Beijing filmmaker pays tribute to his past – while studying in New York

From imitation to innovation

During his last few days of high school, he was admitted to the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

While applying he produced his first film, 27 Minutes, in tribute to Hong Kong director Wong Karwai.

"Wong is one of my favorite directors, and I have seen all his movies. My work 27 Minutes is a total imitation of Wong's film style, and I was really proud of myself at that stage," he says.

Looking back on his first film, he now has new insight.

"The original intention of making a movie is not to imitate someone else, but to return to the art itself; namely you have something to say, or you have the impulse to create new ideas."

"If you just want to show off your skills or to copy your favorite movies with your own machine, then I don't think there is any meaning," he says.

He has now produced four films: 27 Minutes, Color, Aliya, and Chasing Shadows, his work exploring the themes of time, memories, US social issues, and self-expression.

He says films are more than visual documents – they are testaments to our lives, and the role movies play should not be underestimated.