Dream run for cinema venture
By Fei Lai and Liao Fangzhou |
February 23, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RUN, for the Dream," a low-budget independent movie with 80 percent of the scenes shot in the Minhang District, recently aired on big screens alongside the likes of Hollywood blockbuster "Skyfall" and the domestic hit film "Grandmaster."
The 84-minute movie, produced by Minhang native Zhao Zhenhua, tells the story of a group of young people who discover their self-worth by engaging in the sport of "parkour."
Parkour, often called "the art of displacement," is a training discipline developed out of military obstacle courses. It often involves a combination of gymnastic or acrobatic moves as a participant tackles a series of obstacles. No equipment is used.
"Parkour is about flexibility, quickness and adaptability," said Zhao, 37. "It's somewhat akin to martial arts."
Zhao, who was born and grew up in Minhang, is no stranger to martial arts. He started learning kung fu at age five and entered the Shanghai Sports Team when he was 10. Since then, he has captured a number of national championship titles.
He "retired" from competition in 1997, working as a stuntman in several Hong Kong movies and later as a martial arts coach to action film stars like Chia-Liang Liu and Jackie Chan.
In 2009, Zhao directed a number of CCTV6 television series, before showcasing his talents on the set of a Japanese 3D movie in the following year.
Stuntman-turned-filmmaker
In 2011, Zhao turned to filmmaking himself, founding a privately owned company and pitting his talents against the likes of Beijing-based producers such as Huayi Brothers, Enlight Media and Galloping Horse.
"In Shanghai, it is impossible to find any companies offering quality visual products, apart from New Culture," Zhao said. "There's a lot of effort put into distribution here, but production is weak."
"Run, for the Dream," which cost 8 million yuan (US$1.28 million) to make and distribute, took Zhao and his team three months to complete.
Zhao said he and his team auditioned up to 170 people a day to assemble the cast for the film.
Before actual shooting began, Zhao required all those who passed the audition to undergo a month of rigorous training. They practiced dance in the mornings and parkour in the afternoons.
In the end, only 10 of the 70 actors who passed the audition made it through the training and into the film.
"If it had not been for the film, they would never have tried such training nor developed a drive to succeed," Zhao said. "In a sense, the actors found themselves off-screen just like their characters did on-screen."
The movie showcases Minhang to great advantage. The first encounter between two protagonists was filmed in the 03VIP Bar in Qibao Town, and series of action scenes were filmed in Pujiang Town.
Having already been shown in Shanghai and neighboring provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, the movie is now scheduled to be screened in other areas of China.
"Shanghai had the best box office," said the film's director Duan Xinjie. "Some cinemas screened the movie for two weeks."
Zhao and Duan said the satisfaction they feel goes far beyond the money made from a successful venture.
"We wanted to remind people that what they dream can come true," Duan said. "It could be called awakening positive energy."
The Youth Community Council in Minhang recently organized a screening of the film and hosted a follow-up seminar on its message of "no pain, no gain," Zhao said.
Parkour trilogy
The work has just begun. Zhao has plans of two more films in his parkour trilogy. The second movie, "Jump, for the Dream," will pick up where the first left off - an international parkour contest held in France.
Yet, before moving on to that, Zhao and his team have three other films they plan to make. One is called "Flower of Good-by," inspired by a road trip to Tibet Autonomous Region that Zhao and Duan took. The plot tells the tale of people giving up the comforts of urban life to teach children in remote, poor villages.
Production on the film is expected to start next month. Zhao's company is investing 10 million yuan.
"It's a sufficient sum of money to make a good film," Zhao said.
He also has plans for a movie called "Spine," a war-themed film, and one entitled "Robbery of Gold," which follows police tracking down robbers through thousands of miles and 11 sleepless days.
While young nobodies from the Drama Academy of Shanghai and a number of art schools in Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province played roles in "Run, for the Dream," Zhao said his next film will use more professional, established actors. Jackie Chan and son Jaycee Chan, an old friend of Zhao's, might join the cast of "Flower of Good-by," he said.
