Profile of Leon Zhao:
Leon Zhao is a young Chinese director and scriptwriter, who was born in Shanxi in the 1980s, and now lives in Beijing. Leon began to learn oil painting when he was a little child, which laid a solid foundation for his accomplishment in fine arts. He once obtained a bachelor's degree of Multimedia Art Design at Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, and later further studied Directing at Beijing Film Academy. He also studied at Hollywood, the United States. Leon has been committed to producing ingenious, thought-provoking, and touching films that suit both refined and popular tastes.
1. Leon Zhao, the director of “Run Shunzi!” was originally a painter. Other painters who became film directors include Fritz Lang, Ridley Scott and David Lynch. Do painters make good film directors and what about the world or art prepares one for film-making?
Frame is a very important element for film making. Painting can cultivate one’s sense of frame. Different composition, light and color gives us different impression. A director with basic skills of painting can create the emotion and effect he or she desires accurately with the right frame. Besides, painters are always thinking about humanity and society, which is the same as filmmakers.
2. Director Leon Zhao took two three years to complete “Run Shunzi!”. What made you want to tell this story so much?
In the beginning, I chose film-making as my career as I hoped to convey my thoughts and values with my films, especially the good films that have positive influence on the growth of the young people.
When I heard about the story of the archetypal character Zhang Deshun, I was excited. Many of her experiences are similar to mine. We were both born in a remote small mountain village. Many generations of my family are peasants. It’s hard for them to see the outside world.
Zhang Deshun has endured unimaginable difficulties and pains. With the help of her mentor and her own hard work, she has become a world champion of long-distance race.
I am also fortunate. I went out of the countryside. I came to Beijing and became a director.
I was touched by her story. I had fancied to make a film about my experience. Now, I have such an opportunity. This film is not only her story. It is my story as well. It is also the story of hard work of millions of students from the countryside. I believe, if I make a film of this story, it will motivate more young people to struggle for their dreams. I hope this film can influence the next generation. Everyone shall have a dream and work hard for the dream. Many people give up halfway and just sighs for unreachable dreams in the end. In fact, if only you are determined and keep going on, the destination of your dream is just a step ahead.
3. The film is based on the real-life experiences of Zhang Deshun, the 30th World University Summer Games Track and Field Women’s Track and Field Champion who competed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. How has she reacted to the film?
She thought it inconceivable at the beginning. She couldn’t believe it. Later, she found it very fortunate that her story can be recorded in a film.
She has gained a lot from sports. From a girl in the remote mountain village to the athlete racing in the Olympics, she has made a great progress. Her hard work has a good return.
She hopes that people who have watched this film can feel her hard work and persistence and keep going forward to their goal.
4. The recent coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on film-making worldwide. Has it affected you and your work particularly?
Coronavirus pandemic has affected the film industry greatly. Because of it, our production time and cost has increased significantly. Considering the influence on cinemas, we have to postpone the screening by half a year. Meanwhile, due to the trouble of the pandemic, we can’t attend the ceremonies of many film festivals and communicate with the professionals face to face. Actually, the film was selected in many film festivals.
5. What projects are you currently working on and what films can we expect from you in the future?
We are now considering another story about a young sportsman or a biography. We have not decided the content of the second film.
The sports film is about teenage footballers. It highlights the importance of unity and cooperation in a team. Only if a team is unified and has no unfaithful idea, the team can succeed.
The biography film is about an entrepreneur who has stepped off the adversities of life after encountering many setbacks. The story is a inconceivable miracle.
We want to make a film which can touch people’s heart and make people think. After watching this film, people can rethink their own experience and the meaning and value of their life.
Interviewed by: David James Bell
Editted by: Li Yingdeng
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