8th Annual Lady Filmmakers Festival Beverly Hills - Short Term
A homeless man comes to the rescue of a homeless child, he takes him in and does everything in his power to fulfill the wishes of this child, and helps him to go back to school.
Interview with Writer/Director Aijia Li
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The central idea of this film comes from a social experiment about how strangers would react if they saw a child dressed as a homeless child sitting on the sidewalk in the cold with no coat, no food, and no home. The end result of that video really touched me, but broke my heart at the same time. People treated the boy as if he were invisible, during those 3 hours nobody helped him or bothered to ask why he was on the street, alone without his family, But in the end, a middle-aged black man, also homeless, comes and offers his coat to the child. Then I cried, the only thing on my mind at that moment was, “I want to make this story”, Not just as a director but as a human being, I want people to know that sometimes those who have less give more.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I will bring the audience to the reality of this story and also touch the hearts of the audience, taking them on a deeply emotional trip with the story.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Just like the goal of this film: sometimes those who have less but give more.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I had the whole story running around my mind for 2 months but I didn’t write anything down during that time, then one day at midnight I started to write, and finished everything in 4 hours. I felt I haven't created those characters, they living there with their life.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Tears.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The most emotional surprise was the first time when I saw people cry at my film. And the hardest challenge was when someone told me “shits happened but who care?”. I was shocked but I care and I believed I am not the only one who really cares about society's issues and want to help.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope to meet people who see the potential in this theme and in me to help with the following to develop the feature of this topic. I would appreciate if any of my audience wants to share their unique stories with me and likes to see them on the screen in the future. I have also been putting extended efforts to self-sponsor to get myself adapted to this exciting new country and culture, and I would feel blessed if my talent gets exposed by the film and it brings me more projects to complete so that I may get the funding process for the feature in a less painful way.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
As the development of my in depth feature on the same topic is on the calendar, fa und-raiser, investor, or distributors are who we really need so that we are able to bring the most out of my script.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Again, not just as a director but as a human being, I want people to know that sometimes those who have less give more.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
1) Homeless child.
2) Race.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m working on the feature version script, hope I can get sponsors, and start to make it soon.
Interview: September 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Short Term
A homeless man comes to the rescue of a homeless child, he takes him in and does everything in his power to fulfill the wishes of this child, and helps him to go back to school.
Length:
17:04
Director:
Aijia Li
Producer:
Edward Lee
Zhe “Z” Zhang
Writer:
Aijia Li
About the writer, director, and producer:
Director and Writer Aijia Li, which means me. I was a telefilm director in China, Now I should call myself LA-based filmmaker. My brand is society drama, I want to make the most “human” story, because of my soft heart and strong faith.
Producer Zhe “Z” Zhang:
Z, with years of experience in the marketing division of private jet management business, has started to pursue his career in delivering breathtaking movies after graduated with MBA degree.
Key cast:
Nicholas Freeman
Andrew Fox
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists.
Made in association with:
New York Film Academy
Release date:
September 2016.
Where can I watch it in the next month?
September 25, 12:15pm, Ladyfilmmaker Film Festival, Wilshire Screening Room,8670 Wilshire Blvd, Suit 112- Beverly Hills, 90211.
October 4, 5:30PM, Glendale International Film Festival, Pacific theaters, 322 AMERICANA WAY GLENDALE, CA 91210.
October 22, 5:00PM, International Family Film Festival, Pickford Theater.