Humorous performance aims to popularize books

The second Literary Death match, a humorous literature-reading competition, was held at The Bookworm Tuesday night. Photo by Liang meilan

By Liang Meilan

The Bookworm became the Beijing literati’s equivalent of a Roman coliseum Tuesday as it hosted the second Literary Death Match, a humorous literature-reading competition.

The event aims to “make literature a part of pop culture again, by exploring innovative ways to present text off the page,” said Todd Zuniga, co-organizer of the competition and editor of New York City literary magazine Opium.

“It (literature) has sort of been pushed back by television, film and now the Internet. What I wanted to do was make people come out and celebrate literature in a really exciting way,” Zuniga said.

The Match’s four contestants – Susan Barker from the UK and China-based Mark Kitto, John Leary and James Palmer – had seven minutes to perform a piece and wow the audience and judges.

Unlike the first Match, which centered on sexual matters, this week’s competition covered subjects as diverse as death, the cultural differences between Mongolian and Han Chinese and the character of Shanghai.

Leary, a writer living in Shanghai who presented a stream-of-consciousness piece about death, emerged the champion. Gady Espstein, one of the three judges, described it as “opera, Giselle Knowles, Jimmy Carter, lesbian sex and a marriage to Beyonce, all in one presentation.”

To audiences, the event meant forming closer bonds with people in Beijing’s literature community. “I came to support my friend who was one of the contestants,” said Lynne Smith, an expat from the US. “But now I know six more writers whose works I find interesting.”

Beijing was the 24th city to host the Literary Death Match, which is held regularly in major metropolises such as New York City, San Francisco, London, Paris and Montreal. Zuniga said the organizers are just getting warmed up and that they are hoping to bring the event to Shanghai next month.

Zuniga also said they are planning a larger, bilingual match in Beijing to get more people involved. “I think we can have at least one round of Chinese writers and another round of English writers,” he said.

“It is really exciting to think about what that would mean to the domestic literary community, because China has such a huge population of literature lovers and experts,” he said.

The Match is apparently not going to stop at book shops. “Audiences in the US will see a TV show on the Literary Death Match next year. And the show will hopefully go online shortly after,” he said.

Film festival on outdoors sports returns in October

The Banff Mountain Film Festival will bring exciting sports documentaries to commercial cinemas next month. Photo provided by Banff Mountain Film Festival

By Wang Yu

Outdoor lovers’ favorite film festival returns to China next month with screenings in Beijing, Shanghai and Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Organizers of the festival said Monday that it will be the first time Banff Mountain Film Festival’s documentaries will be shown in commercial cinemas in China.

Banff, which features the best short films and documentaries on mountaineering, outdoor sports and the environment, will screen 20 films, four of which were domestically produced.
 
Gao Feng, director of Central News Documentary Films and co-organizer of the event, said the festival will be a great chance to continue building the documentary scene in China.

Lu Chuan, director of the war film Nanjing, Nanjing, said he was amazed at some of this year’s Chinese entries. “I watched all the films that will be shown in China and there was one called Impossible Climb, which really moved me. It’s about a climber who continues to challenge a mountain even though he once fell from 30 meters. I think that represents true bravery,” said Lu, who has won a Banff award for Kekexili, a film about protecting Tibetan antelope.

Another film to watch out for is Solo, a documentary about Andrew McAuley, who in 2007 set out to become the first person to kayak from Australia to New Zealand.

“He spent more than 30 days at sea and almost died by the time he reached dry land,” said Qian Haiying, project manager of Banff’s China leg. “At first I thought this might scare the audience, but later realized McAuley’s spirit can encourage people to be more adventurous,” she said, adding that the film almost didn’t make the cut because of her initial fears.

Mark Steven Kruger, minister counsellor of the Canadian Embassy, said the festival is a good chance to promote cultural communication between China and Canada.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival was launched in 1976 in Banff, Alberta.

Event

Lecture by top international shoe designer

Georgina Goodman and her husband BJ Cunningham founded the fashion brand Georgina Goodman in 2002, which has since made a mark in the shoe design business. The couple will share their experience in building their brand, as well as their views on creating fashion, in this lecture sponsored by the British Council.

