China’s Chunyu Bao tells a fresh and inspiring story in his new film ‘Fish Out of Water’
As a film director, Chunyu Bao creates all new worlds through his work. With every new project he embarks on, he is in charge of every detail from beginning to end, deciding just what the audience will see. He encourages the actors to infuse their soul into their role, helps the cinematographer find just the right angle to perfectly execute a shot, and emboldens an editor to capture a scene as beautifully as possible. It is his vision that leads the way with every film he takes on, and as a natural born storyteller, he captivates audiences all over the world.
“I love directing because it is very interesting to learn each different character in the movie. You can taste different life experiences when you start digging into the story and find out more information. That’s pretty amazing,” he said.
Bao is an in-demand director not only in his home country of China, but around the world. He leads the industry in telling powerful stories of how hip-hop can change lives, which can be seen in his new award-winning documentary 1.5 Generation. He is a creative artist, often using the most limited materials and transforms them into a masterpiece.
Last year, Bao wowed worldwide audiences with his work on his biographical drama Fish Out of Water. The film follows Lin, a teenage rap fanatic fresh off the boat from China, who finds himself enrolled in an inner-city American high school. After he is bullied for barely speaking English, Lin battles for acceptance by taking on the reining rap champ. It is the first non-American born Chinese Hip-hop artist movie, based on the true story of rapper Yang Xiaochuan.
“This film is not only telling the audience about the story of a young immigrant, it is also a way to connect both East and West cultures. It is a reflection of the American dream. It emphasizes that hard work, dedication, and self-understanding are the keys to success. If you work hard in this country, if you believe in yourself, the opportunities are limitless. It is very inspirational and uplifting, and very encouraging to a lot of youngsters who are not necessarily hip-hop fans, but just like a good movie,” said Bao.
Fish Out of Water premiered last February at the Directors Guild of America. From there, it has made its way to countless other film festivals, taking home several awards. As a lover of hip-hop, Bao was simply happy to share such a story with the world, but the film’s continued success shows just what an extraordinary director he is.
“I feel very proud of my crew and myself, because these awards are the recognition of our work. I arrived in the United States without knowing anyone, but I had a dream to make the first Chinese hip-hop movie. I just kept my faith and always knew what I wanted to do. When the time came to turn my dream into a reality, I was prepared, because opportunities will only find the people who are ready for them,” he said.
Bao met Yang Xiaochuan at his restaurant in San Francisco, and after becoming fast friends, Bao knew Yang’s story should be shared, allowing each other to make their dreams come true. After many extensive interviews, the film’s script was born, and Yang gave the filmmakers permission to use his music. He also helped them write all of the original songs in order to show his most realistic childhood life in the dangerous areas of the city, where they ended up shooting the film to be as authentic as possible.
“I liked working on this project because all of my crew members were always 100 per cent supportive of my vision. A lot of our props and decorations were hand-made by our production design department, and our final scene relied on visual effects, which was a team of only two VFX artists, but everyone worked tirelessly to make the film a masterpiece,” said Bao.
Bao’s consistency, talent, and perseverance led Fish Out of Water to the immense success it has now become. He researched and studied hip-hop culture before filming, becoming an expert rather than just a fan.
“American hip-hop has helped shape the personalities of many Chinese teens, although it still remains an underground phenomenon. We have been hip-hop fans since we were young kids, because the music gives a voice to the disadvantaged and points a finger at the injustices that exist in every society. The words and music of hip-hop artists cross all linguistic and cultural boundaries,” Bao concluded.
