2020-07-26

MASTER CLASS | Jia Zhangke: I make films for the audience to live a different life

On the opening day of the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), Master Class welcomed the famous Chinese director, producer, and screenwriter Jia Zhangke. Jia specially left for Shanghai from his hometown Jiajiazhuang, Fenyang City, Shanxi Province, to share with fellow filmmakers and film lovers his life and creation during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as the achievements in film production.

Speaking of the relationship between filmmakers and audiences, Jia said emotionally: "Many people told me that my films are detached from the audience. In fact, that is not true. I attach great importance to the audience, but from a different perspective. Most movies want to tell the audience a story, whereas I’d like to make films for the audience to live a different life, like an immersive experience. When you make a film with this ideal in mind, you will know all the details and temperament that the characters in it should have. Because for the ideal to come true, you have to make real-life choices for the characters like the daily necessities, the vehicles, the road, the clothes, the way people talk and the food they eat. All these become the key to connecting you and the audience and will make a big difference in their choice to go along with you on this journey or not."

"These fresh feelings will be reflected in my future films"

Through social media, Jia\'s pastoral life of making popcorn, weeding and farming during the pandemic has been a hot topic of many movie fans. Speaking of this, Jia said that it was not only a pastime in writing, but also gave him a new understanding of the Chinese society.

"Part of the reason why China is so resilient is that we have vast rural areas. Most people living in cities have a hometown they can return to for support. Rural areas are a very important strategic resource for China, and we must protect them. In times of international turmoil and social crisis, their strategic significance to our country will be seen."

Rural life also plays a positive role in Jia\'s own film creation. He said: "Going back to my hometown during the epidemic has given me a lot of new insights and time to meditate. Making a film is to show how you react as an individual to the life you live. These fresh feelings will be reflected in my future films."

During the epidemic, Jia was commissioned by the Thessaloniki International Film Festival of Greece to create a short film VISIT about the coronavirus lockdown. When talking about the production of the short film, Jia said: "When the COVID-19 epidemic broke out at the beginning of the year, I couldn\'t help but reflect on the past: why are there few footages about SARS that broke out in 2003, and why was there no film to simultaneously reflect the sweeping catastrophe for humanity? There is a film festival in Greece that has commissioned seven or eight directors from around the world to each shoot a 3-minute short film, a proposal I like very much. One reason is that I think it is a very fast and instant reaction. It does not have limitations on equipment so it can be done quickly and the 3-minute runtime also means accuracy. The other reason is that you have to stay home, as everyone is practicing social distancing, so it’s a film about life in lockdown. I like the idea very much."

Due to the lockdown requirements, Jia had to stay in his office, together with the photographer and two actors. The four of them completed the shooting of the 3-minute or so VISIT in just one day using an iPhone. The film reflects on the changes in people’s way to socialize brought about by the epidemic. It also prompted Jia to later write an article for a Dutch film magazine, at the end of which he wrote that he hopes humans can overcome the epidemic, “We get to go back to the cinema and sit side by side again to watch new movies filmmakers make. This is one of the most beautiful things for mankind to do."

He believes that "filmmakers can make more cinematic pieces"

What has the epidemic brought us? Jia\'s answer is that there are pros and cons. He thinks one of the pros may be the chance to rethink and have second thoughts about our lifestyles in the past. We need to rethink about the things that we used to take for granted and about human vulnerability so as to cherish those things we took for granted.

"I believe that after the epidemic, filmmakers can make more cinematic pieces that are more suitable for watching on the big screen of cinemas. Because it’s been more than 100 days since we last went to the movies, during which we have had new understanding of film as a medium, of how to present our thoughts through this medium, and of the beauty, the aesthetics of the cinema," Jia said.

The coronavirus pandemic has not only affected filmmakers, but had great impact on audiences as well. Jia said that audiences will have new requirements for movies, as they have a strong desire to see new things that are close to their heart. They need new works, new film language, new approaches, and new narratives, "The last half year without movies, for me, is instrumental in getting a new understanding of the role of film as a medium, especially its role in getting people together, and the difference between the rituality of the cinema and the Internet.”

He hopes young filmmakers "will work hard"

For the first Master Class of this year\'s SIFF, Jia thought it essential to give guidance to young filmmakers on film production.

For a motto to give young people, Jia said it would be "Love conquers all". It takes time to be recognized by the society and the industry. For young people in any age, it is always difficult to start their own career and creation without experience and resources, which is always a brand-new topic.

Jia said, "I particularly like the term \'filmmaker\' because it implies hard work. Writing the script, casting, setting the scenes, directing and shooting; after that, there is editing. Don’t ever forget to work hard. And remind ourselves as filmmakers, for all the honors we have received, not to forsake our commitment to hard work in making films as it is a labor of love."

Jia spoke highly of the 23rd SIFF, "This is the first film festival to resume after the outbreak of the epidemic. Although it is a combination of online and offline approaches, for it to manage to open today is, first of all, telling evidence that our country has achieved a great deal in COVID-19 prevention and control. Without a proper pandemic prevention and control mechanism, it would be impossible for us to get together today. Second, I think it also shows the resilience of filmmakers and the industry in China, for the holding of a film festival is inseparable from the efforts of staff at all levels. Therefore, I think the film industry in China is well positioned to be more united and do better."