Kick-off: Let’s Praise the Act of Writing

In a world of sights and sound, we, filmmakers, the great artists, might neglect introspection without the power of words. You know, human thought doesn’t thrive solely through audio-visual elements, it actually finds its wings in written expressions: Reading beckons us to embrace solitude, ponder thoughts and dialogues, to absorb wisdom. We can luxuriate in the tranquility of reading, forging connections with authors, delving into the depths of their minds, sparring with ideas, and nurturing personal reflections. Sure, there are filmmakers who yearn to bridge the gap, desiring a cinematic encounter akin to this. Some audiences too, seek a similar connection. However, films have the capacity to achieve this only to a small extent. The trajectory of cinema has a unique rhythm. Most of the time it whisks us away from deep contemplation, ushering us into the lives of others, granting us a slice of their existence, an accessible escapade. And perhaps, this is how it must persist.

Here is my first-hand experience: over time, I’ve gathered an abundance of thoughts and insights that deserve expression, and I have noticed that not all of them could find a home in my films. Think of Van Gogh‘s revealing letters to his brother Teo – they’ve brought us closer to his essence today. Could diving into Van Gogh‘s mind taint how we perceive his art? An artist deciphering their own creations, baring motivations unabashedly – akin to authors in their confessional tomes – yields remarkable literary gems. Gratitude fills me for filmmakers like Cassavetes, Kiarostami, Bunuel, Bergman, Bresson, Tarkovsky, Godard, and Rohmer for leaving written treasures beside cinematic ones. However, in our era, writing often appears to be confined either to technical, finance-seeking, and self-promotion endeavors for filmmakers, or a crowning intellectual exploit saved for a retirement memoir. No, I cast aside these notions. Writing and reading should persist as our chief pursuits. During one of his interviews, I recall stumbling upon a simple but overlooked point from Umberto Eco saying that we can’t escape the act of writing and reading: screens abound – from computers to phones – knitting us visually and sonically to the world, yet reading and writing remain steadfast, again through them. So, if these acts are inescapable, if we can’t shake them, then let’s master them.

In this corner, I will do my part: I aim to share a steady stream of thoughts on the subjects that ignite my passion. Think of this as my humble corner for gathering thoughts, a space I’m crafting to be a wellspring of inspiration for both myself and anyone who cares to join, even if it’s just a few kindred spirits. I aspire to kindle inspiration, to inhale and exhale the creative breath as I’ve sculpted my own cosmos, a realm inhabited by wordsmiths, minstrels, vision-weavers, and color-magicians. And perhaps, you might deign to include me in your creative universe.

Significant events while composing this post: taking my inaugural sip of Yunnan Pu-erh tea.