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Bringing back old-fashioned heroes
By Zhu Shenshen |
June 23, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OSCAR-WINNING British director Tom Hooper says he wants to promote "old-fashioned" heroism, sacrifice and romance in an age of selfishness.
Hooper, president of the jury for the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival, won the Oscar for Best Director for "The King's Speech" (2010) about George VI who overcame a debilitating stammer and insecurity. He also directed "Les Miserables" (2012). Together the two films won seven Oscars and 20 Academy award nominations.
"I can't speak for China, but certainly in the West, we live in a selfish society where people are encouraged to pursue their self-interests," he said in an interview with Shanghai Daily. "They broadcast themselves on Facebook and Twitter. My films are a reaction against the mood of the time, through characters like Jean Valjean," protagonist in "Les Miserables."
Even Javert, the antagonist in "Les Miserables," has his own belief system and compassion, unlike a traditional "bad guy," he said.
Hooper repeated the story about his mother, Australian author and historian Meredith Hooper, telling him that she had read the unproduced play "The King's Speech" and saying, "I think I found your next film."
The moral of the story is "Listen to your mother," he said.
Hooper said he was especially satisfied with the acclaimed but less well known HBO miniseries "John Adams" (2008), which he directed. Adams, one of America's Founding Fathers, was the second president of the United States. The film won numerous Golden Globe awards and 13 Emmys. He called it a good example of combining history and humanity.
"There are so many films on the American Civil War, but not so many about the Revolutionary War," Hooper said, adding that it was "an amazing moment for a Briton to be invited to direct a drama about American history." He was able to explore in the series the evolution of the concept of all men being created equal, without a hierarchy decided by a king.
Hooper said he is open to various technologies and styles of filmmaking. Referring to "Les Miserables" the musical, he observed that it was one of the world's most popular musicals never put on the big screen, until he filmed it.
"What interested me is to take the cinematic experience and combine it with the emotion of music and singing," he said, while acknowledging the resistance to cinematic musicals on the part of moviegoers.
Chinese market
He was more cautious about new technologies such as 3D, which he tried by wearing 3D glasses, but then gave up because they were uncomfortable. He said he cannot accept that some people are unwilling to go to the cinema just because they find wearing 3D glasses uncomfortable.
Even with costly 3D production and technology, filmmakers should not lose sight of the essential humanity of a film, he said.
Hooper said he had high expectations of the Chinese film market, which will surpass the US market in size in around 10 years. He said he was eager to communicate with Chinese filmmakers during the festival.
Though he is not familiar with Chinese films, Hooper said he wants to speak with directors such as Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige.
This is the first time Hooper has headed a film festival jury. The Shanghai International Film Festival this year features 300 films in various categories. It tries to create a platform where filmmakers and filmgoers can exchange views. Foreign directors get an important opportunity to learn about the Chinese film market with a US$3 billion box office today. By 2020 China is expected to be the world's biggest film market.
Hooper said he was impressed by the work of young filmmakers, including short-film makers who use camera phones. They represent a "cool next generation," he said.
Hooper, president of the jury for the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival, won the Oscar for Best Director for "The King's Speech" (2010) about George VI who overcame a debilitating stammer and insecurity. He also directed "Les Miserables" (2012). Together the two films won seven Oscars and 20 Academy award nominations.
"I can't speak for China, but certainly in the West, we live in a selfish society where people are encouraged to pursue their self-interests," he said in an interview with Shanghai Daily. "They broadcast themselves on Facebook and Twitter. My films are a reaction against the mood of the time, through characters like Jean Valjean," protagonist in "Les Miserables."
Even Javert, the antagonist in "Les Miserables," has his own belief system and compassion, unlike a traditional "bad guy," he said.
Hooper repeated the story about his mother, Australian author and historian Meredith Hooper, telling him that she had read the unproduced play "The King's Speech" and saying, "I think I found your next film."
The moral of the story is "Listen to your mother," he said.
Hooper said he was especially satisfied with the acclaimed but less well known HBO miniseries "John Adams" (2008), which he directed. Adams, one of America's Founding Fathers, was the second president of the United States. The film won numerous Golden Globe awards and 13 Emmys. He called it a good example of combining history and humanity.
"There are so many films on the American Civil War, but not so many about the Revolutionary War," Hooper said, adding that it was "an amazing moment for a Briton to be invited to direct a drama about American history." He was able to explore in the series the evolution of the concept of all men being created equal, without a hierarchy decided by a king.
Hooper said he is open to various technologies and styles of filmmaking. Referring to "Les Miserables" the musical, he observed that it was one of the world's most popular musicals never put on the big screen, until he filmed it.
"What interested me is to take the cinematic experience and combine it with the emotion of music and singing," he said, while acknowledging the resistance to cinematic musicals on the part of moviegoers.
Chinese market
He was more cautious about new technologies such as 3D, which he tried by wearing 3D glasses, but then gave up because they were uncomfortable. He said he cannot accept that some people are unwilling to go to the cinema just because they find wearing 3D glasses uncomfortable.
Even with costly 3D production and technology, filmmakers should not lose sight of the essential humanity of a film, he said.
Hooper said he had high expectations of the Chinese film market, which will surpass the US market in size in around 10 years. He said he was eager to communicate with Chinese filmmakers during the festival.
Though he is not familiar with Chinese films, Hooper said he wants to speak with directors such as Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige.
This is the first time Hooper has headed a film festival jury. The Shanghai International Film Festival this year features 300 films in various categories. It tries to create a platform where filmmakers and filmgoers can exchange views. Foreign directors get an important opportunity to learn about the Chinese film market with a US$3 billion box office today. By 2020 China is expected to be the world's biggest film market.
Hooper said he was impressed by the work of young filmmakers, including short-film makers who use camera phones. They represent a "cool next generation," he said.
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