"Celebrities certainly help attract more viewers to a film," he said.
The 84-minute movie, produced by Minhang native Zhao Zhenhua, tells the story of a group of young people who discover their self-worth by engaging in the sport of "parkour."
Parkour, often called "the art of displacement," is a training discipline developed out of military obstacle courses. It often involves a combination of gymnastic or acrobatic moves as a participant tackles a series of obstacles. No equipment is used.
"Parkour is about flexibility, quickness and adaptability," said Zhao, 37. "It's somewhat akin to martial arts."
Zhao, who was born and grew up in Minhang, is no stranger to martial arts. He started learning kung fu at age five and entered the Shanghai Sports Team when he was 10. Since then, he has captured a number of national championship titles.
He "retired" from competition in 1997, working as a stuntman in several Hong Kong movies and later as a martial arts coach to action film stars like Chia-Liang Liu and Jackie Chan.
In 2009, Zhao directed a number of CCTV6 television series, before showcasing his talents on the set of a Japanese 3D movie in the following year.
Stuntman-turned-filmmaker
In 2011, Zhao turned to filmmaking himself, founding a privately owned company and pitting his talents against the likes of Beijing-based producers such as Huayi Brothers, Enlight Media and Galloping Horse.
"In Shanghai, it is impossible to find any companies offering quality visual products, apart from New Culture," Zhao said. "There's a lot of effort put into distribution here, but production is weak."
"Run, for the Dream," which cost 8 million yuan (US$1.28 million) to make and distribute, took Zhao and his team three months to complete.
Zhao said he and his team auditioned up to 170 people a day to assemble the cast for the film.
Before actual shooting began, Zhao required all those who passed the audition to undergo a month of rigorous training. They practiced dance in the mornings and parkour in the afternoons.
In the end, only 10 of the 70 actors who passed the audition made it through the training and into the film.
"If it had not been for the film, they would never have tried such training nor developed a drive to succeed," Zhao said. "In a sense, the actors found themselves off-screen just like their characters did on-screen."
The movie showcases Minhang to great advantage. The first encounter between two protagonists was filmed in the 03VIP Bar in Qibao Town, and series of action scenes were filmed in Pujiang Town.
Having already been shown in Shanghai and neighboring provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, the movie is now scheduled to be screened in other areas of China.
"Shanghai had the best box office," said the film's director Duan Xinjie. "Some cinemas screened the movie for two weeks."
Zhao and Duan said the satisfaction they feel goes far beyond the money made from a successful venture.
"We wanted to remind people that what they dream can come true," Duan said. "It could be called awakening positive energy."
The Youth Community Council in Minhang recently organized a screening of the film and hosted a follow-up seminar on its message of "no pain, no gain," Zhao said.
Parkour trilogy
The work has just begun. Zhao has plans of two more films in his parkour trilogy. The second movie, "Jump, for the Dream," will pick up where the first left off - an international parkour contest held in France.
Yet, before moving on to that, Zhao and his team have three other films they plan to make. One is called "Flower of Good-by," inspired by a road trip to Tibet Autonomous Region that Zhao and Duan took. The plot tells the tale of people giving up the comforts of urban life to teach children in remote, poor villages.
Production on the film is expected to start next month. Zhao's company is investing 10 million yuan.
"It's a sufficient sum of money to make a good film," Zhao said.
He also has plans for a movie called "Spine," a war-themed film, and one entitled "Robbery of Gold," which follows police tracking down robbers through thousands of miles and 11 sleepless days.
While young nobodies from the Drama Academy of Shanghai and a number of art schools in Chongqing Municipality and Sichuan Province played roles in "Run, for the Dream," Zhao said his next film will use more professional, established actors. Jackie Chan and son Jaycee Chan, an old friend of Zhao's, might join the cast of "Flower of Good-by," he said.
"Celebrities certainly help attract more viewers to a film," he said.
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