安 (Lullaby)
The name of this short film 安 is a Chinese Character. From how it is written represents A women (女)under a rooftop (宀)which means women stay at home. which makes people think of SAFE, HAPPY, CALM AND PEACEFUL, etc, this is what actually 安 means. However this word, to the content of this film, it is kind of irony. This is the same reason we chose the English name " Lullaby". Here is a little background of this story. There were a girl and a boy sent by their parents to came to a foreign country for studying then they stayed. They met they married, they only have themselves but no other family around them. Then now, they are having a newborn with them. Everything seems perfect. But this new mother has no experience at all of how to raise a baby and she is having a girl; this new Father who has been out of the house since this baby was born, he is avoiding troubles and refusing to go home. Because she is having a girl, their very typical hoary dogmas Chinese parents think this is not worth them to come to help them. This new mother unfortunately after suddenly not be able to produce any more breast milk, then suffering deeply from the Postpartum Depression. Lots of people heard of this sickness, but most people think this PPD thing will go away soon or could not be that serious. So this short film is actually aiming at bringing more attention to those new families, especially those new mothers who really need support.
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Ray DuDirector
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Ray DuWriter
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Christina DengProducer
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Zehui(Lei) YuProducer
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Zhiyang (Zoe) ZhangKey Cast"The WIFE"
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Zehui(Lei) YuKey Cast"The HUSBAND"
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Ray DuEditors
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Sevin LiEditors
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Tatsuya SasakiEditors
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Greg NalderGaffer
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Cher WangArt Director
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Ivan CaiProduction Co-ordinators
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Kang HanProduction Co-ordinators
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Tatsuya SasakiDirector of PhotographerJ.S.C
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Nicole ChenTranslator
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Sylvia YangTranslator
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Project Title (Original Language):安
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:16 minutes 37 seconds
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Completion Date:March 17, 2019
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Production Budget:14,000 NZD
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Country of Origin:New Zealand
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Country of Filming:New Zealand
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Language:Chinese
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Shooting Format:DIGITAL
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Film Color:Black & White
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
My name is Ray Du, 38 years old male. I have been living in New Zealand for about 20 years, I studied here, working here, and growing a family here, basically, my life now is based in New Zealand. My childhood, however, was in China which is the country I originally came from.
My father was a professional photographer, there was a lot of chances that I could be involved or even participated into his work, the “magic” of images has amazed me as I was a little boy. I believe that is where my filming dream started originally. However, some techniques and terminologies my father taught me were a bit too tough for me to understand at that stage, that is why I didn’t step into the film industry straightaway, but the business instead, especially a businessman sounds more “serious” and “mature” in Chinese society back then.
I don’t know it is my instinct or the edification from my father, after I moved to New Zealand, a voice in my mind was always calling me, then I understand that I must follow my heart and fulfil my dream of filming, therefore, I decided to study filming formally at a proper film school.
I graduated from a local film school called “South Seas” in New Zealand in 2014. All the knowledge I learned there helped me a lot on the post-graduation courier since. I have done some short films and a feature film so far. Mostly Advertising TVCs for a living. However, I know that this is just a beginning because I understand that filming is far more than just skills and techniques, it’s more about human beings and lives, and how do we feel and express the world around all of us by using our sense. Therefore, I hope I can improve the linkage and share between nations, cultural and people via my films.