On the morning of December 12th, a seminar on the 8K humanistic documentary "A Departure" was held at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. Hosted by the Hujiang College of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, the seminar focused on in-depth discussions on topics such as how to make the beauty of nature a bridge for cross-cultural empathy, how to make young people active practitioners of cultural exchange, and how to make international students participants and disseminators of China's story. These discussions injected new intellectual impetus into the international dissemination of Chinese culture and the development of international education in higher education institutions.
The "Starting Over" seminar was held at Shanghai University of Science and Technology.
The documentary "A New Beginning" was screened at the seminar. Produced jointly by Shanghai University of Science and Technology and Shanghai Media Group, the film, with renowned director Teng Junjie as the chief director, focuses on several international students, authentically recording their journey of perceiving the beauty of China's landscapes and experiencing the charm of Chinese culture in a documentary style that follows them on their journeys.
The creative team takes a group photo with the audience.
Breaking away from the traditional documentary narrative of "subjective narration," the film uses 8K ultra-high-definition technology to present a panoramic view of the three core experiences of international students: "rafting, mountain climbing, and tea making."
While rafting on the Jiuxi River, international students experienced the beauty of the Danxia landform, where "people are traveling in a painting." During their climb of Tianyou Peak, they touched the cliff carvings of scholars from various dynasties and listened to the origins of Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism. At the Xiamei Ancient Residence, they participated in the intangible cultural heritage of tea making, taking part in the entire process of picking, fixing, roasting, and brewing tea, gaining a deeper understanding of the historical context of the "Tea Road" and the tea ceremony spirit of "purity, tranquility, harmony, and beauty."
The authentic cinematic language and relaxed narrative pace allowed the audience to immerse themselves in the beauty of the symbiotic relationship between China's natural and cultural heritage.
Stills from "Starting Over"
The sharing and interactive discussion session with the main creators was moderated by Wang Zirui, a young teacher at Shanghai University of Science and Technology's Hujiang College and one of the main creative team members. Representatives from all parties combined their practical experience and professional perspectives to interpret the film's multiple values from the dimensions of historical background, creative concept, educational significance, and dissemination path, forming a deep consensus.
Zhu Huifeng, Vice Dean of the Hujiang College and Deputy Director of the Aesthetic Education Center at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, pointed out that "A New Beginning" is a vivid example of the "concept of a community with a shared future for mankind" in higher education. The film was initially initiated by Hujiang College, which envisioned telling Chinese stories from the perspective of international students in the post-pandemic era, rather than through one-way promotion. The University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, guided by this concept, extends the classroom to cultural events, promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning.
Cai Yonglian, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, said that the university will continue to innovate its international education approach in the future to cultivate more outstanding talents with cross-cultural communication skills.
Chief director Teng Junjie shared the creative principles behind the documentary. He proposed four principles: first, extreme realism, without interfering with the international students' experience, only recording from a distance; second, a relaxed narrative, capturing "imperfect moments" such as fatigue from mountain climbing, restoring the authentic state of cross-cultural interaction; third, a sense of knowledge integration, naturally embedding cultural and scientific knowledge, such as the origin of the name "Da Hong Pao" into the practice; and fourth, a sense of mutual gain, with international students spontaneously sharing their experiences, forming "people-to-people learning-style dissemination."
He revealed that the documentary has been broadcast on Shanghai Media Group's National Day prime time slot and on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, and plans to apply for documentary film status to further expand its reach.
Teng Junjie, the chief director of the documentary "Starting Over".
Academic experts highly praised the film's innovative value from a professional perspective. Li Jianqiang, professor at the School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and vice president of the China Film Critics Association, pointed out that against the backdrop of a complex and volatile global situation and rising populism, the film's focus on friendship, openness, cooperation, and the shared growth of transnational youth, along with its subtle and understated approach, provides an important model for international communication. He emphasized that international communication should skillfully utilize soft power and choose the most appropriate forms to resonate with overseas audiences.
Liu Haibo, professor at the Shanghai University Film Academy and president of the Shanghai Film Critics Association, praised the film for its precise positioning as an "ecological and humanistic documentary," skillfully blending natural beauty, humanistic beauty, and the beauty of life. He noted that this model, which allows international students to deeply engage with Chinese culture through walking tours and experiential learning, is an innovation in international communication.
Zhu Xiaoqian, deputy director of the Documentary Center of Shanghai Media Group, focused on innovation in international communication, believing that the film breaks through the limitations of some foreign propaganda works that are "highly self-indulgent and have low overseas acceptance." She suggested that "A First Journey" be developed as a sustainable brand for long-tail development.
It is reported that, to date, "A First Journey" has been viewed 15,000 times on platforms such as YouTube, garnering hundreds of likes and comments. The creative team stated that they will continue to expand this model, planning to film a series showcasing the landscapes of Xinjiang, the vibrant atmosphere of Shanghai, and other themes. They also intend to collaborate with more universities and social organizations to promote Chinese culture to the world in a more vivid, authentic, and diverse way, achieving the goal of moving from "a first journey" to "a continuous journey."
Group photo of some of the main creators after the meeting.
