Cloud News Follow丨Congratulations! “Rooftop Soccer” won the 37th China Golden Rooster Award for Best Children’s Film
Original title: Cloud News Follow丨Congratulations! “Rooftop Soccer” won the 37th China Golden Rooster Award for Best Children’s Film
On the evening of November 16, the 37th China Golden Rooster Awards Ceremony was held in Xiamen, and the Yunnan film “Rooftop Football” won the Best Children’s Film Award.
The movie “Rooftop Football” was released nationwide on April 20 this year. The film is produced by Liying Culture Media (Yunnan) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Sanyuan Film Co., Ltd., and Huayi Brothers Film Co., Ltd., with the Propaganda Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee as the production unit, Huang Jianxin as the producer, Wang Zhonglei as the chief producer, and Feiyu as director. .
In the recently announced nomination list for the 37th China Golden Rooster Awards, “Rooftop Soccer” performed quite well, and was nominated for a total of four awards: Best Children’s Film, Best Director’s Debut, Best Art and Best Music. .
The story of the film takes place in a village deep in the mountains of Yunnan. A pair of little sisters who traveled thousands of miles to find their mother and an alcoholic fruit vendor overcame many difficulties to form a rooftop football team for their respective dreams. On the way to pursue their dreams, they held the light in their hands, bravely fought for the exit of their destiny, and finally grew up against the wind. This movie tells the story of girls who work hard to realize their dreams with their love for football. The story is not complicated, but it touches people’s hearts directly and makes many viewers very moved.
The movie “Rooftop Football” was rated as a “Specially Recommended Project in Production by the Jury” at the 2021 Golden Rooster Film Venture Capital Conference, and was shortlisted for the 10th Silk Road International Film Festival.
Exclusive interview with director Feiyu
Don’t pursue complex narratives: find the essence of the story
“I will always study various types of scripts and stories and try to make breakthroughs. There are so many ways to tell stories now, and the types we learn and come into contact with are also diverse. However, when I finally faced such a When it comes to children’s themes, I started to rethink whether it is necessary to use so many things.” Feiyu told reporters.
stills
On social platforms, some viewers did express their comments about the movie not having enough twists and the ending being too predictable, but Feiyu said that he had actually expected these. “We discussed many endings at the time, and also designed some reversals in the middle, but I think we must first understand that this film is about sports, and the ending is too easy for the audience to guess. We all know this.”
So why did the film finally decide to have a family-friendly ending? Feiyu said this: “This film itself is a children’s film. I think more children may be exposed to this film. Then I don’t want the children to have a feeling in their hearts after watching this film. Sadness or low mood. “As he said, there will inevitably be difficulties in life, but whether we are adults or children, we also need a little candy and a little simple happiness occasionally. Huang Jianxin, the producer of this film, also said that this film allowed him to see the original beauty of life. These children’s attitude towards life and their most sincere and simple state made him see the long-lost vitality.
stills
When talking about the audience’s feelings, Feiyu was very emotional. He recalled that when it was screened in Yunnan before, an audience member once told him that he knew that the plot of this story was very simple, clear and well-organized, and he could know the ending after watching it halfway, but he was very moved and was moved by this. I was moved by the sincerity of the children and their performances. Upon hearing this, Feiyu immediately felt that the decision he made was the right one. During the actual filming, the non-professional actors and the untamable animal actors put a lot of pressure on Feiyu. In addition, the football-themed venue was large and there were many people, which made the filming even more difficult. Under such circumstances, Feiyu had to abandon some things in order to ensure completion. Feiyu said: “This is my first movie. I can’t make it perfect because I don’t think I’m a genius. I’m just an ordinary person who loves movies, that’s all, so I’m still in the process of working hard.” ”
“Rooftop Football” stills
Using amateur actors: overcoming many difficulties
“Rooftop Soccer” is all played by local Yunnan amateur actors, which is a bold decision. When selecting actors, Feiyu visited nearly 200 schools in Yunnan and met more than 10,000 students before finally selecting about 20 children. “Our young actors may have taken daily life photos or ID photos at school, but have never been involved in film shooting.” Feiyu said, “I arranged for them to train for more than two months. Although they have certain football skills, It’s basic, but it’s like a school football team or a football interest class. It can’t be compared with children who have received professional training since childhood. So I trained them one by one according to the movements I designed, and then shot them one by one. “
Director Feiyu
Feiyu firmly believes that only real things can move people. “Rooftop Football” has a lot of shots and has reached the status of a normal genre film, so Feiyu did a lot of homework at the beginning, hoping to present all the actions more realistically. He said, “For example, for a child, when she was first selected, she could only hit three or four balls. But after she joined the crew, she followed strict training and was able to hit hundreds of balls by the time she finished filming. Later she became a member of the cast. She went to football school and played in national competitions, so football is always with her and she is very happy.”
Feiyu recalled that the biggest difficulty during filming was actually the rest time for the young actors. He did not expect that the young actors would have to go to bed every 10 o’clock, otherwise they would doze off during the day the next day, so he could only temporarily adjust the shooting plan. “On the one hand, we have to adjust the children’s rest time and our working hours. All night scenes have to be adjusted, so I also need to temporarily change the script. This is too difficult.” Feiyu said with a smile, compared with this, other None are too difficult.
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Yunnan Daily-Cloud News Editor: Dai Fei
Some information comes from cover news, Yunnan Net, etc.
Editor in charge: Yun News
**In what ways does the film’s use of non-professional actors, particularly children, challenge traditional notions of cinematic performance and authenticity?**
Here are some open-ended questions based on the article, divided into thematic sections to spark discussion and encourage varied perspectives:
**Section 1: Artistic Choices and Audience Reception**
* **Focusing on the Essence:** Feiyu believed in simplifying the narrative for a children’s film.
* Do you agree with his decision? Could a more complex story have also been effective for a younger audience?
* What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of prioritizing emotional simplicity over narrative complexity in children’s films?
* **Predictable Ending:** Some viewers found the ending predictable.
* Was this necessarily a negative aspect? Can a predictable ending be satisfying in certain contexts?
* How important is surprise and plot twists for a film to be enjoyable?
* **Balancing Realism and Idealism:** Feiyu wanted the film to offer a sense of hope and positivity.
* Is it important for children’s films to offer a purely optimistic worldview, or should they also explore challenges and complexities?
**Section 2: Working with Non-Professional Actors**
* **Amateur Cast:** Using local Yunnan children as actors was a significant decision.
* What are the unique advantages and challenges of working with non-professional actors, especially children?
* How did Feiyu’s approach to training and directing influence the children’s performances?
* **Authenticity vs. Technical Skill:** Feiyu focused on the children’s genuine enthusiasm and football skills rather than perfect technique.
* How important is technical proficiency in acting compared to authenticity and emotional connection with the role?
* **Impact on the Young Actors:** The children’s involvement in the film seemed to have a positive lasting impact.
* What are the potential benefits of exposing children to filmmaking and acting?
* How can filmmakers ensure a positive and enriching experience for child actors?
**Section 3: The Power of Sports and Childhood Dreams**
* **Sports as a Metaphor:**
* How does the film use football as a metaphor for overcoming challenges, teamwork, and achieving dreams?
* What other lessons or themes related to sports and childhood could be explored through film?
* **Rooftop Setting:** The unique setting adds to the film’s charm.
* How does the “rooftop” symbolize the children’s imagination, dreams, and aspirations?
* What role does setting play in shaping the overall tone and message of a film?
I encourage you to delve deeper into these themes and questions, drawing upon your own experiences and perspectives to foster a rich and insightful discussion.
