When we talk about filming what are we talking about | behind the scene

Описание: I’d bet 100 bucks that when I said I was willing to help Sylvie go to Guangzhou to shoot her short film,
she never thought I meant it wholeheartedly.

Honestly, every time a project wraps, every time the shoot ends,
I always have so much I want to say—
real thoughts, from deep down.

It’s usually late at night, after shooting, while packing up the gear,
that I feel the most emotional.
I think about how I’ve spent almost half of my life so far making videos.
Was it worth it?
In an industry that drains both your body and your mind—
isn’t it exhausting?

Recently, by coincidence, I’ve been thinking a lot about
why I love film,
why I’m drawn to this industry in the first place.

And to be honest, I don’t really know.
There are plenty of “grand” reasons I could give,
but deep down I know myself—
it’s probably just that I love the cinematic feeling.

But what exactly is that feeling?
I can’t really explain it.

As for why I enjoy filmmaking, why I like being on set,
I can name one or two reasons.
But then I wonder—
are those reasons really enough to support all these years of shooting?
Sometimes they feel… a bit flimsy.

All I know is this:
when I’m on set,
when the director calls “ready,”
when I roll the camera,
in that moment between two presses of the shutter—
I feel happy.
I feel that what I’m capturing is beautiful.

When I’m directing,
when I frame a shot that genuinely interests me,
I feel a quiet kind of joy.

Film is the lie that tricks you 24 times per second.
But it is also the truth told 24 times per second.

I still don’t know whether I’m willingly being deceived,
or chasing after truth.
I just know that I love being on set.

I know it’s tiring.
I know I’m pushing my body too hard.
But I still feel happy.

So when I found out that Sylvie wanted to tell her own story,
I thought,
fuck it.
I want to help.

And here we are—
with a group of kind, lovely people,
people who deserve respect.

Working alongside people I find interesting and endearing,
people I truly admire.

Salute, and thank you.

Thank you to all the actors.
Thank you to every extra who gave their time to grow with us—
or to mess around with us.
Thank you to Xiaolu,
for turning that jacket into something unforgettable.
Thank you to Guo,
who not only starred in the film but also took on so much assistant camera work.
Thank you, Sylvie,
for giving me the chance to be a cinematographer once again.

I really loved the time of being a cinematographer—
again.
Sincerely.

And finally, as always:
salute to all the film workers
who quietly dedicate themselves,
working together toward a single goal.

Salute.