Where: Auditorium of Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, A2 Yinghua Dong Jie, Chaoyang District
When: September 3, 6:30 pm
Tel: 6421 6141
Cost: Free

Slow food Saturday

The Slow Food Beijing Convivium gives city dwellers a chance to enjoy a day of natural food and fun at the Great Wall. Besides cycling, hiking and walking around the neighboring Great Wall, attendees will taste a variety of dishes made from the freshest local ingredients such as brown sugar sorghum dumplings, teppanyaki trout, wild vegetable dishes and home-made ice creams.

Where: The Roadhouse at Mutianyu, 12 Mutianyu Village, Huairou District
When: September 4, 10 am – 6 pm
Tel: 13810521254
Cost: Foods cost 5 to 20 yuan, bus ride 80 yuan round-rip

FunGym Opening

FunGym, a chain of children’s gyms based in Canada, will open its first store in Beijing on Sunday with free roller-skating lessons, free climbing classes and a football friendship game. The gym features programs and facilities to help children develop not just their physical but also their cognitive, emotional and social skills. Regular classes start on September 13.

Where: Ole Sports Center Beijing, 5 Shimencun Lu, Baiziwan Qiao Dong, Chaoyang District
When: September 5, 9 am – 2:30 pm
Tel: 6776 4705
Cost: Free

Gifted child evaluation

The China Trade Commission and Whiz Kids International Testing Center are giving parents a chance to find out for free whether they have “gifted children.” It is open to children between the ages of 4 and 7. The one-hour evaluation includes observing children in a special play setting, where they act out roles and solve a variety of problems. Four visiting European experts will conduct the evaluation, which normally costs 3,500 yuan.

Where: Whiz Kids International Testing Center, Room 700, 11 Wanliu Dong Lu, Haidian District
When: Daily, ends September 30, 10 am – 6 pm
Tel: 8255 1838
Cost: Free

(By Liang Meilan)

Problems and prospects of residential community libraries

By Zhao Hongyi
Two years ago, the municipal government appealed to all communities to set up their own libraries and encourage residents to donate books.

As of June, this plan to create community-level cultural centers has resulted in the creation of 1,292 new libraries.

But at many, management and staff say development has come to a screeching halt. Many are still searching for a sustainable model and new ways to attract readers.
Exodus of readers

“With the semester about to start, our readers are mainly kids and their grandparents. Our volunteer operators are vanishing back to school.”
- Mou Li, volunteer, Sanhuan Xincheng Community Library
It has been unusually quiet at the Sanhuan Xincheng community library since the new semester began.

While elementary and high school student readers are busy preparing for the new school year, the college-age temps that made up the library staff have abandoned the project for campus life.

Ostensibly, the library is still open – even though the lights are out and the staff is gone. “In principle, we are open as long as we have readers. But when no one comes, we have to shut down,” Mou Li, one of the volunteers, said.

The library space has been handed back to the community center for the time being.

Sanhuan Xincheng has a collection of more than 8,000 books and magazines. Aside from its large collection of fiction, it also has non-fiction titles for adult readers interested in child rearing, healthcare and business management.

“The community is hoping to find new volunteers among the retirees and housewives,” Mou said.
Facing difficulties

“We have a hard time getting the books out there and keeping a permanent venue.”
- Lan Niao, Huilongguan Kids Library

“We don’t have the money to buy the new titles that could attract readers.”
- Li Xin, Anzhen Xi Li Community Library
Sanhuan Xincheng library is not alone in its problems.

In the two years since the government called for community libraries, 1,292 opened to serve 49 percent of the city’s residential communities.

“We ask residents to donate their books and magazines and budget to purchase books,” said Sun Yuetang from the Shenggu residential community. “Nearly 90 percent of our books are donated. But we still cannot meet the residents’ demands for newer, better books.”

Huilongguan, a huge community outside North Fifth Ring Road, has had a library since 2008. Volunteers from the neighborhood maintain the library and raise 1,200 yuan each year to purchase new books. It recently opened a second library to target young readers.

“We have to rent space in senior sports center,” Lan Niao, one of the volunteers, said, “For us, that’s the biggest headache. We never know when they will force us to move out.”

