In the summer of 2017, I went to the attached middle school of the Chinese Academy of Opera to shoot a short film, where I met a group of students who grew up learning Peking Opera, and was gradually attracted by their stories, which shared the commonalities of all adolescents, with the pressures of academics and family, the confused future, and the emotion of having nowhere to put it. But unlike most ordinary students, they grew up in an outdated school building, practicing an ancient art in a traditional way. In the rapidly developing modern society, they carry a special classical temperament. I wanted to record their stories and wanted the audience to be able to find resonance in these teenagers.
Fifteen-year-old Sun Xiaolei comes from a Peking Opera family, and has been asked by his father to study Lao Sheng since he was a child. The upcoming summer vacation competition, the "Little Green Shoots Award", is a great opportunity for him to make a name for himself, but his upcoming voice change period makes him anxious. In the process of preparing for the competition, Xiaolei accidentally becomes friends with two of his competitors: Shi Jiahui, a tomboyish female old student, and Xie Tianci, a cynical second-generation Peking Opera "star". They support each other all the way from the audition to the final, but at the same time, the anxiety of puberty, the confusion of gender perception and the pressure of the adult world are also challenging the friendship of the three people.
run：
2024-08-24 (Mainland China)Years and Units Shortlisted：
Top 30 Main Unit 2021typology：
Youth｜Musicdirector (film etc)：
Zhang Yu Dicinematographer：
Perry Fok｜Zhang Yu Diactor or actress：
Bian Cheng｜Zhou Meijun｜Zhang Chi｜Chen Shaoxi｜Xu Shi Xinmoviemaker：
Yue Yang｜Lei Zehua｜Wu Tingting｜Mei Qiaochu｜Wang Lukasupervise the manufacture of：
Tono Chan｜Speaking atproduction company：
Beijing MET Culture Development Co.The Most Audience-Favorite Film in the Belt and Road Film Week of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2024 / The Best Screenplay of the 18th FIRST YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL in 2024 / The Best Feature Film in the Main Competition of the 18th FIRST YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL in 2024 (Finalist)
Zhang Yudi: Independent director, born in Beijing. He graduated from Fudan University majoring in Journalism, and graduated from University of Southern California majoring in Film and Television Production. His short film "Backloading" won the Special Jury Recommendation Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and was selected by the Philadelphia International Film Festival, Caulker International Film Festival, and Hangzhou Youth Image Program.
Xueying Huo: graduated from Fudan University and Bristol University. Her screenwriting short film "Backloading" won the Special Jury Recommendation Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and was selected for the Philadelphia International Film Festival, Ireland's Caulker International Film Festival, and the Hangzhou Youth Image Program. He is a member of the Sino-British Opera Association and an amateur Peking Opera performer. Zhang Yudi: Independent director, born in Beijing. He graduated from Fudan University majoring in Journalism, and graduated from University of Southern California majoring in Film and Television Production. His short film "Backloading" won the Special Jury Recommendation Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and was selected for the Philadelphia International Film Festival, Caulker International Film Festival, and Hangzhou Youth Video Program.
Mei Qiaochu: Graduated from the University of Southern California Film School, majoring in Film and Television Production, she has worked in Warner Bros. Film Development Department, Legendary Pictures Film Development Department, BBC International Script Development Department, Aichi Arts, and Huaxia Film Distribution Co. She is now an independent producer. Luka Wang: Graduated from Columbia University with a Master's degree in Creative Production. Bachelor's degree from Communication University of China. She has worked for Jiangsu Radio and Television Station and the Film Festival Department of Hainan Island International Film Festival. Her film "Headband, Eggs, Workbook" was selected for the 78th Venice International Film Festival Short Film Competition.
Beijing MET Culture Development Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive entertainment company that also develops, invests in, produces, and brokers film and television projects. It is well-known and influential in the industry, and is a pioneer in the conceptual model of the film marketing industry. The company has also made achievements in the development of film and television projects, with the broadcasted TV drama project "I'm Fine in Another Country" gaining good reputation, and the pending movie project "Love Myth" and "The Last Truth" receiving wide attention.
Fifteen-year-old Sun Xiaolei has been asked by his father to study Lao Sheng since he was a child, and the upcoming National Youth Peking Opera Competition in the summer is a good opportunity for him to make a name for himself, but the upcoming change of voice makes him anxious.