Uchenna Onyishi's First NFT is Live

Fallen Angels written and directed by Onyishi Uchenna is the writer and director’s first NFT project. Created in collaboration with Rain in Time’s track Erosived, or 在糜爛困頓之間 , the film is the second part of Blankslate's inaugural "The Edge of Dawn" EP.

The result is a high octane editorial production that captures the movement and stillness of moving on.

The NFT has three copies priced at 1ETH each, which will entitle the owner to 5% of royalties from global platforms. An additional premium edition priced at 5 ETH that includes behind the scenes and total 15% of streaming royalties is also available via Opensea.

Dima Veselov joins Psytone Nails as Media Director

The first brand campaign video created, directed and edited by Dima Veselov in his role as media director for PSYTONE has been released.

Named “The Run of Show”, the film exhibits 30 different wearable nail press-ons designed by the brand and inspired by the high fashion runway.

Get to know PSYTONE:
Instagram: @psytonenails
Tik Tok: @psytoneus
www.psytonenails.com

Cecile Zhang's Speech at the Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography Award

Cecile Zhang, 2018 winner of the Angénieux Special Encouragement Award, sends her virtual regards and shares how the award had elevated her career for the award ceremony at the 75th Cannes Film Festival this year.

Cecile Zhang in The Icon China

Cinematographer Cecile Zhang was featured in The Icon China's "Her Power" video in celebration of international women's day.

Reflecting on her journey, Cecile recalls when she was the only female in her year at the Beijing Film Academy and how she found growth as a cinematographer despite challenges presented in the industry.

Find out more about Cecile:
Instagram: @cecile__zhang
Website: https://cecilezhang.net/

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Creative Direction & Magazine：THEICON
Co Produced By：THEICON 、Blackbird
Superviser：Hu Xiao Nana
Interviewer：Maizi 麦子
Director：@矢崎__
Photography：@周子子_ 矢崎
Editor：矢崎
Editor & Styling：@SUN_YING_
MUA：@Hauie-樊浩WOWstudio @毛毛-Huang
Hair：@小五MQstudio Copywriter：@陈天真SeeU
Photography Assistant：薛镕宏 于子洋
Gaffer：张沛 Gaffer’s Assistant：邱斌
Styling Assistant：@_Cryberry 、@Ruthhvfrgg 、@Stella_澈 、麒姗

DEAR CINEMA - A STAR IS BORN

“Look, talent comes everywhere, but having something to say and a way to say it so that people listen to it, that’s a whole other bag. And unless you get out and you try to do it, you’ll never know” 

- Jack in A Star is Born (2018). 

It’s not the flowers on Valentine’s day that will make your partner love you, rather it is the little things that you do for them consistently, that you will be remembered for. In her lowest times, the main character Ally was able to receive encouragement from her partner Jack, and perhaps that was what gave her the confidence to share her talent with the world. 

For those of us who watched the movie together at the last Dear Cinema event, we rooted for Ally and Jackson’s relationship, and deeply felt the full impact of the film’s ending. Yet within the tragedy, we found romance and nuances that we couldn’t wait to discuss with one another and our special guest, artist Luo Xi at the end.  

During the discussion, we asked Luo Xi and the audience if they felt like there was anything Ally could have done more to help Jackson in return.  There was an unanimous agreement that at the end of the day, one must be responsible for oneself, and thus no matter what Ally would’ve done, she would not be able to change her husband Jackson. Another audience member shared that she felt like Jackson chose to do what he did partially out of his love for Ally, that he knew his departure would lift a burden off of Ally’s shoulders. 

At the end of the event, Dear Cinema transitioned into a Valentine’s “Draw and Meet” Social where guests had the chance to draw one another, chat more about the film they saw, and approach special guest and artist Luo Xi for a personalised portrait of their own. 

Borne as a love letter to cinema, Dear Cinema is a serial film screening event where we aim to celebrate the power of story through the big screen. If you’re interested in joining our next event, please watch this space for more announcements. 

Find out more about Luo Xi on his Instagram @losikaktus_art

Film Selection by Jasmine Xie  

Creative Direction by Madina Imami 

Hosting by Catherine Chan & Jasmine Xie

Chinese Copywriting by Molly Wu 

English Copywriting by Jasmine Xie

Videography & Editing by Dima Veselov 

——-

Women in Media Organiser Miatta Momoh

Cinker Organiser Lillian Wang

DEAR CINEMA - JOY

“The world doesn’t owe you a thing” 
- Joy in Joy (2015). 