Lan and her volunteers started their library in a farmer’s yard and later moved to a coffee bar. Finding readers has not been a problem: finding somewhere to store equipment and books has.

At Anzhen Xi Li, the community library has tens of thousands of books and dozens of periodicals. Local residents like the library, and nearly 100 of them are regular readers who spend their days there. Its computer network is connected to Capital Library, allowing readers to search the larger library for books they might need.

“It is quiet here, very nice and comfortable,” said Li Shouqing, a retired local resident and old acquaintance of the library.

But Anzhen’s library faces the problem of a permanent venue. It is currently located on the noisiest corner of the residential park, and many visitors have complained, asking for a quieter location, Li Xin, one of the operators, said.

New books, however, are not a problem. Li said the library has close ties with several other large community libraries, and they rotate stock on a regular basis.

Because the library is run as a non-profit with no backing, Li can only open it during working hours. “We cannot afford the electricity and water to keep it open longer.”

Without a budget, a permanent location, a growing collection of books and new readers, Lan and Li said they fear it may be difficult to continue.
Creative solutions

“We can walk out to collect books from government agencies, embassies and universities to enrich our own collections.”
- Jim Habib, retired American in Tongzhou
The library-building campaign caught the attention of several foreigners who decided to start an English library. Jim Habib and his wife Lorene are one of the couples maintaining a small English library in Tongzhou District.

Aside from calling for donations, the couple actively solicits books and magazines from the embassies and colleges. They hope their small library can eventually become a bookstore and English club.

“We have to take the initiative to collect books and magazines if we are determined to build up our library,” Habib said.

But like other libraries, the Habibs’ also needs permanent staff and regular volunteers.

“Communities should try to hire people who have social work experience and who know how to make connections to solve problems,” said Yang Rong, an assistant professor of social management at Beijing University of Technology.

Some of that networking may be tackled by Capital Library.

“We are building a network of community libraries that will be based on four levels: municipality, downtown residential communities, suburb districts and the rural countryside,” Deng Juying, vice curator of the Capital Library, the proposer of the initiative, said in an interview.

Last year, the municipal government started a fund that will be used to supply each district with a yearly sum of 1.5 million yuan to be used for new books. Dongcheng District has already organized a center to oversee purchases, distribution and circulation between all libraries under its control.

“We are still just getting starts, so I’m sure things will improve once the government starts to support our best efforts,” Yang said.

“Community libraries aren’t about size,” Deng said.

“Of course, we most certainly would expand given the opportunity.”

International students explore education innovations

By Liang Meilan
A handful of foreign university students spent the final days of their summer vacation in the classroom in Beijing. Students from South Asia, Europe, North America and South America joined local counterparts to attend a weeklong workshop at Peking University that discussed how to incorporate advanced technologies into education reform.
“An estimated 150 million students worldwide receive improper education in a poor educational environment, and the number is expected to double in the next 15 years. It is a pressing task for every country to ensure that its young people have a sound and sustainable education system,” said Xu Luping, co-founder of Paris-based Worldwide Interaction for Science, Education and Research in Universities (Wiser-U), the event organizer.
Xu said the help from students is indispensible in solving the problem, and that is why they organized the summer workshop. “We offer this platform to bring together young pioneers and experts to share their unconventional ideas on technologies that can be used for education in the future,” he said.
The 19 participating teams were composed of students who have been conducting their own research on how to introduce teaching innovations. The group of experts who advised the students consisted of 11 well-known education “innovators,” such as Raphael Ogar Oko, a member of Teachers Without Borders who has helped bridge school segregation in Nigeria.
The four-person team from Renmin University created a social networking website to help college freshmen adapt easier to campus life. “Students can ask and answer questions related to life on campus. Freshmen can get useful information and suggestions from senior students,” Xue Shengbo, one of the team members, said.
Kyra Gaunt, one of the judges, a US ethnomusicologist, commended the students for their great idea and implementations. “I’ve never seen a young team like it realize its goal of solving a problem we’ve all encountered in such a short period of time – only half a year. I was surprised by its high level of teamwork and groundbreaking idea,” she said.
“Those Chinese students are so young – with an average age of 18 – but they presented boldness in innovation,” said Uffe Elbaek, founder and former principal of Kaospilots, Denmark’s business and design school. “Though they looked unassuming when talking to the experts, I saw ambition in their work.”
Another group that grabbed the spotlight was a multinational team of students from Croatia, France, the UK, Cyprus and Serbia. Formed in Vukovar, Crotia, as a response to Europe’s segregated communities, the team introduced ideas on conflict management, peace keeping and science education through fun activities.
“We want to improve cooperation and foster social integration by mobilizing the youth living in conflict areas. By sponsoring workshops on topics such as popular science, we enable children from diverse ethnic backgrounds to work together,” said Bojan Markicevic, leader of the group called ConSol – an abbreviation for “conflict solution.”
“Promoting tolerance and empowering children to deal with every day battles is at the core of the program,” he said.
Neven Kudumija, a student from Croatia, said the workshop’s biggest contribution is the knowledge that participants bring back to their universities.

