He and Rock & Roll
A story about a 1970s rock band and the love that grows between two men.
Writer/Director Yilei Zhou
Watch He and Rock & Roll here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
“哇这男人太他妈迷人了!”(translation: Wow, this man is so f**ing charming!)This was what I said when I first saw Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie) on the internet. That was when Youtube was still not blocked in mainland China, and I was still a high school girl growing up under the traditional Chinese culture. Bowie and the whole 1970s music rocked my world. They were wearing glitters, and their music has glitters on it too! They kept telling us that “identities and sexualities are not stable things but quivery and costumed”*, and I found it extremely fascinating. When you love something this much, you can’t just be a fan anymore, you have to be one of them - a creator. The desire of putting everything I love into a film urged me to make He and Rock & Roll.
*Quote from Todd Haynes, the director of Velvet Goldmine.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
What can you do in 22 minutes? You can finish a burger; you can check last night’s emails; or just be stuck in traffic... Or, you can choose to watch a short film that takes you on a journey back to the 1970s, the golden years of rock & roll, enjoy 5 songs that you’ve never heard elsewhere, and feel heart-warmed by the love story of two young men.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I didn’t think of a theme when I wrote the script. I simply started by depicting the real 1970s. At that time, there was this trend led by the rock start that shows the ambiguity and fluidity of their sexuality. People went crazy for this because it helped them express themselves. Some might say it’s all showbiz , but I believe people who were leading this at that time, were leading it truthfully. Curt and Dorian, my two main characters, might be the heroes that influence the world, or just the marionettes controlled by the strings in their manager’s hands, but on the hidden side of the stardom, their love is genuine. I guess the theme emerged as I was finishing the story. No matter what surface we are under, there is true love, and I believe in it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The original story idea was much bigger, a little too big for a short film. After some struggle, the script finally got sculpted into a scale that our time and budget could afford, and the story became more focused on the two main characters. After that, everything went pretty much as planned. While shooting, actors have the freedom to throw in their improvisations. A lot of them ended up being kept in the film, which made the film more dynamic.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Almost all audiences would be a little surprised that this film is written and directed by a person with a background so remote from the world of the film. Other than that, the audience also enjoys the story as well as the music.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes and no. I accept all kinds of feedback, no matter if it’s critique or praise. I could always learn from the feedback. But I wouldn’t say it’s a “surprise” or “challenge” to my point of view, because my point of view is the film itself, and I believe the moment the film is put in front of the audience, it belongs to the audience. However the audience wants to interpret it, I no longer have the right to comment.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I wish more people could know about this film, and I could get connected with everyone who loves it. Also, when I learned that We Are Moving Stories encourages female filmmaker, I knew I would love to support this platform by being a part of it.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would have to say everyone. Whoever finds this film interesting and the film’s message worth spreading, please come on board.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Generally, I wish that my film is well received in the film festivals and by the audience. Personally, I wish to show this film to my idols David Bowie, Placebo and Todd Haynes, and tell them how big of an inspiration they are to me. (Unfortunately, David Bowie passed away just when I finished editing my film.)
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Have the 1970s rock legends been forgotten?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you so much for doing this interview and including my film on We Are Moving Stories. I appreciate whoever is reading this for your time, and hope you get something out of this.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
A lot of people enjoyed the song at the end of the film - Don’t Start A Rock Band, and I’m working on making a music video for it.
At the same time, my DP Walter Diaz and I are working on initiating a documentary film project with Japanese band Boris.
Interview: November 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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He and Rock & Roll
A story about a 1970s rock band and the love that grows between two men.
Length: 22 min
Writer: Yilei Zhou
Director: Yilei Zhou
Producer: Chenge Zhang
About the writer, director and producer:
Yilei Zhou is a writer/director based in Los Angeles. Her work reflects her passion and her keen insights in music.
Chenge Zhang is a producer based in Los Angeles. He has a sharp sense of global film production between the US and Chinese film industries.
Key cast:
Russell Ewing: http://www.russellewing.com
Dave Leon: http://myownrockstar.com
Circus-Szalewski: http://www.atthecircus.com
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):
Agents, producers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists.
Funders: Self, parents, and 34 backers on Kickstarter
Release date: First open screening on April.23.2016 on Yilei’s graduation show.