A behind-the-scenes shot from the documentary series "Craft Artists in Shanghai". [Photo/WeChat ID: sh-jiading]
The documentary series "Craft Artists in Shanghai," produced by the Shanghai Art and Design Academy after six years of hard work, has become popular overseas.
The series, created by a team of teachers and students specializing in film and television multimedia technology, has been viewed more than one million times and received coverage from international media. The documentary aims to showcase the lives of Chinese craftsmen and highlight their skills and Chinese culture.
The inspiration for this successful documentary series came from the yellow straw weaving tradition in Jiading district, Shanghai. Yellow straw weaving, with a history of nearly 1,000 years, had been struggling due to its slow and labor-intensive hand-weaving process. In an effort to preserve this traditional skill, the teachers and students decided to document the entire process in film.
The documentary was well-received, garnering positive ratings. Encouraged by this success, the team went on to produce nine high-quality documentaries on various crafts, such as boxwood carving, Shanghai-style inkstone carving, and Shanghai-style bamboo fans.
They embraced innovation by incorporating "digital twin" technology in post-production to attract younger audiences. This technology allowed them to create a virtual representation that showcased the materials and textures of the crafts. They hoped that this would demonstrate that traditional culture can coexist with modern advancements.
The series was an educational experience for the students and is meant to raise awareness and appreciation for traditional Chinese art. It has become a platform for the exploration and preservation of Shanghai's traditional crafts. The team plans to create more engaging and contemporary documentaries in the future, providing students with opportunities to enhance their professional skills while contributing to the ongoing preservation of Shanghai-style arts and crafts.