Director Shao Dan: The public welfare short "Little Retrograde" is the most sincere fight against the epidemic from the eyes of children
After several months of preparations, a series of short films jointly initiated by China Film Corporation, China Film Association and CCTV, the entire series of short films will be released in the near future.
Among them, the two most special ones are "Little Retrograde" and "Looking Back" written and directed by the director Shao Dan. The two short films have received special attention after they were released, and they have aroused heated discussion from the audience after they went online on various platforms. , A "novel" anti-epidemic perspective, a sincere actor, used video to convey positive energy and love.
During the movie, the Beijing News reporter exclusively interviewed director Shao Dan, who told the touching story behind the short film.
Shooting heart-warming stories of anti-epidemic through the simplest perspective of children
As the winner of the Best Contribution Award at the 15th Tokyo Film Festival in 2002, the famous photographer Shao Dan has nominated for major film awards many times. He won the 31st Chinese Film Golden Rooster Award for Best Photography for his film "Cun Opera".
During the epidemic, he was surrounded by heartbreaking news, especially when he saw a child who failed to survive the illness after his parents passed away because of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. This news made him "unable to sit still." "He is deeply impressed and wants to do something for the society through the series of short films of the Great Love without Borders Anti-epidemic.
During the epidemic, he put his perspective on the children and created the script "Little Retrograde": "At first we had two plans. We wanted to shoot something like "Little Shoes" (Iranian Children's Movie), but we still thought it would be for everyone. More sunshine and confidence are good, so I decided to shoot heart-warming scenes in spring and under the sun to give everyone more comfort."
The story of "Little Retrograde" took place in June 2020. The second epidemic occurred in Beijing. The little boy entered the nursery school and was sent to the full-care kindergarten by the medical mother who was sent to support the fight against the epidemic.
Since then, the obedient Jinjin started his "strange" disruptive behavior, and constantly encouraged other children to participate in his actions.
They walked backwards, painted white paintings, fell down, knocked down blocks, scattered confetti, pasted up broken hair... The children simply believed that if everything was done backwards, the whole world would fall back to its original point. Can I go back to the days before my mother went to fight the epidemic?
Shao Dan said: “There are many kinds of film and television works on the anti-epidemic theme, and they are all aspects, but children are the most direct and simple expression perspective, they have very high savvy. You don’t need to specifically let them understand the plot, just let them The most sincere revelation is good. For example, when we ask the children on the set if they can walk backwards, you can instruct them and it is difficult for them to do it step by step like a poem recitation, but if you let one child walk backwards, the other children will also It’s going to go backwards, and it’s easy to shoot in real situations."
Children's acting is the most natural and the hardest to shoot
The little boy Jinjin is played by the child star Chen Tianyu, and the heroine is played by actor Dong Xuan’s daughter Gao Shuqiao (Little Dimple). The two child stars form the cutest CP in the kindergarten to create a series of "mom retrograde, baby against the sky" warmth People story.
Shao Dan revealed that it is difficult to find suitable children to perform during the epidemic. He contacted the kindergarten and selected many children in performance classes, but there was no suitable one.
"Originally, I asked Tong Liya’s child if she could act. She said her child was too young, so she recommended Dong Xuan’s daughter, Little Dimple. We saw that this girl is too cute and she has the spirituality of being an actress. In addition, Chen Tianyu, who has appeared in the TV series "Only Thirty", worked with me when he filmed "Hidden in the Back of the Knife" (photographed by Shao Dan) directed by Xu Haofeng. He didn't recognize us when he saw us, so it went smoothly. The shot is ready."
It is said that children are the most natural, purest, and most capable actors, but Shao Dan revealed that they are the most difficult to shoot. For example, children get together and cry together after a dozen or so of them. Associate director on the first day After organizing the children to act, they lost their voice, "Because he shouted too much, but the children are so cute. For example, the little dimple grandma told me that on the third day after the two-day short film was finished, the little dimple She still woke up early and got dressed and said she was going to the studio. She didn't even know that the filming was over. She felt that acting had become a habit and it was so cute."
Many creators don’t pay back to shoot short films for public welfare
The production of public welfare short films "Little Retrograde" and "Looking Back" was not all smooth sailing. Several times encountered serious shortages of funds. However, the professional team of the film crew insisted on making them carefully, and strived to create high-quality images to present to the audience.
The short film not only has a strong production team, but all the actors involved in the film also starred at zero pay, practicing public welfare and walking with love.
"A lot of actors would like to come to participate after reading the script, but basically there is no pay. What is particularly moving is that all the main creators involved do not count back. Everyone tries to save money for the crew and volunteers to help, such as unconditionally. Dong Dongdong, the composer who provided the soundtrack to this short film, and singer Zhang Jie, after watching the short film, are also very happy to give us the copyright of the previous songs for free." Shao Dan smiled and sighed. At first they thought that the biggest problem in making the film was funding. Later, I found out that funding was the least problem (laughs). The movie received free help from many people, and every step of the process moved them.
Another short film, "Looking Back", has a more restrained creative style and a stronger cast. The two teachers of the old drama Li Guangfu and Li Wenling are capable of demonstrating the touching and true feelings of the old couple under the epidemic, which makes people cry.
Nowadays, there are more and more film and television works on anti-epidemic themes, but Shao Dan has very special thoughts about these two short films: "Many anti-epidemic works hope to spread positive energy for everyone. Everyone has a variety of ideas. Method. I am personally more optimistic and I feel like a child in my heart. I very much hope that these two films can give the audience a new perspective, starting from the most sincere feelings, so that people can look at the epidemic from the perspective of children and face it more positively. Yes. In addition, in the past, people thought that movies should be commercial and entertaining. In fact, movies need to be artistic and mainstream, and they need to be thoughtful and convey the truth, goodness and beauty. Although the current trend is to become more and more commercial, we do not This point should be ignored. Even if it is a short film, you can fully feel the artistic value of the image after it is launched. I hope to make some works that have an impact and informative effect on everyone."
Beijing News reporter Zhou Huixiaowan