The last two years have taught us that when life challenges you, it’s those who make the best of it, that come out at the end winning. This was perhaps the spirit that we borrowed from Joy that night before we entered 2022. 

Perhaps most importantly, the film’s tale of entrepreneurship and the fight for what you love was what truly inspired. We had guests who were contemplating starting their own business but perhaps just needed that extra push before they dived. Other guests hadn’t explored that possibility but the movie made them stop and think. 

After the viewing, we were joined by Liu Lu, founder of the fashion brand LUVON by LIULU, fashion icon, independent fashion designer, and content creator on Xiaohongshu and Zhihu. For those familiar with Liu Lu’s content, it is apparent that she is someone who has the ability to communicate the nuances that she’s grasped in life and her studies to benefit those listening. 

When asked how she advises people navigate skepticism from those around them, she noted that it’s important to ask yourself: do I want to live a life for myself, or do I want to live my life for others? On the topic of failure, she spoke on the importance of separating failure of something from the failure of self. Just because you failed at one thing, does not mean that you are a failure. Liu Lu also noted that the moment you are no longer afraid to fail, then you have mastered one of the keys to success. 

At the end of the event, Dear Cinema transitioned into the New Years Eve party where guests mingled with one another until the clock struck twelve and the new year was upon us. As we left Cinker, we carried the story of Joy and the words of Liu Lu into the night, knowing that although the world doesn’t owe us anything, we owe it to ourselves to live a meaningful life. 

Borne as a love letter to cinema, Dear Cinema is a serial film screening event where we aim to celebrate the power of story through the big screen. The next Dear Cinema event by Nova Universal and Women in Media China at Cinker Pictures will be held on Valentines Day, watch this space for more announcements. 

Find out more about Liu Lu here.

Film Selection by Jasmine Xie  

Creative Direction by Madina Imami 

Hosting by Molly Wu and Jasmine Xie

Chinese Copywriting by Molly Wu 

English Copywriting by Jasmine Xie

Videography and Editing by Dima Veselov 
-—-

Women in Media Organiser Miatta Momoh

Cinker Organiser Lillian Wang

DEAR CINEMA - PHANTOM THREAD

“Whatever you do, do it carefully” 
- Alma in Phantom Thread (2017). 

Looking back on the night we watched Phantom Thread (2017), one can’t help but to remember this line that the heroine of the movie, Alma, whispers tenderly to Reynolds Woodcock before she is swept up in his world of fashion, glamour, and artistic demands. 

Guests arrived to the fourth Dear Cinema event in Beijing dressed in elegant evening wear to celebrate the world of Phantom Thread. It was in these moments that we felt transported back to the golden ages when going to the cinema was an event to dress up for. During a time where watching movies at home in sweatpants is the norm, it was a delight to see guests experience the theatre in such a fashionable way.

We were also joined after the viewing by Paloma Sanchez, Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A) Gemologist, Jewelry Designer, and the founder of her own fine artisan jewelry brand, who shared valuable insight on what it’s like to be an artist impassioned with her/his work. Relating to the main character in the movie, dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, she noted that she also likes to use one of the kind materials - in her case, rare museum grade gemstones. While Reynolds Woodcock was able to find a muse in Alma, Paloma confessed that she has yet to design for a muse in her 30+ years of craftsmanship. However, Paloma shared with the audience that she is always inspired to create by confident people, saying “I think if you are confident, you are beautiful no matter how you look.” 

Before guests left for the night, Paloma chose her favourite outfit from the crowd, the guest of which was awarded a film camera by the Dear Cinema committee. 

As we walked out the doors of Cinker, we were all in no doubt influenced by the events that occurred, going home and carrying on with our lives doing things perhaps a bit more carefully than we did before watching Phantom Thread (2017). 

Borne as a love letter to cinema, Dear Cinema is a serial film screening event where we aim to celebrate the power of story through the big screen.

Find out more about Paloma Sanchez here.

Film Selection by Jasmine Xie  

Creative Direction by Madina Imami 

Hosting by Elizabeth Turner and Jasmine Xie

Chinese Copywriting by Molly Wu 

English Copywriting by Jasmine Xie

Videography and Editing by Dima Veselov 
-—-

Women in Media Organiser Miatta Momoh

Cinker Organiser Lillian Wang

CECILE ZHANG AT THE CAMERIMAGE TALENT DEMO SHOWCASE

Cecile Zhang’s first feature Weihai (2018) was showcased at the 29th Camerimage International Film Festival Talent Demo.