Summer to prepare for the future – US high school students learn Chinese and think about careers

By Liang Meilan

The summer school holiday, to some students, means learning in a different classroom. This summer, 38 US high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Houston, New York City, Rochester and Washington DC came to China for five weeks of language studies, cultural exposure and international career development training. They headed home August 5.

“They’re bringing back home not only experience with China’s scenic spots and city life, but also higher Chinese language competence, deeper cultural understanding, rich community service experience and, what’s most important, a clearer orientation of their future careers,” said Ted Dean, chairman of the American Promoting Study Abroad (APSA), a local co-organizer of the program.

Speak better Chinese

APSA is partially funded by the US State Department’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth Program, which gives American high school students the opportunity to learn “less commonly taught languages” in their native land.

Participants are selected based on academic merit, and those bound for China are required to have completed at least a year of Chinese. “They are mostly kids with plans of entering a career connected with the Chinese language,” Dean said.

The China program includes three and a half hours of intensive language training per day. “They are also expected to study outside of class and practice with locals,” Dean said.

Peter Wambwe, 19, a resident of Washington DC, joined APSA’s China summer program in 2008. Because of his intensive Chinese lessons, he is already taking a junior-level Chinese course although still a freshman at Pennsylvania State University.

“Understanding a language is a vital window to understanding a culture,” Wambe said. “Committing to learn a language opens opportunities to a lifetime of intercultural friendships, learning and fun. APSA was my first opportunity and I embraced it.” 

Cultural immersion activities are also important components of the program. “We have calligraphy, kung fu and painting classes,” Dean said. “The afternoons are filled with either culture classes, small team excursions in the city or visits to companies and organizations in the area.”

A major change in this year’s program was the emphasis on using public transportation as much as possible. Dean said this was due to “environmental reasons, to instill a sense of ownership in the experience and to teach important travel skills that will help them feel more competent in unfamiliar cities.”

Event

Peking Opera workshop

Understand the history and uniqueness of Peking Opera to enrich your viewing experience. China Culture Center has invited professional actors to discuss the art form’s background, complexities and subtleties. They will also demonstrate the preparations involved in a performance, particularly the meticulous process of applying makeup.

Where: China Culture Center, Room 101, Kent Center, 29 Anjialou, Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: August 21, 7:30-9:30 pm
Tel: 6432 9341
Cost: 150 yuan, 120 yuan for children under 12

Hike Intelligence Valley

There is a saying that people who hike Intelligence Valley become more intelligent. Join the members of Beijing Hikers as they navigate Intelligence Valley at Shentangyu Natural Scenic Area in Huairou District. There is a clear stream that runs through the valley, and the surrounding mountains make this a cool, refreshing walk. At this time of year you can spot plenty of small animals, which will excite children who come along.

Where: Shentangyu Natural Scenic Area, Huairou County
When: August 22, 8 am
Tel: 6432 2786
Cost: 320 yuan

Discovering the Lake of Ten Temples

Houhai, a major nightlife spot in Beijing, is also called Shichahai, or “lake of ten temples.” But where are the temples? With the capital’s rapid pace of modernization, more and more historical relics are being demolished; some that are right in front of us get overlooked. 90 Percent Travel offers a free trip to discover the 10 temples and their stories. An English-speaking guide and traditional Beijing snacks will be provided.

