Private Project

Xian’er (Chinese Immortals)

Ancient Chinese immortals descend to mortal world seeking employment, competing to secure statues to inhabit—a reflection of social "involution." These statues metaphorically represent social classes: revered temple deities symbolize government authority; trendy office figurines parallel tech industry workers; urban village statues embody small business owners struggling to make ends meet; and neglected rural statues reflect elderly villagers left behind. The film also highlights the pragmatic persistence of Chinese worship, driven by tangible benefits and amplified by viral online trends. Using 3D scanning and glitch-art aesthetics, Chinese immortals portrays the collision between traditional culture and modern society.

  • Fang Zhou
    Director
  • Fang Zhou
    Writer
  • Fang Zhou
    Producer
  • Fang Zhou
    Lead Artists
  • Le Yang
    Lead Artists
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    仙儿
  • Project Type:
    Student, Virtual Reality, 360 Video
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese, English
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Central Academy of Fine Arts
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Fang Zhou

China Central Academy of Fine Arts (BFA/MFA)
He currently teaches Digital Media Arts at Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology. He also serves as a curator at HanYi Art Museum.His works have been selected for the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, exploring the fusion of digital art and traditional culture.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The inspiration for Xian’er(Chinese Immortals) came from my personal experience searching for employment. As social stratification becomes increasingly rigid, job opportunities often depend less on individual ability and more on background, even leading to custom positions created for specific individuals. The integration of immortals emerged from my travels in 2023 to a city deeply immersed in folk belief. There, statues in temples, offices, and homes each served distinct roles, reflecting a practical approach to faith among Chinese people. These immortals embody societal hierarchies: some statues reside in prestigious national monuments, others in grand temples built by religious organizations, or in small local shrines considered particularly efficacious, while some remain abandoned in nature. Capturing representative statues and spaces via drone and 3D scanning revealed technical imperfections. These flaws mirror societal complexities—the larger the system, the more inherent flaws. Embracing these imperfections, I adopted a glitch-art visual style to symbolize the imperfections inherent in society itself.