On August 27, the Master Lecture Series of "Artists on Campus," a core academic activity of the 21st China Changchun Film Festival's thematic seminar "Illuminating Dreams with Light and Shadow · Revitalizing Cinematic Art" on the development of the film and television industry, was held at Jilin Animation Institute.
Heritage was the keyword reiterated throughout Jiang Ping's keynote address. Taking as his theme "How to Carry Forward the Spiritual Quality of Excellence in Both Art and Virtue," he used two deeply meaningful cinematic artifacts as his entry point — the sweeping broom kept by the performing artist Yu Lan, and the shackles worn by the performing artist Zhao Dan during the filming of Forever Burning (Liehuo Zhong de Yongsheng). Through these objects, he vividly recounted the noble spirit of older-generation literary and artistic workers who held fast to their original aspirations and remained rooted among the people. He spoke with deep emotion about how Yu Lan, ashamed at having once looked down on the broom of an elderly Mongolian mother, thereafter kept the broom with her for years as a constant reminder to stay mindful, never to forget the people, and to remain rooted among them. He also recounted how Zhao Dan, during filming, resolutely refused to wear padded prop shackles, instead wearing real shackles that chafed his ankles raw and walking through the scene more than twenty times — all for the sake of portraying the most authentic state of his character.
"I am here to learn." Zhao Baole's opening was humble and sincere. He referred to himself as a "film enthusiast," yet in doing so articulated the most simple and profound truth of the art of cinema. His presentation, themed "How Artistic Creation Can Stay Grounded in Real Life," drew on his own growth experience, recalling how, as a youth, he witnessed the performing artist Yu Yang immerse himself in life at a shipyard in Qingdao for a full year to prepare for a role. He pointed out that the foundation of artistic creation lies in life itself, and that artists shape screen characters and convey the warmth of the times through life experience and accumulated human insight.
This session of "Artists on Campus — Master Lecture Series" brought together a gathering of renowned artists and rich, substantial content, encompassing both the spiritual legacy of older-generation film and television artists and innovative thinking on the future of the industry in the new era — at once thought-provoking, professional, and practical. The artists imparted their wisdom through their own lived experience, dispelling the professional confusions of Jilin Animation Institute students and illuminating their paths of growth, allowing the teachers and students present to experience up close the artistic spirit of those who excel in both art and virtue, and to deeply appreciate the original intent and true essence of film and television creation. Looking ahead, the university will continue to leverage high-end industry platforms such as the film festival to pool the resources of renowned artists, guiding young students to hold fast to their artistic aspirations, deepen their professional skills, and boldly uphold integrity while pursuing innovation — striving to grow into film and television talents of the new era who excel in both art and virtue, and contributing to the high-quality, innovative development of China's film and television industry.
