As filmmakers, science fiction has always been one of the subjects we care regarding and love most. For the perception and expectation of science fiction, I believe that everyone has their own unique perspective; and what I want to say is personal understanding of science fiction and the world, people and nature: “From ants to stars – science fiction is idealism.”
“Mozart in Outer Space” movie poster
The movie “Mozart in Outer Space” that I directed is currently in theaters. During the anti-epidemic period, the summer vacation is approaching, the theater has just recovered, and the audience needs warmth and laughter. “Mozart in Outer Space” is my dream gift for my children. Strictly speaking, it is not a standard sci-fi movie, but more like a fantasy movie; it has elements of sci-fi, as well as lighthearted laughs and warm family affection.
The first picture of the movie, moving upward from the perspective of an ant, the camera sweeps through the windows of every floor of a residential building, and enters every family behind the window, a pair of parents who are looking forward to their son Jackie Chan, and each one who is burdened with The child whose parents have been looking forward to it… Finally, the camera pans to the sky and casts its eyes to the vast stars. The meaning of this group of shots is to hope that young people and children will have a beautiful vision and imagination regarding our planet and the endless universe; also hope to inspire children’s interest in scientific exploration and thinking regarding future life: The stars, the sea in mind, the youth of the country, the clean and the fragrant.
Excellent science fiction works, representing the direction of human civilization progress and evolution
Next, the series I want to focus on is “Ball Lightning” by Mr. Liu Cixin. Everyone knows that Mr. Liu Cixin’s works represent the height of Chinese science fiction literature and have great influence on a global scale, and his understanding of the spirit of science fiction can also make me feel the same way. The reason why I chose “Ball Lightning” is precisely because it has the extremely precious core of this era-life needs idealism.
If “Mozart in Outer Space” is my juvenile perspective to express mankind’s enthusiasm and yearning for the vast universe, then “Ball Lightning” carries every adult’s sense of compassion for the common destiny and mission of mankind .
Why are we talking regarding science fiction today? Because science fiction works such as science fiction literature and science fiction movies represent the progress and evolution of human civilization. Although there is a long distance between us filmmakers, scientists and astronauts, from the heart, our yearning for a better future for mankind is common and consistent. As I mentioned in media interviews before, filmmakers are dream-makers, while science and spaceflight put time and life into the hands, and gradually make dreams come true with true knowledge and practice step by step.
In the big era, individuals are just dust, and they will eventually be submerged in the torrent of history. However, science realizes the future so that human beings will continue; movies store memories and make the past eternal – in a way, we are all “magicians”.
Perhaps, there is not much we can leave behind. As film workers, what we can do is to ignite the fire in the hearts of the audience. This is why I started with the ant in Mozart. At first, I just thought of it as a gift for my kids. Because I think it’s been too many years since I’ve seen a movie that children of this age want to see. When I was young, we had many excellent children’s movies, which enlightened children’s minds and inspired my interest in movies. From the movie, I felt the charm of fantasy, magic and sci-fi, which greatly shocked my young mind; from the movie, I realized the magical power generated by the collision of science and imagination.
In 2014, Guo Fan, Lu Yang, and Ning Hao and other directors went to study at Paramount Corporation in the United States. There, I not only felt the power and influence of industrial films on the world, but also shocked the creativity and execution of film workers around the world. Under the influence of countless beautiful works of colleagues around the world, we experience and sigh the beauty of science fiction. Including my favorite “Interstellar” and “Dune”. These artists are doing great and classic experiments in their own uncharted territory, creating a long-cherished wish for mankind to go to the future. After returning to China, in the advancement of the big era, we feel that the current power of science and technology, the sense of mission and urgency of Chinese filmmakers, the responsibility is on the shoulders, this weight is unprecedented.
I always wonder, what is the ultimate desire we want to express in the creation of literature and film? In my opinion, the ultimate goal of science fiction must be to promote human progress rather than backward, to achieve justice and peace rather than destruction. Even in the unprecedented change in a century, some people doubt or even lose the pursuit of the meaning of life, but filmmakers can never forget and give up thinking.
The ultimate other side and the ultimate answer of science fiction is love
In the long river of life where we coexist with nature and fight once morest disasters, the most precious thing is the emotion between people. What memory can’t take away, what time and space can’t change, what can save everything, only love. Nolan has always been one of my favorite directors. In his “Interstellar”, the father’s love for his daughter and the daughter’s rescue of his father may be the truth of life that we can only find in the higher dimensions of the parallel universe. . In this sense, sci-fi movies show a part higher than real life, and subtly make us reflect, ask, and introspect – for whom do we exist and for whom do we make movies? Is our mission not just to please the audience, make them laugh, cry, and then change nothing? So, I want to say something regarding the present and the future for the children, for the audience. A filmmaker with a real sense of mission should leave some valuable thoughts for the world.
I often describe myself as an optimistic pessimist. In my previous works, such as the “Detective Chinatown” and “Manslaughter” series, even if they are not sci-fi themes, they are still discussing the plight of human beings and the compassion for the suffering of the world. I like to use the method of video to explore the thinking regarding where human beings are going. Keep moving forward in the dilemma of innovation, with a positive attitude, to try new universes and genres. In creation, whether it is science fiction movies or science fiction literature, human beings need active exploration and enterprising spirit, as well as endless curiosity.
In my opinion, the core of sci-fi movies should be to heal human hearts, inspire human thinking, and strengthen human belief in pursuing a better future. My colleagues and I are working hard, and there are many, many filmmakers who are making films not just for entertainment.
We love movies, and the original intention of loving movies is to love life, human beings, and the whole world. Movies exist because of love and ideals. We started from childhood love and went to the depths of this era. We experience life, witness history, and therefore are willing to dedicate to great love, which may be the meaning of science fiction.
Perhaps, we are all ants with faith, small and fragile. But as long as you keep walking, you can also reach the other side of the galaxy. We look forward to the high flying of industrialized films, constantly surpass ourselves, and show the world the determination of Chinese film practitioners with goodwill, persistence and love for the world.
We hope that with our efforts, the world will see the power of Chinese science fiction. (Text / Chen Sicheng)
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责编：张晓荣 ]
