Jian Ping's column
Mulberry Child movie's exciting start in 2012
Mulberry Child movie's exciting start in 2012
Jian Ping is author of “Mulberry Child: A Memoir of
China. “ For more information, visit www.moraquest.
com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian Ping’s blog,
which she keeps with a couple of other authors, is at
www.smearedtype.com.
China. “ For more information, visit www.moraquest.
com or www.mulberrychild.com. Jian Ping’s blog,
which she keeps with a couple of other authors, is at
www.smearedtype.com.
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by Jian Ping
Mulberry Child started 2012 with a bang!
At the beginning of January, Mulberry Child attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival
(PSIFF, Jan. 5 to 16). Tickets for the two screenings of Mulberry Child were sold out two weeks
before the start of PSIFF. I arrived at Palm Springs on Jan. 5, feeling excited and anxious at the
same time.
PSIFF has become one of the largest and most glamorous film festivals in the U.S., and this
year, would screen 188 films from 73 countries. Many of the best-known film stars, including
George Clooney, Brat Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Glenn Close, Brat Pitt, Jessica Chastain, and Michelle
Williams, were all present at the Awards Gala. I felt as if I were in a dream when I walked down
the same aisle as these stars and watched them speaking on the stage within close range.
For me, however, the most touching moments were all related to Mulberry Child movie. I was
Mulberry Child started 2012 with a bang!
At the beginning of January, Mulberry Child attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival
(PSIFF, Jan. 5 to 16). Tickets for the two screenings of Mulberry Child were sold out two weeks
before the start of PSIFF. I arrived at Palm Springs on Jan. 5, feeling excited and anxious at the
same time.
PSIFF has become one of the largest and most glamorous film festivals in the U.S., and this
year, would screen 188 films from 73 countries. Many of the best-known film stars, including
George Clooney, Brat Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Glenn Close, Brat Pitt, Jessica Chastain, and Michelle
Williams, were all present at the Awards Gala. I felt as if I were in a dream when I walked down
the same aisle as these stars and watched them speaking on the stage within close range.
For me, however, the most touching moments were all related to Mulberry Child movie. I was
Jian Ping
overwhelmed by the support we received at the Festival. In addition to the sold-out
audience, I found new and familiar faces of our film crew and their families:
cinematographer Quyen Tran and her husband; editor Sean Valla and his wife; music
composer Matt McGuire and his wife; and even my book editor, Eli and his girlfriend. They
all came all the way from Los Angeles to watch the film.
To my pleasant surprise, Jodi, the little girl who played the six-year-old me, also came, so
was "Nainai," who is 80-years old. It was the first time I met them in person. I was thrilled
and took quite a few photos with them.
After the screening, many people in the audience asked questions about the film, my
parents and their views on the Cultural Revolution, and Lisa's on-going process of
identifying with her Chinese roots, etc. When the Q & A session ended, quite a few people
lingered behind and continued the discussion.
Early next morning when I stepped into the festival's hospitality lounge in the Renaissance
Hotel, I was pleased to hear that Mulberry Child had created a buzz at the Festival.
Two days later, our second sold-out screening was received by the audience with similar
enthusiasm and response. One Chinese man's comments particularly touched me.
"I came from the Northeast of China," he said. "I was sent to the countryside for six years. I
audience, I found new and familiar faces of our film crew and their families:
cinematographer Quyen Tran and her husband; editor Sean Valla and his wife; music
composer Matt McGuire and his wife; and even my book editor, Eli and his girlfriend. They
all came all the way from Los Angeles to watch the film.
To my pleasant surprise, Jodi, the little girl who played the six-year-old me, also came, so
was "Nainai," who is 80-years old. It was the first time I met them in person. I was thrilled
and took quite a few photos with them.
After the screening, many people in the audience asked questions about the film, my
parents and their views on the Cultural Revolution, and Lisa's on-going process of
identifying with her Chinese roots, etc. When the Q & A session ended, quite a few people
lingered behind and continued the discussion.
Early next morning when I stepped into the festival's hospitality lounge in the Renaissance
Hotel, I was pleased to hear that Mulberry Child had created a buzz at the Festival.
Two days later, our second sold-out screening was received by the audience with similar
enthusiasm and response. One Chinese man's comments particularly touched me.
"I came from the Northeast of China," he said. "I was sent to the countryside for six years. I
| Jian Ping with "Nainai" at the Palm Springs International Film Festival |
very much like the presentation of that historical period in your film as it was done sensibly, not an over kill."
It meant so much to me that the remark came from someone who had lived through that period in China.
I returned to Chicago on Friday, Jan. 13 after the last scheduled screening of Mulberry Child. I urged Ellis Goodman, my
executive producer, to call me as soon as he learns the results of the "Best of the Fest," which was supposed to be announced
the following day.
It meant so much to me that the remark came from someone who had lived through that period in China.
I returned to Chicago on Friday, Jan. 13 after the last scheduled screening of Mulberry Child. I urged Ellis Goodman, my
executive producer, to call me as soon as he learns the results of the "Best of the Fest," which was supposed to be announced
the following day.
Saturday afternoon, when I saw the incoming call was Ellis, I eagerly picked it up.
"Are we in?" I asked before Ellis could say a word.
I heard his laugh and then the long-waited answer. "Yes, Mulberry Child is selected as
'Best of the Fest,'" Ellis said. "A total of 14 films are selected."
I was thrilled. Ellis also told me that Monday was designated to the screenings of the
"Best of Fest," and Mulberry Child would be shown at 6 p.m. at the Camelot Theatre.
