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Filmmaker Jiang Wen says content matters most.

Prominent Chinese filmmaker Jiang Wen shared insights on filmmaking in his signature style — defiant, sharp, and refreshingly straightforward — during a master class at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) on April 25.

"Put down your phone and use your brain," Jiang urged a packed venue of thousands. "Then we can have a real conversation," he told the audience.

"If young people truly want to make films, they must first ask themselves what they want to express." He took a moment before continuing, "If you have nothing to say, you won't make good films anyway. The technical aspects are just tools — like a microphone — but what you want to say matters most."

... "Cutting-edge technology could be wasted on telling a shallow story — or worse, a boring one. The soul of a film? That ultimate layer depends solely on the human mind."

Read the article here.

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Upcoming Jiang Wen Film & Cannes 2025 Buzz

"The buzz within the Beijing film industry is that actor-director Jiang Wen’s latest feature has China’s best shot at securing a Cannes slot in 2025. The director’s black comedy war film Devils on the Doorstep won the Grand Prix back in 2000, losing out on the Palme D’or to Lars Von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark. Jiang’s last three films comprised what he called his “gangster Beiyang trilogy” — Let the Bullets Fly (2010), Gone With the Bullets (2014) and Hidden Man (2018) — all commercially successful in China but not picked up by international festivals. The limited story summary released for the new film suggests it’s a musical drama about the sacrifices made by a family so their son can ascend to the highest levels of classical piano performance. Jiang stars in the film with Ma Li, Ge You, Zhao Benshan, Lei Jiayin and others." 

Source:

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Jiang Wen and "Twinkling Eyes"

It's been a hot minute since I made one of my "Books on Baze" posts about my research and reading on the works of Jiang Wen. Fortunately, I've found a fascinating book that's new to me, and I wanted to share some Jiang Wen goodness.

The following quote about the film Lotus Lantern (1999) is from the book The New Generation in Chinese Animation by Shaopeng Chen (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021):

"This is the first time that Chinese cinema animation has had a domestic all-star voice cast, including Xu Fan as San Sheng Mu, Jiang Wen as Erlang Shen, Ning Jing as Gamei and Chen Peisi as Sun Wukong...

"At the top of the film stars, I want to mention the role of Jiang Wen in the whole production process. Jiang Wen, as 'China's most famous movie star', is also distinguished by his low husky voice. As mentioned earlier, in this film he plays Erlang Shen, who is characterized by a cold and autocratic voice and dry laugh. According to Chang Guangxi, Jiang Wen was reading Erlang Shen's character design sketches when he was in the recording studio. Suddenly Jiang made a bold suggestion: '[I]s it possible to recreate Erlang Shen's appearance based on my face? Look, small but twinkling eyes and sparse but domineering eyebrows (Jiang Wen's facial features)....' Chang adopted Jiang's idea, in other words, the final image of Erlang Shen is the animated Jiang Wen. Internationally, it is very common for the design of cartoon figures (both animation and comics) to be inspired by real people."

Here is the accompanying illustration:

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McDonald's Potato Head Toys Transform into Star Wars Actor Jiang Wen

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Reading the Rogue One novelisation really brings home the failure of the Rebel “Alliance” in this scene. Unlike in the film, the novel emphasises that this was a meeting that took place over several hours, with presentation of all the available evidence regarding the Death Star … And still the Alliance voted against attempting to steal the plans. No wonder Jyn feels abandoned, as has happened so many times in her life already.

Andor season 2 will hopefully explore the conflicting voices within the disparate rebel cells (the groups Saw scornfully lists as “Lost!”)… the deals and compromises needed to make the Rebel Alliance as well as the cooperation. But I think it's quite telling that the Alliance effectively fails at the moment when it's needed most. In the face of the odds, the consensus is… not to fight. Jyn simply can’t believe her ears when she hears talk of surrender. She had at least thought that the Alliance would do something! Honestly, it’s one of the darkest moments in the entire film. In the entire Star Wars franchise.

The official decision leaves it to Jyn, Cassian, Chirrut, Baze, Bhodi, K-2SO, Melshi and a relative handful of other brave volunteers to take Jyn's words to heart. They know that they might well run out of chances. They accept that. They feel they have no choice.

