Films Olympic Promo

"No showing off, no boasting, no exaggerating, no flaunting of history, seniority or modernity. I refuse to preach and I abhor cliched stereotypes."

--Zhang Yimou

Director Zhang Yimou will make a 10-minute TV promotional video to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee in June.

"In my mind, the documentary should be a modest, concrete, easy to understand--a natural and touching work," Zhang Yimou told the Beijing organizing committee.

He also invited internet suggestions from surfers. Shooting was scheduled to commence in May. Beijing Youth Daily conducted an interview with Zhang. What follows is a loose translation:

Q: Some people say Zhang Yimou is holding a kind of one-man campaign--for himself. You are about to shoot a film, direct a modern ballet, and now the Olympic documentary...

A: Several months ago, the Beijing Bid Committee contacted me. The guy there told me the last documentary was by an American director. It was so ideal. This year, they suggested to leaders that I do it. They told me that if I refuse for some reason, they will turn to foreign directors, and they will not give a second thought to any other domestic directors.

My first reaction was--it's hard to say--I thought this is too challenging. Very simply, we need members of the International Olympics Committee to be impressed and vote for China. For me, if my efforts swing even one vote, I will regard it as a true achievement.

So I asked them if I could shoot the documentary with my own ideas, not some overt political or social message. I got the answer yes, as long as those ideas are suitably healthy and positive. So I thought it over, and I realized I have the time for it, and so I agreed.

Frankly speaking, I myself also hope Beijing will host an Olympics. In fact, I care about this very much, not because of economic development or political influence, but as the success of Beijing's bid would help maintain the enthusiasm that keeps a society going forward.

It also helps to maintain reform and openness in China. Chinese people love 'face' very much. Nationalism in an enclosed environment is instinctively arrogant. But in an open environment, it will accelerate improvement. For example, if an important guest is coming to our home, we definitely will clean up the home and throw something away that should have been thrown away earlier.

I think an open China needs this kind of positive international event to stimulate the society to go forward. I am a sports fan. If we succeed, I can watch the games in the stadium, only rows of seats away from the match, not on TV. Thinking of it in this way, I feel what I'm doing is very meaningful.

Q: Although this TV documentary only has 10 minutes, it is a totally different concept to your artistic films. An art filmmaker does not need to worry about what people think, but this promo is obliged to persuade others...

A: Not persuade, but touch others, especially those who don? understand you, misunderstand or distort you deliberately. Very importantly, we can't show off at all. Only sincerity from a typical real ordinary Chinese and the tacit understanding between people could change the mind of foreigners.

What is art? With art, you don't understand the audience, but you have to understand yourself. There are only two kinds of audience: Chinese and foreigners. It is impossible to know them. I'm only sure that there is tacit understanding between peoples. Humanity should have this understanding.

A good documentary certainly does not make a bid succeed, but a bad one will definitely make it fail. In this sense, I feel I have a grave responsibility.

Q: It is very easy to recognize the distinctive style of "the Zhang Yimou film". This promo lasts only 10 minutes. Do you want it to be "the Zhang Yimou documentary?"

I think my name should not appear on the documentary and people don't need to know the director. This is an advertisement for all ordinary Chinese, not for a certain single person. I have confidence in my plan. In many Westerners' eyes, Chinese people are rigid, and lack the vivacity, the colors of a true mensch. My work will demonstrate the status and mindset of ordinary Chinese, not some Han tomb or big building. They are real Chinese people, and their lives are no longer boring.

Q: How do you understand the Olympic spirit?

A: Talking about Olympic spirit, many people know "higher, faster, stronger", but there is a loftier ideal friendship, peace and understanding. The Olympics to my mind is the communication realized after fierce competition. I like the martial arts novels, in which chivalrous fighters become friends after a near fight to the death.

Q: What's your documentary going to be like?

A: No showing off, no boasting, no exaggerating, no flaunting of history, seniority or modernity. I refuse to preach and I abhor cliched stereotypes.

Q: From the beginning of this year, many people noticed you again are growing interested in challenging things, which reminds of the "Red Sorghum phase"...

A: It's true. This documentary will have the least audience, yet it's the most important. I will direct a ballet Red Lanterns, and Zhao Benshan will play the hero in my new film this year. I have already heard a lot of comments. I now feel a bold exploration of self will prolong one's life and keep up confidence.

Q: The main characters of this film are the laobaixing (ordinary Chinese). Why do you always pick them?

A: A person's choice and liking often reflects one's growing experience. Yes I have a special fondness for little potatoes and small matters. Even with the grand stages like the Olympics I prefer to start with the ordinary people.

Many years ago, I was just another ordinary person. Too many dreams would only make my life more difficult. In 1978, I went to the film academy. For a long time there, I thought of it as an aristocratic lifestyle, not my kind of thing. Looking back, my life has undoubtedly changed a lot, and I have the opportunity of meeting thousands of different kinds of people. But I'm most interested in the laobaixing, who dare not harbor too many dreams. Their lives, their dreams are so fascinating to me. Just for those dreams, we keep on struggling and going.

(Translated from Beijing Youth Daily)