Zur Viennale 2006 besuchte der 1974 geborene Fotograf Zhang Hui Lin Wien um seinen Spielfilmdebüt Ice Games (传冰/Chuan Bing) vorzustellen. Der semi-dokumentarische Film schildert das Leben verschiedener junger Leute im modernen Beijing.

GP: Actually you are a photographer, how did you come to make a film?

Zhang Hui Lin: Maybe the reason is that I am not an honest photographer. In fact Ice Games is my first feature film. For a long time, I was working as a director of MTVs and documentary films. An important reason for me to work as photographer is money. Try to be a film director, makes me have a chance to say what I want to say, to express what I want to express more clearly and freely.

GP: Some of the situations in your movies are your friend’s real life experiences, did you write any real script, or just improvise most of the scenes?

Zhang Hui Lin: Yes, before shooting, we have prepared some sort of script, but we didn’t really write it down on paper. The day before the scenes had to be shot I contacted my actors and actresses and told them my feelings and ideas. Then we discussed until we had a reasonable plan. Since they all are not professional players, I think their natural instinct let them choose their own natural way to play.

GP: Since Ice Games was your first movie, how do you feel about the result? Did it turn out as you expected it, or are there some thing’s you would like to have shown in a different way?

Zhang Hui Lin: Because of the lack of time I had, Ice Games is far more different with what I wanted to show to the audience. The content of the film also changes a lot. But still when watch the result I feel that is ok, although there are a lot of things I am not so happy with. For example: the sound is not perfect, also the subtitles have some little problems, and some scenes have lighting problem. All these flaws come from our small budget. We had also planned to shot the ending of the film in Inner Mongolia, but when the filming was nearly finished, we found we had no money left at all. The biggest pity for the film is that we had no recording engineer.

GP: I guess you didn’t have any permit to film at Wanghe Bridge. Did you ever get in trouble with authourities for that?

Zhang Hui Lin: I think the authorities know little of my film. Perhaps they have no time to watch it. If they come to watch it someday, I only wish they won’t see my film as an adult sex movie.

GP: From a European point of view China still seems a little traditional and even if normal life in big cities is not much different than here, it is still different in front of a camera. Was it hard for your actors to play the sex scenes, especially the masturbation scene?

Zhang Hui Lin: Yes, some scenes were really hard for them to play. They spent a long time to overcome the psychological preassure. I feel proud of their acting, since even now in Beijing with its lenient attitude to sex, one needs extreme courage to do this.

GP: You shot Ice Games over a period of 2 years. How did you keep your actors motivated and how did that change the direction of the film?

Zhang Hui Lin: To encourage and bribe them, I had to continuously pay for their dinner and catch the dinner time to discuss the content of the film. Long time shooting always makes many changes to the story.

GP: Even though the film was done by you and your friends alone, it really looks great and professional. How did you finance your project?

Zhang Hui Lin:The money of this film came from my own pocket, once I got money from my photographer job or as a commercial director, I spend all of it to continue my film. Thank god it didn’t make me go bankrupt. My actors never asked money from me, so I feel that friendship is most important fortune.

GP: Which directors or movies would you say influenced your style?

Zhang Hui Lin: I like the young directors with energy and enthusiasm, like the directors from North Europe, UK, Hong Kong and Japan, but since my English is poor, I cannot remember their names or their movie titles in English. I am very sorry.

GP: Ice Games premiered at Viennale, how was your feeling about the audiences reaction and how did you like your stay in Vienna in general?

Zhang Hui Lin: The audience of Vienna is great. I like their attitude towards film. I will accept all remarks no matter if they are positive or not. One film can hardly satisfy everyone. In fact, when I started to make Ice Games, I have prepared to endure worst psychological stress.
Thanks to Vienna. During my stay at this beautiful place, I felt like I was spending one week of holiday. Here every day was a happy day. Thanks to Viennale to invite me and my film.

GP: Your movie will not be shown in China officially, but there are some small cinemas who show underground films, do you also plan to do that?

Zhang Hui Lin: To be honest, I have no plan for my film to be shown in China. Maybe I am lazy except when I work on my film or do jobs which can make me earn money to continue my films. Once a film is finished, I never really care if it can be shown openly or not, so I think I will never be a successful producer. I only want to spend more time for my films or my job. But if one day, someone tells me that my film can be shown in China, I will never refuse the chance, since I want that more Chinese can watch my film and if such a time comes, I want to watch the audience to take considerations for my next film.

GP: Can you tell us a little about the Chinese independent movie scene in general?

Zhang Hui Lin: Sorry, since perhaps I am self-restrict to life, I only know little about that. But in China, more and more independent films are made, not only by people who want to make a movie carrier but also the common people are trying to make their own films.

GP: Do you have any plans for another film?

Zhang Hui Lin: Now I am preparing a new film, about growth, violence, death, and sex of a teenager. I am busy writing the script for it. I don’t know when the filming will start, and if it goes as I have planned. Now I am also trying to find financial support for this film, but I think that’s quite hopeless, so I guess that I will have to pay for it myself again. I was thinking of buying a car and a house, but that plan seems to be flying out of my sight. Fortunately, my girlfriend is not in a hurry to marry me.

GP: Thank you very much for your time!

Zhang Hui Lin: Thanks for your time to prepare this interview for me and give me time to seriously consider the answers. I hope my answer satisfy you. Best wishes.