15 Jul 2024
From July 3rd to 4th, 2024, Professor Li-Chuan Evelyn Mai, Dean of the School of Film and TV Arts, led a delegation of faculty members on a study and exchange visit to Hengdian World Studios. The aim of this trip was to gain firsthand experience and engage in in-depth dialogues, accurately capturing the pulse and cutting-edge trends of film and TV production. This knowledge will enrich course content, broaden students' industry perspectives, solidify their career planning, and ultimately enhance their practical skills and competitiveness in the job market.
Additionally, the School plans to organise another study tour for students to Hengdian World Studios in early September. This visit provided the faculty with a comprehensive understanding of the study environment and resources available at Hengdian, laying a solid foundation for the smooth conduct of future study tours.
On the first day of the visit, Guo Shu, General Manager of the International Business Department of Hengdian World Studios, provided the faculty with a detailed introduction to the development history, diversified business segments, and the remarkable achievements and unique charm of the film shooting bases. She particularly emphasised the importance of the collaboration between both parties in cultivating bilingual film and TV talents and expressed her optimistic outlook for future cooperation.
Following this, the faculty delegation explored several historical film sets at Hengdian World Studios, ranging from the ancient charm of the Tang and Song Dynasties to modern high-tech studios. Each location has witnessed the birth of numerous film and TV works and remains a popular spot for filming. Additionally, the team visited the New Yuanming Palace and the Guangzhou and Hong Kong Street sets, experiencing the unique appeal of Hengdian as a national benchmark for film and tourism.
On the second day, the delegation visited Tianqi Tianwu Film Physical Effects Company at Hengdian World Studios. Guided by the studio’s makeup artists, the faculty experienced the magical artistry of film special effects makeup, gaining a more intuitive understanding of its practical applications in film production. They expressed a desire to involve students more in such practical experiences and to incorporate these valuable insights and skills into their own film projects.
The visit concluded with an industry expert sharing session, where seasoned producer and founder of Cyrui Culture, Tang Xuan, and emerging director Guo Haoyang engaged in deep discussions with the faculty on core topics such as market trends in the film industry, product incubation, team building, and talent cultivation. The experts not only shared invaluable industry experiences but also stressed the importance of an international perspective and lifelong learning for film professionals. They highly praised the collaboration between the School of Film and TV Arts and Hengdian World Studios, believing it would inject new energy into Chinese film education and accelerate the advancement of China’s film industry towards global prominence.
The visit to Hengdian left a profound impression on the faculty, reaffirming their commitment to cultivating film talents with international competitiveness. Moving forward, the School of Film and TV Arts will establish deeper collaborations with the industry, offering more study and practical opportunities for students, and building bridges for student-industry interactions. This will help students quickly adapt to the ever-changing industry demands, clarify their career positions, and secure broader development opportunities in their future careers.
Contributed by Biwei Cong
Photos by Zhenyu Wang
15 Jul 2024