Industry-wide Building bridges between east and west
| Building bridges between east and west |
| Written by Administrator |
| Thursday, 12 February 2009 04:39 |
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The awards, which will take place on the Gold Coast on 13 November, will be a celebration of cinema throughout the region – effectively becoming the first formal event at which the Western film industry, based in Australia, will turn its critical attention to the East and celebrate films across all countries and cultures. Law, who was unaware until she started film school of the difference between cultures because she was brought up in both simultaneously (during the English rule of Hong Kong), was the perfect example of the growing links between Australia and its Asian neighbours. She has been working on bridging the gap between western and eastern cultures in her films for over a decade. When she started studying film in England, she said she became aware of the distinctive culture of the east and admits she sometimes found it challenging to apply her eastern aesthetics to the western drama and was frustrated at times that ‘my eastern sensitivity could not be immediately understood by my colleagues’. ‘I was at first rather startled by the strong hierarchy in the work practice in the east, and also as startled by the exceptionally collaborative way of working in Australia,’ said Laura. ‘I would say sometimes the difference could be an inconvenience, but most of the time I found them enjoyable. I love those differences, and found the biggest satisfaction and enrichment when I was able to take up the challenges and overcome them.’ Law argued that ‘it has taken a long time for films with a special eastern sensitivity to be understood outside of their regions, and it will take a while longer still. Yet the explosion of the Asian cinema in the world scene can no longer be ignored. ‘It is important for filmmakers and film critics, filmgoers and everyone that is a citizen of the world, to be aware of the differences in cultures. For over a century the western civilization in the form of modern civilization has dominated the world. It started in the nineteenth century when the act of colonisation began, and all other cultures, especially ancient cultures, had suffered one way or other due to this, Chinese culture included. It is about time that the understanding, observation, studying and awareness of the Asia Pacific cultures (and here we are talking about so many diverse and important cultures) be brought to the limelight.’ In March, the Hong Kong Entertainment Expo launched the first Asian Film Awards at its opening, where Korean and Japanese films competed side by side with Hong Kong and Indian films. ‘We share the same humanity but we do differ, and it is wonderful if we can come to understand each other more, so we can celebrate our differences and enjoy our common humanity at the same time. How much richer and better we will be, the world will be.’ At the launch, Des Power said the Queensland’s support of the new awards was a long term commitment which will hopefully outlive any change of government. Premier Beattie said hosting the awards, along with the SPAA Conference, Inside Film Awards and Movie Convention, cemented Queensland’s position as a major new hub for the industry. ‘Almost half of the world’s films now come from the Asia Pacific, with these new awards giving them leverage to join the Oscars, Golden Globes and European film awards,’ he said. Jane Hickey is executive director of the awards while Maxine Williamson, who sits on the QPIX Board of Directors, is associate producer. |
Renowned filmmakers Clara Law (LETTERS TO ALI, TEMPTATION OF A MONK) and Rolf de Heer (TEN CANOES) joined Queensland Events Chairman Des Power and Premier Peter Beattie to launch the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane in mid-April. 