Where: Houhai, 50 Houhai Beiyan, Xicheng District
When: August 22, 1:30-4 pm
Tel: 15117916648
Cost: Free

Children’s dance workshop

Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) and the National Ballet of China are sponsoring a series of children’s dance workshops this month. The workshops are designed to teach children about ballet, the joy of movement, the skill of teamwork and what it’s like to be a member of a dance troupe. Children will also have the opportunity to watch classes, rehearsals and public performances by the National Ballet of China.

Where: UCCA, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
When: August 22 and 29, 10-11:30 am
Tel: 8459 9269
Cost: 80 yuan

(By Liang Meilan)

Filipino maids popular in Beijing depite legal issues

By Han Manman

The number of Filipino maids has risen sharply in Beijing recently. Although they are not legally allowed to work in China, that has not deterred local expats and wealthy Chinese families from taking the risk of employing one.

More housekeeping agencies have started to develop this “under the table” business to take advantage of the lucrative market.

But without an effective system for supervision, experts warn that the local Filipino maid market may eventually spin out of control.

Filipinos as perfect maids

“When I’m looking for a maid, I want someone who knows how to iron, separate whites from colored (clothes), beautify houses … and most importantly, she must be well educated and speak good English to create an English environment for my 8-year-old daughter at home,” said Chen Fengyu, a department manager who works for a US-based company.

The 38-year-old Chen is considering hiring a Filipino maid because of their “good reputation” worldwide.

“High quality is my first consideration, money is not a problem,” Chen added.

Finding a Filipino maid is not difficult for Chen. She just searched “Filipino maid” online and found many choices.

“There are so many housekeeping agencies here, but I only considered big agencies to avoid swindlers,” Chen said.

She said some agencies have already emailed her candidates and promised to arrange online interviews.

“They told me I could interview all the candidates until I found someone I was satisfied with, and they would soon arrange that person to come from the Philippines to work for me,” Chen said.

One agency wanted to charge her 9,000 yuan for the procedure, including the maid’s half-year visa fee, air ticket and commission, Chen said. This was on top of the maid’s monthly salary of 3,500 yuan.

“That agency told me there is no risk in hiring a Filipino. The government loosened its control after the Beijing Olympics,” Chen said.

“No domestic maid can match a Filipino,” said Ma Yixuan, who employed a Filipino maid for years, adding that it’s very worthwhile to employ a Filipino because they speak fluent English, are professional about chores and have a cheerful temperament and superior nanny skills.

Film Festival Programmer invites Africans to film China

Ssenkaaba Samson and mentor Sherman Ong film a river in fog/Pnoto provided by Gertjan Zuilhof

By Liang Meilan

While busily selecting movies from around the world to screen at the 40-year-old Rotterdam Film Festival (IFFR), festival programmer Gertjan Zuilhof is inviting seven African filmmakers to Beijing over the next two months to produce short films about China.

Having been in China only once before and speaking nearly no Mandarin, Zuilhof said the idea came to him as a “self-inflicted shock.” He wrote on this blog that the idea “more or less jumped on my back when I was not watching my back properly.”

Last year’s IFFR put great focus on long “silent” African films, with several projects conducted in African countries. Zuilhof’s “Forget Africa” – in which he brought 12 Asian directors to make films in Africa – was one of them. “To continue enlarging the voice of African films, this year’s program will be called ‘Raiding Africa,’” said the 55-year-old Dutchman.

Yet the idea of such a project was inspired by another more personal experience.

“Raiding Africa is actually a follow-up of last year’s project,” Zuilhof said. “I was shocked by the huge numbers of Chinese people in Africa when doing Forget Africa. So the more general and thematic reason is the importance of Chinese presence in Africa in terms of investment and other aspects.”

“The Africans see their lives changing because of the Chinese people. They would be interested in seeing the real lives of the Chinese people in their country in more human, social and scientific aspects.”

Zuilhof initiated the project also as a way of helping African filmmakers hone their skills.

