Stephen Shin has worked as a director, writer and producer on more than 60 Chinese feature films. His film 'Blood Oath', starring 'The Curse of the Golden Flower's' Gong Li, premiered at this year's Dublin Chinese Film Festival. He is currently working on '1421 Zheng He', based on the best-selling book by Gavin Menzies '1421 – The Year China Discovered the World', part of which he is hoping to film in Ireland.
How did you get involved with the Dublin Chinese Film Festival?
I received the invitation to come to Ireland and I think this is great to let people know more about China and Chinese film. It is a chance for both countries to make an understanding about each other's culture because there is no chance to show Chinese films normally in Irish cinema. All the cinemas are occupied by Hollywood movies, it's such a pity.
In Hong Kong and China there are also many Hollywood films and in some sense we also do not have the chance to watch many Irish films. Maybe we could have an Irish film festival in China to show Irish films. This festival can be a bridge between the two countries.
How did you find Irish cinema audiences?
The Irish people are so nice, very open. I was at the presentation ceremony for my film 'Blood Oath' and it was quite different to when we see the movie in Hollywood – here they are more artistic and cultural.
After working on over 60 feature films, why did you walk away from film in 1994?
I left the industry for 17 years when I finished 'The Great Conqueror's Concubine' in 1994. Certainly I felt so fed up then because my movie was a co-operation between Taiwan in China. It was a very difficult job for me to go between two different parties. So sensitive, because of the politics. Also artistically we had to travel between Taiwan and Beijing and as a director and for actors it was too tiring.
The censor was involved in every single episode in the movie, from people to horses to props, it was a nightmare. Now all the bad feeling is gone and it is the beautiful memory that remains so I decided to come back last year! Now its time to do a big movie again - '1421' should be much bigger than that one.
What did you do during your break from film?
I worked on writing, directing stage production, I ran my own department store in multi media. I just finished my work with Olympic Beijing 2008 and then I designed a special 4D cinema for the Shanghai Expo last year. Then all my friends told me that this is the timing to come back.
What exactly is 4D cinema?
There is now 3D in the cinema and another D is the feeling, the chair arms moving, smell, smoke around you - an extra experience. The 4D cinema which I designed for Expo is fantastic and this encouraged me to come back, to use new technology.
You are hoping to work in Ireland on your next film?
This time was so short and I did meet some film people here but not enough time for me to explore all the post production. '1421 Zheng He' is about the story of the ocean and some scenes may be real, in the water and we will also have to do some CGI and some special effects. Someone told me there is very good film production in Ireland to make ocean scenes and water scenes here. This time because I was only here for a few days, I need to come again.
Would the current film tax incentives help you to choose Ireland as a film location?
Yes definitely.
