Wenchuan's tragedy on film

Film director Yin Li and his 40-member crew arrived in Sichuan province just three days after the 8-magnitude earthquake devastated the city of Wenchuan.

They are to work on a film named 168 Hours in Wenchuan (Wenchuan 168 Xiaoshi), a feature film on the disaster that has claimed more than 60,000 lives since it hit on May 12.

"This is something I have never experienced before," Yin is quoted as saying. "My previous experience is irrelevant here, at a time where life is at stake at all times"

Within 24 hours after the quake hit, head of the China Film Group Corporation Han Sanping called Yin proposing that he shoot a film about the disaster. During the next seven days, the film crew trekked to the earthquake-hit regions of Dujiangyan, Beichuan, Yingxiu, and Mianzhu.

Their foremost task is to capture on-the-spot reactions of victims, soldiers and rescuers involved in the disaster.

There is no final screenplay, and actors, preferably from Sichuan province, are needed.

"Sichuan is the only shooting location, and the emotions that this disaster in their home territory produces in actors will enhance their performances," Yin says.

The crew had to carry more than 100 kg of equipment, including two high-definition cameras, on their daily eight-hour journey either on foot or by boat. They encountered a landslide on May 20, and frequent aftershocks were a constant reminder of the dangers they faced.

Although his work in Sichuan is to direct a film, Yin says that he and his crew are first and foremost volunteers. "We will do anything we can to help the victims," he says.

Yin started his career directing films for children. When he met the children in Beichuan, one of the most severely damaged towns, he found it hard to contain his emotions.

"Before 2:28 pm on May 12, the children were having classes as part of their normal daily life, but now they have nothing," he told reporters from the Beijing Times.

Shi Dongming, vice-president of China Film, has stated that the film will not include any actual footage from TV news reports. "People have seen enough tragic scenarios," he says. "This film is not intended to make people cry."

Yin agrees. Shocking scenes of suffering and horrific injuries are not what he is after. He wants to win hearts with a moving story within the disaster and the characters it involves.

The film will be in the style of a docu-drama. Shooting is scheduled to finish in about four months and the film will be released in October.

At least three more films about the quake are in production.

Emei Film Group in Sichuan province is to make a film about people searching for family and friends missing after the earthquake. The group will also join the Xi'an Film Group in making a film titled: Wenchuan Does not Believe in Tears (Wenchuan bu Xiangxin Yanlei). Senior directors of the two studios have already left for the main earthquake sites.

Famous director Feng Xiaogang is preparing to shoot a film about the Tangshan earthquake of 1976 in which 240,000 were killed.

(China Daily 06/03/2008 page18)