Director Jia Zhangke has finished shooting his new documentary
movie Wu Yong, or literally, Useless, which features
famous Chinese female fashion designer Ma Ke and her brand name, Wu
Yong.
The movie tells about how the designer launched her third label
Wu Yong and took it to the Fall/Winter 2007 Ready-to-Wear Fashion
Show in Paris.
Jia Zhangke, who also directed Still Life, went with
his team to Fenyang, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Paris over five months
to document the birth of the fashion brand. The Golden Lion award
winning director says he couldn't wait to edit the 60 hours of raw
material into an 80-minute film.
It's the second time the director has put the life of an artist
on the big screen. Jia says shooting the movie was also a process
which he opened his mind.
He says it's an interesting thing to record an artist's life and
work. There always are some in the world who are far-sighted and
are sensitive to ordinary things in our everyday life. To him, it's
a delightful experience to share thoughts with those persons.
Ma Ke is an acclaimed fashion designer in China, who had
successfully launched her brands "Mixmind" and "Exception" in the
past ten years.
She is known for her silent, organic and reflexive clothing
which are creative and experimental in shape.?
(CRI July 14, 2007)