A night of independent documentary films about music making and touring in China with three musicians and film makers, Kristen Ng (NZ/China), Wu Zhuoling (China), and David Harris (NZ). All three will be taking part in a panel Q&A at the end of the screenings
"A Tour of the Public Kingdom" [54mins]
Producer / Director : David Harris
Modern Sky Records 2007
NZ film maker David Harris follows Beijing-based band P.K.14's pioneering 2005 nationwide tour of China. The month-long DIY tour covers a large span of eastern China, playing in more than 20 cities and towns. David's film gives a window into life, music and travel in China at that time and how an independent post-punk rock outfit went about bringing their music to the people.
David Harris first arrived in Beijing in 2000 and lived and worked there until 2017 producing film and video works. P.K. 14 is a Chinese rock band composed of Yang Hai Song (vocals), Xu Bo (guitar), Ren Jie (bass) and Jonny Leijonhufvud (drums). Formed in 1997 in Nanjing, they moved to Beijing in 2001 and were selected by Time magazine as Asia's best five bands in 2008. "P.K.14, for all its lyrical depth, creates an overwhelming barrage of beautiful postpunk chaos". (Dan Shapiro).
http://www.davidarthurharris.com/
"Orchestra of Spheres: Te China Rockumentary" [30mins]
Producer / Director : Kristen Ng
Kiwese 2016
Chengdu resident and Kiwese founder Kristen Ng is currently back in NZ touring her solo electronic project Kaishandao. After moving to China in 2013 Kristen began organising DIY tours for NZ acts including Mr Sterile Assembly, Womb, Strange Stains, All Seeing Hand and ENT. Unfortunately local bureaucracy and the Covid pandemic made independent touring in China almost impossible for international bands, forcing Kristen to abandon her DIY tour circuit.
Kristen's first 'Kiwese Presents...' tour in 2015 featured Wellington band Orchestra of Spheres with live visual artist Lady Lazer Light. This self-produced documentary film of that tour (originally a 5-part series) features live footage from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming and Dali, interviews with local acts including Baxian Fandian, Death Narcissist, South Acid MiMi Dance Team and Su, candid encounters with fans, bands, labels and venues from music scenes around the country and on the road documentation of China's food, transport and everyday life. Orchestra of Spheres and Lady Lazer Light embrace the bizarre, defy the monotonous, and espouse the message that to be weird is to be wonderful.
"Small Projects Intro" [14 mins]
Produced by Small Projects, 2021
Electronic music producer, singer-songwriter, bandleader and DJ, Wu Zhuoling is one of the most iconic female indie artists in China, deeply involved with all elements of live performance and producing. Her strong personalized music is always endowed with a pure and unique quality, one that touches the audience deep in their soul.
The Chengdu-based musician has released dozens of albums, many on her own imprint Small Projects, a collective of like-minded electronic musicians in Chengdu. "Small Projects Intro" is a short doco film that gives an insight in to the label and the independent electronic music scene in Chengdu.
https://wuzhuoling.bandcamp.com/
Special thanks to Creative New Zealand for supporting Pyramid Club's programme