“They don’t have enough money to go to Europe and learn very professional filmmaking approaches,” he said. “But they still can do something here with less money. The way that some of the Chinese filmmakers work with less equipment and smaller crews is valuable for African filmmakers.”

Six experienced Asian film directors, including Sherman Ong from Singapore and Ying Liang from China, will act as mentors.

A budget of 4,000 (36,000 yuan) raised by Zuilhof comes from IFFR, some foundations and film festivals in Sweden, Italy and South Africa. “Though these festivals offered just small amounts of money, they promised to show the films when they come out. So the movies will travel and spread,” Zuilhof said.

The first African filmmaker to arrive was Ssenkaaba Samson from Uganda, an experimental filmmaker who specializes in hip-hop videos. “He has not yet set his subject. Making an impromptu film with fresh eyes is what he wants to do here,” Zuilhof said. “But some of the other filmmakers are busy researching in China to make short films or documentaries.”
 
Here in the capital, Zuilhof found a partner in Li Xianting Film School. “Choosing Li Xiangting Film School as a collaborator was coincidental,” Zuilhof said. “I knew some of the filmmakers in China, such as IFFR prizewinner Ying Liang, are teachers at the school. Then I proposed the school offer its venue and equipment for a workshop.”

The past decade has seen numerous Chinese independent films screened at IFFR, some of which won top prizes. Zuilhof singled out two reasons why Europeans like these films.

“One is that [the filmmakers] can work quickly and make a lot of films without many problems in financing. The other thing is, European movies, even the good ones, are often quite artificial. We get the feeling that independent movies from China hit closer to real lives and to personal experiences with authentic elements,” he said.

Tony Award-winning playwright talks about new play and US-China relations

David Henry Hwang (right) and Leigh Silverman (left) at Capital M

By Liang Meilan

Last Saturday at Capital M restaurant, theater fans and professionals got a rare chance to interact with an award-winning playwright – David Henry Hwang – who is in China to do research for a new play.

Known for writing cross-cultural plays – including M. Butterfly, which won the 1988 Tony Award for Best Play – Hwang said Sino-US relations will be a big subject for him in the next arc of his work.

Hwang was accompanied at Capital M by Broadway director Leigh Silverman. The two recently concluded a two-week research trip in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, seeking inspiration for their new co-production, Chinglish, which will premiere at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago next June.

The two first collaborated three years ago on the play Yellow Face, which was about a Chinese American playwright (representing Hwang the actual playwright) who accidentally casts a Caucasian as an Asian and spends much of the play trying to justify the selection. Similarly, Chinglish will be another cross-cultural comedy, but this time it’ll be about an American business man who travels to Guiyang,  hoping to make an important deal before finding himself enmeshed in a system more complex than he ever imagined.

“My stay in Guiyang in relationship to the play was to get nuance, specificity and a depth of understanding that I never would by just reading a book or doing research on the Internet,” Silverman said. “The smell of the air should be present in the play, so to speak. With my experience, I can go back home and tell my designer what to do. And also, I heard Dong minority music performed by local folk artists, which gave me a fuller understanding of the music’s meaning.”

After reading many books about business, Hwang saw huge differences between doing business in China and in America. But it took an actual trip to China to hammer those differences home. “It requires a personal look to see the cultural differences and ideas between the old world and the new world,” he said.

In Guiyang, Hwang and Silverman spoke about a variety of topics. “We talked about the fast speed of Westernization in China,” Hwang said. “(The Chinese) refuse to embrace the so-called ‘branded modernization’ because they view it as a Western concept. China has developed its own modernity on its own terms, which is greatly reflected in doing business here.”

Hwang said that as in Yellow Face, his new work should focus on cultural differences and similarities and cross-cultural communication. “I enjoy rewriting a play with new ideas gained from close research or sitting with audiences and hearing profound perspectives from them,” he said.

Looking to the future, Hwang wants to continue tackling subjects related to US-China cultural differences and write about US-China relations. “Through the larger project, I hope to come out with a sense of what is the real dynamic at work here, as you have one country that’s the old superpower and another country that is becoming the next superpower,” Hwang said in an earlier interview with the Beijinger.