'THE WAVE' OF SIHAN CUI
Talented artist Sihan Cui talks her documentary feature.
What hot new art do you have in the works right now?
I am currently working on a feature documentary film "The Wave". This is also my first attempt to be the director of a feature film. It requires much more work and more detailed coordination than a short film, so I am trying to adapt to the new working method.
How would you describe your work?
I hope to tell people's life stories with the lens. “This is the meaning and charm of literature and art – to get a person out of his limited, narrow life track, to perceive, understand, and even live the lives of others.” This is a quote by my favorite documentary film director Xu Tong. Usually, people don't pay much attention to how people outside their familiar life circle live. Because of the lack of understanding, there is a lack of empathy. However, the fact is that some people's lives may be harmed for various reasons but remain silent. I hope I can give a voice to people who can’t really speak for themselves, to let more and more people know about such things happening in reality. There are very ordinary people like you and me suffering, not just numbers in the data report.
What does a day look like for you?
When I have a shooting schedule, I usually follow the crew’s time arrangement. But my personal working habit is actually reversed. I prefer starting work after midnight, especially works that require creativity. I think those are the times when my inspiration bursts and my concentration is very concentrated. I will work from midnight until morning, then reply to some emails before going to bed, and get up to work in the evening.
Who do you share your art with first?
I usually would share my work with my friends who are also great artists first. I have a group of friends who always share work-in-progress with each other to get feedback, in order to further improve the works based on the feedback and modification suggestions. I will polish the final work after several rounds of this back and forth. So naturally, my friends will always be my first audience.
Anything unreleased that you want to release but don't feel it's ready?
The documentary film “The Wave”, which is the project I’m working on now is the work I want to release in the future. It’s still in the post-production process now. I hope it can be shown to the public soon.
Where can our audience follow you?
Personal website: https://www.sihancui.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echocui99/