sequels and spin-offs, in which Lau directed seven sequels and one prequel. While filming the franchise, Lau teamed up with screenwriter Manfred Wong and film producer Wong Jing to establish BoB and Partners Co. Ltd., a company responsible for films made by the trio of filmmakers. The trio’s collaborations proved to be successful with films such as The Storm Riders, The Legend of Speed, and The Duel.

In 2002, Lau established Basic Pictures, a company responsible for the films in which he served as a producer and director. That year saw the success of Infernal Affairs a crime thriller that the largest ensemble cast of any Hong Kong film that year. Infernal Affairs became a huge box-office success in Hong Kong, even being deemed as a “box-office miracle” at a time when Hong Kong cinema was said to have been lacking in creativity. The film spawned two sequels that concluded the film, as well as an American remake, Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film The Departed. Infernal Affairs also marked the first of several collaborations with co-director Alan Mak, and screenwriter Felix Chong. Other films made by the directors and screenwriter include the sequels to Infernal Affairs – Infernal Affairs II and Infernal Affairs III – Initial D and Confession of Pain. —wikipedia