The additional screening of Mulberry Child was also sold out.
I had come back to Chicago to get ready for the screenings of Mulberry Child as part of
the "Stranger than Fiction" documentary series at the Gene Siskel Film Center. I
wished I were still at Palm Springs and could attend the honored, additional screening.
Later, I learned that Norman Mark, a film critic at the Desert Entertainer, gave Mulberry
Child 4 stars and named it "one of the top five films at PSIFF."
But the excitement didn't stop there. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Google alert brought to
my attention Roger Ebert's review and rating of Mulberry Child. The renowned film critic
"Are we in?" I asked before Ellis could say a word.
I heard his laugh and then the long-waited answer. "Yes, Mulberry Child is selected as
'Best of the Fest,'" Ellis said. "A total of 14 films are selected."
I was thrilled. Ellis also told me that Monday was designated to the screenings of the
"Best of Fest," and Mulberry Child would be shown at 6 p.m. at the Camelot Theatre.
The additional screening of Mulberry Child was also sold out.
I had come back to Chicago to get ready for the screenings of Mulberry Child as part of
the "Stranger than Fiction" documentary series at the Gene Siskel Film Center. I
wished I were still at Palm Springs and could attend the honored, additional screening.
Later, I learned that Norman Mark, a film critic at the Desert Entertainer, gave Mulberry
Child 4 stars and named it "one of the top five films at PSIFF."
But the excitement didn't stop there. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Google alert brought to
my attention Roger Ebert's review and rating of Mulberry Child. The renowned film critic
Jian, Susan, and Lisa at PSIFF
was revered as "god" by my director Susan Morgan Cooper.
Ebert gave the film a rating of 3.5 stars out of 4 and stated "This is a powerful and touching film."
I was over the moon. I could only imagine what Susan's reaction would be.
On Thursday, Jan. 19 when I was on Chicago Tonight Show with Phil Ponce discussing about the film, Ponce started the
interview by citing Roger Ebert's rating. I was reminded again how significant it was to be reviewed and highly rated by Roger
Ebert.
My 15-minute interview with Phil Ponce provided a good idea about the film, with clippings from the film being shown as we
talked. In the next few days when I was at the Gene Siskel Film Center attending the screenings of Mulberry Child, I was
surprised that so many people came to tell me they had watched the interview at WTTW. (Click Link below to watch the
interview.)
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2012/01/19/mulberry-child
I was thrilled that, as was at PSIFF, our three screenings in Chicago were all sold out in advance. I was deeply moved by the
genuine interest from the audience and the long Q and A session after each screening.
Once again, I was overwhelmed by the fact that so many people in the audience resonated with my story from different
perspectives and levels.
As if that were not enough, the day we finished our screening on January 26, we received an invitation from the Gene Siskel
Film Center to come back for a weeklong screening from March 30 to April 5, with a total of 11 shows.
It couldn't be better than this, I thought. A friend commented that I must be on cloud nine. I was.
"Many people were turned away at the box office because all the tickets were sold out," Angela, Manager at the Film Center
said.
Ebert gave the film a rating of 3.5 stars out of 4 and stated "This is a powerful and touching film."
I was over the moon. I could only imagine what Susan's reaction would be.
On Thursday, Jan. 19 when I was on Chicago Tonight Show with Phil Ponce discussing about the film, Ponce started the
interview by citing Roger Ebert's rating. I was reminded again how significant it was to be reviewed and highly rated by Roger
Ebert.
My 15-minute interview with Phil Ponce provided a good idea about the film, with clippings from the film being shown as we
talked. In the next few days when I was at the Gene Siskel Film Center attending the screenings of Mulberry Child, I was
surprised that so many people came to tell me they had watched the interview at WTTW. (Click Link below to watch the
interview.)
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2012/01/19/mulberry-child
I was thrilled that, as was at PSIFF, our three screenings in Chicago were all sold out in advance. I was deeply moved by the
genuine interest from the audience and the long Q and A session after each screening.
Once again, I was overwhelmed by the fact that so many people in the audience resonated with my story from different
perspectives and levels.
As if that were not enough, the day we finished our screening on January 26, we received an invitation from the Gene Siskel
Film Center to come back for a weeklong screening from March 30 to April 5, with a total of 11 shows.
It couldn't be better than this, I thought. A friend commented that I must be on cloud nine. I was.
"Many people were turned away at the box office because all the tickets were sold out," Angela, Manager at the Film Center
said.
As it turned out, this spring, the Chicago Public
Library's One Book, One Chicago, had selected
Yiyun Li's Gold Boy, Emerald Girl, a collection of
short stories about today's children in China.
"Mulberry Child is a wonderful companion to the
book," Annie, coordinator of One Book One
Chicago, said when she contacted me and
suggested a partnership with the Gene Siskel
Film Center for the screenings of Mulberry Child in
April. I was touched and honored.
In a mater of two days, all the details of the
partnership and screening schedules were set.
I know that Mulberry Child, with a strong start in
2012, will have a busy and exciting year.
Library's One Book, One Chicago, had selected
Yiyun Li's Gold Boy, Emerald Girl, a collection of
short stories about today's children in China.
"Mulberry Child is a wonderful companion to the
book," Annie, coordinator of One Book One
Chicago, said when she contacted me and
suggested a partnership with the Gene Siskel
Film Center for the screenings of Mulberry Child in
April. I was touched and honored.
In a mater of two days, all the details of the
partnership and screening schedules were set.
I know that Mulberry Child, with a strong start in
2012, will have a busy and exciting year.