Reporter's Diary: Interview with the director of 'The Wandering Earth'

World
Europe

02:20

I don't know about you, but I love going to the movies. It's one of the true forms of escapism. A chance to get outside yourself for a couple of hours.

In fact, I like it so much there's hardly a film I haven't enjoyed at the theater.

So, how lucky am I that last week I was paid by CGTN to take some of the New York bureau team to the movies for the afternoon to see the brand new Chinese sci-fi blockbuster "The Wandering Earth"－Very lucky indeed!

The AMC on New York's famous 42nd Street is a multiplex in what was once a Broadway Theater. My movie ticket cost me eight U.S. dollars while popcorn and sodas for the crew set me back nearly 50! Remind me to go alone next time.

The Story

"The Wandering Earth" is based on a novel by Chinese sci-fi writer Liu Cixin.

Here's the synopsis, the Sun is about to overwhelm the Earth, so the global government builds giant engines all over the planet to propel the Earth out of the solar system but the Earth is in danger when it gets dragged onto a collision course with Jupiter by the giant planet's force of gravity.

A still from "The Wandering Earth" at a Beijing theater. /VCG Photo

I think it's a really good movie and recommend it to you if you love the sci-fi genre.

The Director

So, imagine my excitement when the young director of the movie Guo Fan said he'd meet me for a chat in Manhattan.

We met at the posh Westin Hotel on 43rd and 8th in a small room with a giant screen emblazoned with the title of the movie.

"To me when I was only fifteen years old my dream was to make a Chinese sci-fi film. That's why I began to make movies," said Guo.

Actor Wu Jing (L), film director Guo Fan (C) and sci-fi novelist Liu Cixin at a promotional event of "The Wandering Earth". /VCG Photo

"And then in 2014, me and a group of Chinese directors had the chance to visit Hollywood. I realized there was a big gap between the Chinese film industry and Hollywood so I wanted to close this gap and make our own Chinese sci-fi film," he added.

I told Gou Fan his movie is a great space romp.

"Thank you but I think we have thirty years to catch-up with Hollywood standards and when we talk about special effects ten to fifteen years," he said.

Guo Fan was being modest, the effects are spectacular!

Netflix

Netflix must love it too, the streaming service has just bought the rights to "The Wandering Earth".

"I think the Netflix deal is very important, especially as it will help people abroad to learn more about Chinese films and realize there is another culture," Guo added.

A poster for "The Wandering Earth" outside a Beijing theater. /VCG Photo

When we met, it was the night of the 2019 Academy Awards also known as the Oscars.

I knew he was a fan of the movie "Roma" and its director Alfonso Cuaron who won for the Best Director award.

"I think it's a director's sixth sense, the previous works of Roma's director are so much part of Hollywood industrialization, but this film is an exception. It is very artistic and full of emotion, among all of the commercial Hollywood films."

Before we parted company I asked Guo Fan what his next movie will be, I was angling for a part in it of course.

"I don't know," he said. "I'm still working on this one."

Whatever it is, Guo Fan, we'll be in the audience.