Zhengs producing credits include Lulu WangsThe Farewell, starring Awkwafina, and Cathy YansDead Pigs.
Matthieu Laclau (Only The River Flows) and Tsai Yann-Shan (The Last Queen) edited the film.
We submitted the project to CFDG Young Director Support Program and it won one of the top five prizes.
A Song Sung BluePingyao International Film Festival
Thats where we met Jane.
DL: Jane, what made you decide to take on this project?
JANE ZHENG:I was representing Seventh Art Pictures at the CFDG pitching forum.
Geng Zihan
I was impressed by her sincerity when she got on the stage to pitch the project.
When I presented the project to our executive producer Liang Jing, she really liked it.
DL: Are there any autobiographical elements in the story?
Why did you set it in Harbin?
Yining is from Harbin which is why we set the story there.
DL: Colour seems to play a very important role in this film.
Can you explain your thinking behind the colour palette and how it was achieved?
But we had this concept from the early stages that Liu Xians colour is blue and Mingmeis is red.
DL: There are hints that Liu Xian is sexually attracted to Mingmei but its never made explicit.
Was that a decision taken due to censorship?
DL: Whats the current situation in China for emerging filmmakers?
I think at least for this year and maybe next year as well, its going to be difficult.
DL: Where isA Song Sung Bluetravelling next and do you expect to have a theatrical release in China?
Were trying to release it in China but so far we havent found a good distributor.
DL: What was the reception to the film like here in Pingyao?
In fact, theyre a much tougher audience than the one I had to face in Cannes.
But in the end the film was very well received here, which was a huge relief.
DL: What are you working on next?
Its set in northern China because I want to see different cities in the winter.
Im writing the script myself but also consulting with Yining.
