Art China
On July 31, 2023, the 17th FIRST International Film Festival concluded in Xining, Qinghai Province. As a prestigious film festival in China, this year was no exception, presenting a plethora of avant-garde films for the audience. Among them, the film "Galaxy Writer" stood out as an undeniable "dark horse," clinching both the Jury Prize and Best Screenplay awards.
Art Rhapsody:To the World of Mr Doodl - Mr(Graffiti first, create and light up the preference
Collection of the Tokyo Museum of Fine Arts56 Authentic Western Paintings
"Galaxy Writer" impressed audiences and industry professionals alike with its innovative narrative style, profound comedic talent, and rich audiovisual techniques, evoking genuine emotions and strong resonance. The film's depiction of authentic settings and attention to detail owe much to the creative contributions of the backstage hero behind the scenes, the Production Design - Zhengrong Ni.
Zhengrong Ni, graduated from Emerson College, majoring in film production, member of China Film Art Direction Academy, fellow of the 17th Busan International Film Festival x Asian Film Academy, professional art practitioner, in the field of film and television and advertising is good at using color elements to create dramatic tension, boldly break through cultural boundaries, create strong visual shock, bring the audience extreme visual enjoyment, and his works have won numerous awards. His works such as "Galaxy Writer", "All Tomorrow’s Parties" and "My Old Pal" not only focus on the details of the scene, but also pay more attention to the visual tension and poetic expression. It can be said that Zhengrong Ni has broken through the boundaries of movie aesthetics with his realistic and delicate visual effects, and pushed forward the development of Chinese film and television art creation.
Responding to the call of art, becoming the "architect" for film
Zhengrong Ni enjoys stopping and collects various vintage items. She carefully preserves things like posters, postcards, and tickets, which carry memories of the times and beautiful moments. This inclination aligns with her sensitivity to art and aesthetics, leading her onto the career path of film and television art.
Zhengrong majored in journalism in college. During the process of shooting documentary films, she became fascinated by the visual and auditory narrative methods. She chose to pursue graduate studies at Emerson College in the United States, which is known for its professional excellence in the field. As her studies progressed, Zhengrong discovered her passion and direction. She realized that besides visual and auditory language, the space where characters and objects reside is also a way of storytelling. Film and television art serve as the leader in the overall visual presentation of a film and the conveyer of aesthetic concepts. It was at this point that Zhengrong embarked on her career path in professional art.
Film, as a product of collaborative creation, undoubtedly relies on a good creative team behind it. In the Hollywood studio system, "director, cinematographer, and production “designer are considered core creative personnel. Among them, art direction spans the entire process from pre-production to production and post- production, playing a crucial role in shaping the artistic style and aesthetic direction of a film. "Especially in recent years, with the development of digital and AI technology, the role of art has become increasingly important. When presenting a film to the audience, the responsibility of art is always to be in the viewer's perspective, blending aesthetics into the film while maintaining realism," explained Zhengrong.
As the production designer for "Galaxy Writer," Zhengrong did a lot of preparation work in the pre-production phase, collecting numerous classic movie posters and posters of actors, and aging each one individually. "Galaxy writer” is set against the backdrop of the film and television industry, telling the story of a struggling scriptwriter who dreams of success in the industry. "Considering that the protagonist is a movie enthusiast, we designed many Easter eggs about movies in the visual effects. Posters of films, directors, actors, classic lines or scenes mentioned in the drama are hidden in the corners of the protagonist's home. They may flash by in a scene, but these details enrich the character's experiences and background," Zhengrong shared with a smile, revealing the design ingenuity.
Constructing an immersive aesthetic universe
In the realm of cinematic artistry, Zhengrong Ni embodies the spirit of perseverance, advancing rapidly with every step she takes. "I'm a very persistent person, striving to do my best within my capabilities, so I put my heart into everything I do," she says. Through the accumulation of numerous works and the ability to draw inspiration from one project to another, Zhengrong Ni has grown rapidly.
