Student-Centered Learning
2007 Asian Film Festival Takes Students to the Edge
Four award-winning Chinese filmmakers visited the University on April 19-21 for the 2007 Asian Film Festival and Conference. The festival, titled “On the Edge: New Independent Cinema from China,” brought together scholars, faculty, students, and the local community for a weekend of discussion and cinema with the guest filmmakers.
“On the Edge” was sponsored by more than a dozen departments, offices, and organizations at Notre Dame and several external organizations, including the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Notre Dame hosted the second leg of the directors’ tour across the United States. The National Committee sponsored the film festival’s keynote address “The Other China” by Dr. Anne Thurston, senior research professor at Johns Hopkins University and author of numerous books on China.
“Before coming to Notre Dame, the Chinese filmmakers screened their films in New York at Lincoln Center, Columbia University, and the United Nations,” said Jonathan Noble, visiting assistant professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the principal faculty organizer of the 2007 Asian Film Festival. “From the very beginning, I hoped to ensure the involvement of Notre Dame, and most importantly, the active participation of Notre Dame’s students.”
Creating a memorable weekend
It was the first trip to Notre Dame for three of the four directors, so the festival organizers were determined to make the weekend memorable.
Unlike traditional film festivals, the Notre Dame Festival encouraged students to interact with the directors and other special guests. A student film committee prepared welcome baskets and American breakfast deliveries for the directors and arranged publicity on campus for the festival.
“We wanted to maximize the potential for student interaction with the directors by organizing planned events beyond the Q&A and the workshop, and by assigning students to be chaperones,” said Professor Deborah Shamoon, associate professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. “It was our hope that this would encourage more informal, friendly interaction, and interaction with students who either don't speak Chinese or who are beginning Chinese language students.”
“I became involved with the Student Committee because I am a double major in Film
and Chinese--it just made sense for me,” says Veronica Rog, a senior Chinese and television major. “I am interested in Chinese media, and this was a great opportunity for me to learn more.”
The challenges of creating independent film in China
During the Global Cinema Production Workshop at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Noble led a panel discussion with the directors, Professor of Film, Television, and Theatre Aaron Magnan-Park, and Notre Dame alumna, Emily Liu. Each panelist offered undergraduate students a unique perspective on the “edgy” challenges of creating independent film in China and the United States.
“The workshop was a great place to ask questions to all of the directors and get
their views on contemporary Chinese cinema,” says Clint Bergstrom, a junior political science and Chinese major. “I was impressed to learn about the great deal of personal risks and hardships for the directors that are associated with shooting the films in China.”
“I thought what each director had to say was interesting,” says Janet Han, a sophomore Chinese and FTT major. “I found Emily Liu’s comments most engaging because it was pertinent to what I wanted to do in the future.”
At a student dinner in the Great Hall of O’Shaughnessy on Friday evening, students chatted with the directors, special guests, and Notre Dame professors.
“The student dinner was designed to provide an environment conducive to extending interaction between the filmmakers, faculty, and students after the completion of the workshop,” remarked Professor Jonathan Noble. “It was also a nice way to celebrate the students’ remarkable help in hosting the guests.”
After every screening, the directors took questions from the audience about the production and interpretation of the film.
Inspiring students to push the envelope
“The experience and the knowledge I gained from the festival was indispensable in
providing material for conversation in Chinese language classes and topics for
papers in my Chinese film class,” says Clint Bergstrom.
“Professors Noble, Shamoon, and I are in agreement that our students can benefit greatly by engaging with the top cinematic talents of our age,” says Aaron Magnan-Park, assistant professor of film, television, and theatre who teaches Asian cinema in FTT. “Meeting great artists should inspire our students to push their own personal envelopes and redefine excellence from such an encounter.”
With the success of the 2007 festival, the organizers are hoping to make the 2008 Asian Film Festival even more interactive for the Notre Dame students and community.
“We are planning to have the students much more involved next year,” says Professor Shamoon. “I would like to see the students take an active role in choosing which films to screen, and what kinds of guests or events they would like us to arrange.”
Learn More >
Asian Film Festival 2007 Press Release
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures