FELTTIME Studio's VR work "Beyond the Window" premiered at the 83rd Venice Film Festival's "Venice Production Bridge" section at the end of August. As the only Chinese production selected for this year's Venice International Film Festival's immersive incubation section, the work centers on Lin Huiyin, exploring the digital expression of Chinese culture and offering a unique perspective for audiences both domestically and internationally on this remarkable female architect.
Concept poster of "Creating Huiyin", picture from FELTTIME Studio
Lin Huiyin, born in Hangzhou and China's first female architect, masterfully bridging both Chinese and Western cultures, dedicated her life to the preservation and study of ancient architecture. She stands as a remarkable figure who tells Chinese stories and embodies the Chinese spirit. The work will particularly capture her tenacious spirit, as she persevered in her academic research despite being bedridden during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, addressing contemporary societal concerns about cultural confidence and patriotism.
"Creating Huiyin" chooses Lin Huiyin as its core narrative subject, employing a two-layered "play within a play" structure, breaking away from the conventional one-dimensional VR representation of historical figures. The story begins with a popular contemporary actress portraying Lin Huiyin. Through a juxtaposition of "real-life film sets" and "filmic scenarios," it connects key milestones in Lin Huiyin's life, from youth to middle age and into later life. The historical obscuration of Lin Huiyin's worth creates a cross-temporal resonance with the plight of contemporary female celebrities trapped by "traffic symbolism." The actress's deep understanding of her role in real life influences the interpretation of the historical context in the play; and the portrayal of Lin Huiyin's predicament in the play, in turn, impacts reality, propelling the actress toward a breakthrough in her self-perception. This nested narrative model not only enriches the work's depth and appeal but also serves as a metaphor for the continued legacy of Lin Huiyin's spiritual power.
Zhang Daming, director of "Creating Huiyin" and artistic director of FELTTIME Studio, stated that while many large-scale VR projects in China currently focus on "touristic" presentations of cultural heritage, it's character-driven, emotional narratives that truly resonate with audiences. "After deeply researching Lin Huiyin's life, I was moved by her breadth of vision and resilience. The neglect and challenges she endured as a woman in the current times remain relevant today. Using a 'play within a play' structure to connect her life avoids a straightforward narrative while allowing audiences to experience the continuity of her spirit through a dialogue between history and the present."
The FELTTIME creative team participated in the offline workshop of the Immersive Incubation Unit of the Venice International Film Festival in January 2025. Image from FELTTIME Studio
According to reports, this work uses VR technology to explore a new paradigm of "culture + technology" integration, combining immersive scenes with a visual and auditory experience that blends reality and reality to achieve the dual goals of historical restoration and conceptual experimentation. This artistic and speculative creative approach continues FELTTIME Studio's long-term research and innovative exploration of VR storytelling. Through the platform of the Venice International Film Festival, "Creating Huiyin" hopes to promote Chinese stories to the world with an open attitude, allowing people to rethink women, history, and truth through an immersive experience, and discover insights that belong to the present at the intersection of cultures.
The project is scheduled to premiere globally at the Venice Film Festival upon completion. Contacts have already been established with international institutions such as the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in the United States and the Asia Pacific Triennial in Australia. In an offline workshop in Venice at the beginning of the year, in-depth exchanges were held with international mentors on the theme of "Chinese Stories, World Expressions," opening up new paths for Chinese culture to "go global."