DEAR CINEMA - LADYBIRD

“Cicadas chirp in the North, while wind dances with rain in the South” 

This summer, Dear Cinema held two cross city film viewing events.  With graduation season coming to an end, we celebrated Ladybird (2017), a film written and directed by Greta Gerwig that tells the coming of age story through the unique lens of a mother and daughter relationship. 

Organised in Association with Women in Media China, Cinker Pictures, and Le Passé Shanghai; Dear Cinema is a serial film screening event borne as a love letter to cinema, where we aim to celebrate the power of story through the big screen.

Creative Direction by Madina.
Videography and Editing by: Dima Veselov

【Beijing】

This is Dear Cinema’s third event in Beijing, we once again partnered with Cinker Pictures to bring a film viewing experience like non other. In the privacy of Cinker’s theatre, guests were treated to a cocktail and story. Many of those in the audience were able to find a fragment of their past or current selves in the film. One audience member joined us because they were from Sacramento and wanted to feel home through the screen, other audience members included mother and daughter duos looking to spend Thursday night with a story familiar to them. 

At the end of the event, Dear Cinema invited the Managing Editor of Jingkids International Mina Yan, Nova Universal CEO Jasmine Xie, and CMO Molly Wu to lead the discussion with the audience and each other on the nuances of the film. Many from the audience shared their own coming of age experiences, including a bright young teenager who bravely voiced her own opinions on the film. 

Photos taken by film photographer Marc Long.

【Shanghai】

Cut to 1200 km from Beijing, Dear Cinema held its first event in Shanghai. Behind the velvet theatre curtains of Le Passé, we experienced Ladybird (2017) in a different type of atmosphere. With an impending typhoon on the way, we were worried that many guests might not show up. The day of the event, however, held many surprises. Not only did people arrive on time, but the typhoon decided to wait for our event to finish before gracing the city. 

Many in the audience had come up to ask why this particular film was chosen, and reflected on the similarities to their own relationship with their mother. Incredibly grounded, Ladybird showed us a picture of adolescence in all its uncertainties. This was particularly true at the end of the film where we were not explicitly shown what the heroine and her mother’s relationship culminated to. Perhaps an ending like this was also the reason why many wanted to stay and discuss the film with one another. 

Nestled in the crook of a cafe on Fuxing West Road, on a seemingly mundane Saturday, was a group of cinema lovers experiencing the world of Ladybird. On that afternoon, we all left the event feeling a bit more certain about ourselves, what we’ve become, and what our parents have given us to become.

Photos by fashion photographer Shao Kou.

Dear Cinema will be returning with many more events at Cinker Pictures nationwide in China.
Follow us on Instagram to find out which city you’ll see us in next!

DEAR CINEMA - LOST IN TRANSLATION

Borne as a love letter to cinema, Dear Cinema is a serial film screening event where we aim to celebrate films by female filmmakers in all capacities. ⁣
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We recently screened Lost in Translation (2003) in Beijing for the second installation. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, the movie told a heartfelt story of loneliness on foreign lands. Cosied in the plush seats of the cinema to a good story, here's a brief recap of what went down that night. ⁣
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Organised in Association with Women in Media China and Cinker Pictures Beijing.

Creative Direction: Madina Imami
Voice Over: Jasmine XIe
Videography: Dima Veselov
Editor: Dima Veselov

SCMP GOLDTHREAD SPOTLIGHT ON ONYISHI UCHENNA

South China Morning Post’s Goldthread covers Onyishi Uchenna and his experience of being a filmmaker in China.

CECILE ZHANG FEATURED IN AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER'S RISING STARS

Cecile Zhang was featured as one of American Cinematographer’s Rising Stars of 2020.

ONYISHI UCHENNA SHOOTS FOR PATH MEN

Photographer:@onyishiuche   Models: @yiiiiiran / @glennpurple / @romaine_tolno

Photographer:@onyishiuche    Models: @yiiiiiran / @glennpurple / @romaine_tolno

Onyishi Uchenna shoots for Path Men Official as part of betaCulture Episode 1. 

Shop the looks at : https://www.path-men.com

PRODUCTION FOR BETACULTURE, EPISODE 1 KICKS OFF

betaCulture, is a cross-cultural web-series co-produced by TheVillageLad and Nova Universal where writer, director, and photographer Onyishi Uchenna invites guests to his studio to discuss different topics in youth culture taking China and the world by storm.