Written by Our recent work on “Watchtower of China” was an exciting collaboration with director and editor Leonardo Dalessandri. We are delighted to observe that the film is already getting a lot of attention and love around the world with more than 1 million views in China on the day of the release! Here is a few frames of the brilliant cinematography by the master and some reflections about the process as expressed by Leonardo himself.
“Creating Watchtower of China was a labor of love. I say Labour because we, meaning my crew and I, throughout three consecutive summers, visited over seventy cities and travelled countless thousands of kilometers. Everywhere we went, we found ourselves channelling the powerful energy of this great land to find the strength and inspiration to continue our quest along what became life-changing for all of us.
“When we initially gathered together we were a film crew. By the time we were done, three years later, we had become a family.” – Leonardo Dalessandri.
I say love, because what we have created is more than just a film. It is a declaration of our love for this Country.
When I set out on this project I wanted to create a visual tribute to China – an honest observation of daily life. Not a surface travelog, but a real and raw representation of the cultural history. An honoring of Chinese culture, identity, and the complex and varied way of living that spans the enormity of the Chinese territory. A window on the dedication and discipline, the craftsmanship and hard work of the Chinese people. They have an energy of moving forward together as they draw power and inspiration from a culture that looks back over thousands of years, yet rushes fearlessly towards a bold future.
I started to feel this intense energy, as though this cultural pride and determination were now moving through me and my camera. The experience of this film buried itself so deeply within me that I can still feel the hard day’s work in my muscles.
It couldn’t have come together without the help of my dear friends, especially Jolien Snyers and Ricky Choy (did you you spot Ricky in the film? She’s in multiple shots and sings in the very last taxi shot!)
It is one of my proudest accomplishments.
I hope you love it.” -Leonardo Dalessandri