Zhengrong Ni excels in crafting details to capture the emotions within simple moments, creating a unique artistic style and a poetic aesthetic in film. Due to her outstanding artistic abilities, Zhengrong has been appreciated by many directors and renowned brands, collaborating on several visually striking advertising projects. In 2022, Zhengrong was invited to participate in the creative process of Chanel's narrative commercial “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” directed by renowned director Zhang Dalei and starring Zhou Xun and Wang Yibo. The story unfolds during the 1990 Asian Games in China, depicting the lives of two employees, Xiao Zhou and Li Mo, from a film company. In this project, Zhengrong's role as the art director posed significant challenges in prop making and set design. She and her team spent nearly a month meticulously preparing, investing much thought and effort into the endeavor.
"The story is set on the day after the 1990 Asian Games, and I didn't experience life in the 1990s. Collecting and organizing a large amount of information about people's lifestyles and commonly used objects was necessary. Additionally, the film depicts the time during the Asian Games, and because we needed to recreate the sculpture of the Asian Games mascot, Panda Panpan, the overall preparation time was very tight, posing a significant challenge," said Zhengrong Ni.
To ensure that the character portrayal aligned with the 1990s era, Zhengrong Ni conducted extensive research by reading newspapers, visiting elderly individuals, and watching news documentaries. She meticulously designed details such as stainless steel lunchboxes for Zhou Xun's character, materials on the workstation desk, calendar styles on the wall, and potted plants on the windowsill, vividly portraying the image of a female worker from the 1990s. Additionally, another challenging aspect of the film's design was the need to place a huge sculpture of the Asian Games mascot, Panda Panpan, at the entrance of the film studio. As historical records about Panpan were limited to news photographs, Ni Zhengrong and the art team made every effort to find various perspectives of Panpan. During the production process, the art team unanimously agreed to retain the roughness of Panpan's era, striving to authentically replicate the 1990s version of Panda Panpan. "All Tomorrow’s Parties," this sincere work, was also nominated in the main competition section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, receiving unanimous recognition from industry professionals and audiences alike.
Through the use of gismos that align with the scenes and characters, Ni Zhengrong adds beauty and charm to the visuals. She prefers to use seemingly inconspicuous objects to construct a visual and aesthetic "universe." "Every decoration, every prop, I consider whether it belongs to the context of this universe, whether the message it conveys is the language of this universe... In the films I work on, I hope to construct a universe unique to that film," Ni Zhengrong said. In collaborations with renowned domestic and international brands such as Zhou Dasheng, BMW, Huawei, Xiaomi, PwC, Dongfeng Honda, Pfizer, and Coman, Ni Zhengrong has implemented this aesthetic concept, injecting beauty and texture into commercial advertisements and earning praise from brand partners.
Regarding her understanding and construction of the "cinematic" visuals, Zhengrong believes, "This is an immersive aesthetics, where upon seeing an image, you can immediately sense the past and present of the scene or character. All the aesthetic concepts you conceive must be deeply connected to the characters in the story, rooted in their personalities, preferences, and experiences, creating their daily living environment and convincing the audience. I am committed to creating such immersive visuals." Due to her remarkable achievements in the field of film and television art, she has been invited multiple times to serve as a professional judge for the Golden Lion Awards, sharing her experience in art creation.
Looking to the future, Zhengrong Ni expressed her intention to continue advancing in the field of professional art, contributing to the realization of China's status as a major film power and spreading Chinese aesthetics further and wider. She also aspires to become a "teacher" to promote and popularize film and television art, enabling more people to understand the industry.
Zhengrong's full involvement in prop and scene design, as well as the overall color palette and style, complements the characters' personalities, creating resonant and vivid character images. "Galaxy Writer," this work, has not only won professional awards but also garnered applause from countless audiences and accolades from industry professionals.