'Transformers 4' director attacked on HK set

He continued, "That's when security jumped on him. But it took seven big guys to subdue him. It was like a Zombie in Brad Pitt's movie 'World War Z' -- he lifted seven guys and tried to bite them. He actually bit into one of the guards Nike shoes, insane. Thank god it was an Air Max, the bubble popped, but the toe was saved."

Bay said it took fifteen Hong Kong cops in riot gear to deal with these punks. "After that, we had a great day shooting here in Hong Kong," he said.

Bay was not the first to be extorted while shooting a film. When "Rush Hour 2" (2001), starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, was shot in Hong Kong, the local mafia also requested HK$500,000.

Ng See-yuen, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, denounced the attack which would certainly have a negative impact on Hong Kong's image. Nevertheless, he added he believed this was just a rare and individual incident that would not have too much of an effect on foreign studios' decisions to film in Hong Kong.

The "Transformers 4" crew, including lead actors Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Chinese actress Li Bingbing, arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday for a 10-day shoot. Landmarks such as Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, Legislative Council Building, Tsing Ma Bridge, Sham Shui Po District, Central District are set to be included in the film.

Also on Thursday, Paramount Pictures and its Chinese partner announced in Beijing that "Transformers 4" will film in the distinguishably beautiful Wulong County, Chongqing. An official from Wulong County said the crew members had been inspecting the sites there, including Wulong Karst Geology Park, since July and will shoot several exciting scenes there. Michael Bay will be filming in Chongqing from October 28 to November 2, 2013.

"Transformers 4" is due in theatres on June 27, 2014.