The 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) Golden Goblet Award jury meeting was held in Shanghai on June 16. After the meeting, Wang Jingchun, one of the most eminent actors in China and winner of the best actor award at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival (BIFF), spoke with the CGTN and talked about his view about the Chinese film industry and development.
What qualities should an "excellent" movie have?
Talking about the qualities of an excellent movie, he said he thinks people understand movies in the same way. It should have features such as a good story, perspective, the reflection of human nature, and these elements can touch him deeply.
Wang Jingchun, actor and jury member of the Golden Goblet Awards, after the jury meeting in Shanghai on June 16, 2019. /CGTN Photo
Also, the artistic aspect and storyline must be considered. All the films that can be selected for the film festival are outstanding ones, he said. Out of this year's 2,550 movies, there are 516 feature films, and the selection is sure to be excellent. A jury must consider the artistic, as well as the narrative aspects, to see which movies will be chosen.
China can also lead in many aspects of film technology
Speaking of the industrialization of Chinese films in recent years, Wang affirmed the progress of Chinese film science and technology in the past years. "When I first graduated and went to the Shanghai Film Studio, it was still using film (to shoot), and I even could hear the sound of the old camera," said Wang.
Nowadays, China's film industry is in sync with the world, basically on the same track with the world. Wang also went to the University of Southern California to study. After he had seen foreign technologies, he thought China could also lead in many aspects of film technologies.
Award-winning films are like a "slow-cooked stew"
Asked about the factors about the mismatch between word-of-mouth and box office sales of many excellent award-winning films, he said that the box office couldn't be the most important factor to measure a film's value.
"In fact, the current environment is favorable, but good work should not be measured by the box office, just like we can't use a society's wealth to measure the state of its values," said Wang.
Wang Jingchun, actor and jury member of the Golden Goblet Awards at the jury meeting at the 22nd SIFF on June 16, 2019. /VCG Photo
"When money is the only measure of value, it becomes boring," Wang added.
In 2019, Wang won the best actor at the 69th BIFF with the film "So Long, My Son," and this film is now available online and its click rate is remarkable.
"Many people feel very sorry since they did not go to the movies to watch it. Maybe for some reason, such as a lack of publicity, they didn't choose to go to the movies to watch it, but I think it doesn't matter, it's the same when they watch it online," Wang said.
Also, Wang pointed out that award-winning films are like a slow-cooked stew: Many people will continue to appreciate the film after they've watched it for the first time.
Reporter: Ye Qing
Photographer: Zhu Danni
Video editor: Zhu Danni
Cover image designer: Du Chenxin