Most action films these days rely far too heavily on computer-generated effects to thrill audiences, but director Tran Quoc Bao’s new short film The Challenger (see below) harkens back to a purer time, one in which memorable fight sequences were the product of precise camera work, detailed choreography and stars charismatic enough to draw viewers into the story at hand. Case in point, the film – which runs nearly eight minutes long – is a dialogue-free exercise fuelled purely by invention and its distinctive visual flair.

The Challenger centers on a sparring session between two characters played by Andy Le and Ken Quitugua (who also serves as action director) and is intended to serve as a proof-of-concept project to build interest in a full-length project featuring the same creative team. Although footage from the short will not factor into the feature, many of the stylistic touches – such as the main character’s slow-motion meditation during combat – will come into play as will the overall theme of honor, according to Tran.

“I wanted to tell a story about masters and disciples, fathers and sons, brotherhood and honor,” he said. “The Challenger is just a small seed of what we want to do and having a bigger canvas will help us bring that all to life.”

The full version of the film is being described as an action comedy, and Tran has confirmed that it will largely employ the short’s emphasis on wordless action, allowing the story to be driven by visuals and editing in much the same way as the silent films and musicals that inspired him early in life. Here’s the synopsis, courtesy of Persistence of Vision Films’ official website:

Estranged Kung Fu classmates are reunited when their master is mysteriously killed in a challenge match. Despite work, family demands, and being dismally out of shape, the sworn brothers must keep their vows made long ago – to defend the honor of the clan at any price.

Thematically, the feature sounds like it will hew closely to the tone of the short, aiming to combine action and humor with an emotionally grounded center. After all, such an approach is often at the heart of the most crowd-pleasing entertainment, and The Challenger is positioned to be a stand-up-and-cheer experience. Moreover, it looks to be the culmination of Tran’s filmmaking career thus far. While he has extensive experience making short films and editing features, The Challenger would mark his full-length directorial debut.

“I’ve learned a lot from all the other directors I’ve worked under and appreciated the different styles and philosophies they had about film,” said Tran. “I’m really excited to keep growing with this as my first feature, where I can put together all that previous experience and lessons into something that is my own vision and take.”

Before that vision can be realized, The Challenger has to secure enough financing to tell its story. The project is currently being shopped around to private investors, Tran said, though crowdfunding may be in the cards down the line as well. Production is currently slated to begin in late 2016, and if this initial short is any indication, fans of kung fu cinema in particular are going to want to stay up-to-date on the feature’s progress.

For more information on The Challenger and how you can get involved, visit the film’s official site, and check out Tran’s other films over at POV Films.