Cassian first made that discovery five years previously, but it's implied that he has been gradually spiritually brow-beaten by the accumulated darkness of what and who he has lost and what he has had to do. Jyn has rekindled the flame in his soul… she’s reminded him of his purpose because when he looks at her, he sees so much of himself. When he volunteers, she says "I'm not used to people sticking around when things go wrong."

His reply is the beautiful "Welcome home". It's as if the union of the Rogue One mission is the family she's been looking for all her life. Cassian’s already proved unswerving loyalty to her by disobeying his order to kill her father. These people have known each other only a few days, and some of the unnamed volunteers now are complete strangers to her. But in giving their lives as individuals, devoting themselves to this their new family, - the true "rebel alliance" as in an alliance of a handful of genuine rebels - will ultimately triumph.

Mon Mothma looked suitably ashamed when she told Jyn "I'm sorry… the odds are too great". She seems aware of the failure of the political method. Thank goodness for the bravery of those who sometimes decide that the right thing to do is to disobey orders. Even if that means paying the ultimate price. 

“Make 10 men feel like 100” is a great line. But honestly… for every 10 men here, there should have been 100.

Rogue One: thank you for your sacrifice….

…A sacrifice that unites them forever.

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Dark Academia Works Inspired by True Crime Cases?

Hello, all! I am looking for recommendations of Dark Academia works (novels, short stories, films, television series) based on true crime. I would be grateful for any suggestions for my list. Thank you!

I am intentionally casting my net widely, defining the Dark Academic genre (as opposed to the aesthetic) as one that focuses on an academic setting and educational experience, employs Gothic modes of storytelling, cultivates a dark mood by contemplating the subject of death, and offers critique for interrogating imbalances and abuses of power.*

Below the cut is my current list of Dark Academia Works Inspired by True Crime Cases. All suggestions are welcome!

Dark Academia Works Inspired/Informed by True Crime Cases

Note 1: “True crime” is defined here as a specific case (for example, a murder or missing person’s case), not as a larger historical event (for example, the Salem Witch Trials or the Opium Wars) or an amalgam of cases (for example, general hazing in fraternities). Note 2: This list is in chronological order based on the true crime case. Note 3: Some works that aren't fully DA but incorporate DA sections are included.

TRUE CRIME: 1897 disappearance of student Bertha Mellish from Mount Holyoke College DA novels: The Button Field by Gail Husch (2014) Killingly by Katharine Beutner (2023)

TRUE CRIME: 1924 killing of Bobby Franks by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb DA Novels: Compulsion by Meyer Levin (1956) Nothing but the Night by James Yaffe (1957) Little Brother Fate by Mary-Carter Roberts (1957) These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever (2020) Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed (2022) Jazzed by Jill Dearman (2022) DA films: Rope (1948), Compulsion (1959), and Murder by Numbers (2002)

TRUE CRIME: 1932 kidnapping and killing of Charles Lindbergh, Jr.; 1933 kidnapping and killing of Brooke Hart; and 1932-1934 crime spree of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow DA novels: Truly Devious books by Maureen Johnson (especially the first trilogy, 2018-2020)

TRUE CRIME: 1944 killing of David Kammerer by Columbia University student Lucien Carr DA film: Kill Your Darlings (2013)

TRUE CRIME: 1946 disappearance of student Paula Jean Welden from Bennington College DA novels: Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson (1951) Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh (1952) The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992) Shirley by Susan Scarf Merrell (2014) Quantum Girl Theory by Erin Kate Ryan (2022)

TRUE CRIME: 1973 killing of student Cynthia Hellman at Randolph-Macon Women’s College DA novel: Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison (2019)

TRUE CRIME: 1978 killing of students Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy and attack of students Kathy Kleiner and Karen Chandler by Ted Bundy at Florida State University DA novel: Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (2023)

TRUE CRIME: 1985 killing of Derek and Nancy Haysom by University of Virginia students Elizabeth Haysom and Jens Söring DA novel: With a Kiss We Die by L.R. Dorn (2023)

TRUE CRIME: 1999 killing of student Hae Min Lee from Woodlawn High School (by Adnan Syed? debated) DA novel: I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (2023)

TRUE CRIME: 2022 killing of students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin from the University of Idaho (by Washington State University student Bryan Kohberger? currently awaiting trial) DA novel: This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead (2025)

*(I go into this definition in further detail in my segment here on the StarShipSofa podcast, my graduate course on Dark Academia, and my 2023 academic essay "Dark Arts and Secret Histories: Investigating Dark Academia.")

