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"Highly Recommended. This is the only documentary of its
kind on Beiputuo, the successful Chinese movie studio founded by television
writer and legendary philanthropist, Mei Zi. Here we not only learn her
incredible story of overcoming childhood hardships to become the founder and
chairman of the motion picture studio and performing arts institute, which
is located on the outskirts of Beijing, but also we see spectacular musical,
dance, and acrobatic performances that characterize the studio."
-National Media Review Known as the Chinese Hollywood, Beiputuo, a 75-acre movie studio near Beijing, has the same glamour and excitement for Eastern culture as Universal Studios does for the West. Whatever Chinese movie makers need to produce a fabulous feature film, it all comes together at Beiputuo. And it's all because of the visionary work of a Chinese cultural hero, Mei Zi, a woman who never forgot the values she learned as a girl, struggling to get an education, and founded Beiputou, not only as a studio, but also as an artistic exchange center that carries on the traditional culture of the Chinese nation. More than just a "Look-Behind-the Scenes" place to view movie making, Beiputuo also contains a School for Performing Arts and a College for Basic Education in which one class is dedicated to poor or orphaned students that Ms. Zi pays their education and boarding. She regards it an honor to do what she can to promote the arts. Produced by Kanto Productions, Inc. 08DR JSCA 52 min. |
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"Recommended. The technical aspects of this documentary
are impressive, particularly the treatment of the Chinese and English
languages. The outstanding clear, bright colors, and well-edited street and
park scenes, together with close-ups of the individual Falun Gong followers,
makes for a good presentation in such a small time frame." -EMRO
Review The government of China considers members of the religious sect Falun Gong as counter-revolutionaries. In fact, only in Hong Kong can Falun Gong be practiced openly. The government's message is that Falun Gong is dangerous, obsessive devotion, a threat to followers and a threat to social cohesion. Devotees of the religion feel the overall propaganda is based on fabricated evidence. This program examines the controversy and reveals that the Spiritual Fugitives are determined to practice their faith. Produced by ABC Australia. 07DR JSCA 15 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. This is a very enjoyable and
eye-opening documentary to watch, as two ordinary young men offer an
extraordinary look at the China one doesn't get to see, unless you travel
off the beaten path." -Natinoal Media Review Two adventurers, Jeff Schiro and Bob Demyan, document a dream come true as they travel to "off-the-beaten-track" areas of China. After a stop in Hong Kong, they cruise from the port city of Guangzhou to the province of Gwangju and experience town life in the beautiful city of Yangshuo, revered for its limestone hills, and learn that 80% of all people in China are farmers and work the land by hand. Other highlights include a journey down river on a bamboo raft to the remote village of Xingping; a trek to the summit of Moon Hill with its magnificent views; the Sichuan province of Leshan, a big, busy city famous for its Sichuan cuisine; Baoguo and Mt. Emei, a holy Buddhist site, which is now a favorite stop for tourists; plus those iconic pedicabs, which are bicycle-powered rickshaws. Produced by Homewood Productions. 07DR IJSCA 60 min. |
| This documentary offers a fresh and original look at Shangahi, China, a harbor city that is developing at such a fast and breathtaking pace it is surpassing its "rival," Hong Kong. Not dwelling on the causes of China's economic boom, this program underscores the transformations, contrasts and exuberance of Shanghai's renewed dynamism. Here we get a glimpse of the new China, as well as a reflection on the responsibilities of Western countries. In Shanghai today we discover the buzzword is "success" - success at any cost. We are introduced to several Shanghai residents, such as architects, writers and entrepreneurs, plus a number of ordinary people, and some "nouveau riche," those who crave luxury. Shanghai we see represents the splendors and miseries of global capitalism, where there is sadly no room for the well being of a so-called Western-like middle class; also we learn how middle classes in Western countries are experiencing progressive erosion as a result of China's giant economy, which is impervious to the fair redistribution of profit. Finally, we look at the advantages and drifts of a model of economic growth that is striving to export all over the world, with unperturbed optimism, in the name of "development." Co-produced by RTSI/Televisione Svizzera and United Colors Communication SA. 08DR JSCA 50 min. |
| Through a series of eleven passages, this program provides viewers a rare glimpse of a country where 3/4 of a billion people live in rural areas such as Cui-Heng, or Green Village. Produced by Misty Sheehan. 07DR JSCA 60 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. Filmed on-location, this historic
documentary withstands the test of time; it will be especially enlightening
to viewers regarding the issues of China, women, and human rights."
-National Media Review "If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, it is that human rights are women's rights - and women's rights are human rights." -Hillary Clinton For centuries, China has been a country of many walls. The Great Wall of China is the most recognized wall in the world. Today, as the world becomes more global, China, the "land of the dragon," once shrouded in mystery, has become a serious world power, facing new ideas and challenges. This classic documentary serves two purposes. First, it documents the historic United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women, which occurred in Beijing in 1995; one of the most noted speeches was given by then First Lady, Hillary Clinton, and called the "Women's Rights are Human Rights' Speech." For present-day use, the program also offers an eye-opening look at the country and politics of China as a whole, using walls as a symbolic metaphor. Walls can separate what is within and what is without; the known from the unknown; the sacred from the profane. Through an historical and psychological lens the program tracks the suppression of the feminine from dynastic times through the Communist era. Here we visit the Forbidden City, which for concubines who lived there was both palace and prison; we learn of the foot-binding ritual endured by Chinese women; of Mao Tse-tung (Zedong) who became the leader of the Chinese National Party in 1949; and of the protest of 1989, when students built the Goddess of Democracy, a statue which was crushed by soldiers in the assault on Tiananmen Square that ended the Democracy Movement. Also five songs written by Yoko Ono help to underscore the message of the program. Songs by Yoko Ono: Rising; Talking to the Universe; Where Do We Go From Here?; War Zone; Revelations. Produced by Laurie Layton Schapira. 08DR/CL JSCA 30 min. |