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BAZE MALBUS "Well?" Chirrut asked. "For a man who preaches patience, you could stand to learn some more," Baze said. "I already told you, that's the ship. You're the one who doesn't believe me." "Chirrut," Baze said. "Baze?" "Stop talking now." - STAR WARS: GUARDIANS OF THE WHILLS

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Guys I finally got to read the Guardians of the Whills novel and OH MY GOD I absolutely love the depiction of Chirrut and Baze's respective grief and anger manifesting in different yet similar ways throughout the book.

How Baze's anger started and grew from the injustices caused by the Empire and fueled his desire to fight back but also hid a deep, strong grief for what's left of his home to the point that he lost his faith in the Force entirely. Meanwhile, Chirrut's sorrow for Jedha's suffering made him even more determined to ease that suffering and keep holding onto his faith in the Force, but he was also angry at himself for being powerless and unable to stop the escalation of violence and war on his homeworld.

There is a whole paragraph from Chirrut's pov describing how the word "no" embodied Baze's cynicism nowadays and how pained he felt about Baze's lack of faith, but there's also Baze noticing the pain behind Chirrut's smile and mentioning that he couldn't remember the last time Chirrut being happy.

Both Chirrut and Baze had their differences and were stubborn in their own ways and they argued and fought, but that only makes their whole relationship and the complete understanding and sheer trust between each other all the more beautiful. They both had a shared conviction towards their cause of protecting the people of Jedha and Chirrut found Baze's presence reassuring and Baze only laughed at Chirrut's jokes. There are even more details I've didn't cover but the devotion and commitment is just undeniable between the two.

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ICYMI, there is a documentary series that highlights the contributions of women and non-binary people in the Star Wars fandom and in related discussions of resilience and resistance. I was delighted to play a small role as a consultant on this project, and I will be sharing it with my graduate students this semester as we discuss Star Wars and popular culture.

It’s Looking for Leia, and all seven episodes are free to watch!

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Green Tea (绿茶), dir. Zhang Yuan, 2003

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A new project with Jiang Wen directing/writing/starring?!?

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Eddie Peng Discusses Jiang Wen

“Jiang Wen is one of my favourite directors. I always wanted to work with him. I learnt so much from him on set. Prepping for the role, I had to transform myself for the role. It’s set at the time of the Republic of China, in the 1920s. It’s based on a novel. I read the book first and then went to audition with Jiang Wen. The main character needs to speak with a Beijing accent. It’s not the Beijing accent of today, it’s the Beijing accent of the 1920s. I had to spend a lot of time trying to get that accent. It’s not something I love to do. It’s a tough one because Jiang Wen is an actor himself. Then for the choreography, I spent two weeks with Jackie Chan’s stunt team. I had to train hard and then diet to achieve the physical transformation to become the character. Jiang is more like an artist; he treats his craft very seriously. On set, since he’s an actor himself, you can’t fool him. He can understand immediately if you’re in the zone or not. He will wait until you’re there, until you’re ready. If the weather isn’t good, he’s ready to wait a whole week for the sun to come out! We went to Baltimore to shoot part of the movie. We shot the entire movie with natural light, isn’t it crazy? You have to give credit to him. We live in this fast-paced world obsessed with making money, but some people are still able to do what they really love. That’s something that inspired me. I loved working with him.”

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Free Online Star Trek and Star Wars Book Events!

Everyone is welcome! I'm delighted to announce a weekend of free online events celebrating two anthologies from Vernon Press, Star Trek: Essays Exploring the Final Frontier and Star Wars: Essays Exploring a Galaxy Far, Far Away, edited by Emily Strand and Yours Truly. We hope you'll join us!

Register for Sept. 9 event here.

Register for Sept. 10 event here.

See more about the books here.

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My sweet rogue beans 🫘 these babies will be enamel pins and are up for pre order now 🫘❤️

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The first sticker set is posted and live! Reblogs appreciated.