China, a country of more than a billion people, has more than a billion stories to tell as well.
Many people across the globe think that China is a huge country where everything looks the same, like for example the people, food or the scenery.
In reality, the land of the dragon is a country of continuum, and award-winning photographer Jeff Hutchens and his equally talented brother Peter, a virtuous filmmaker, are out to prove it.
Peter and Jeff traveled across China in an adventure that gets below the surface of what have become familiar images of one of the world’s most fascinating countries. Their three-and-a-half-month adventure produced a six-part documentary that showcases Chinese culture captured through stunning photographs and film footage.
Somewhere in China, which started airing on National Geographic Channel (NGC) early this month, provides an interesting peek at the old China blending with the new. Their documented trips to the remarkable Xinjiang province which Jeff describes as “China’s wild west,” Kashgar and its devout Muslim population, the impressive Three Gorges Dam and Yangtze River, and the desolate steppes of Inner Mongolia, among others, simply unveil riveting and spectacular insights of the country within 17-hour shoot.
“China is an incredibly diverse country both geographically and ethnically. We want to give an accurate representation of what China is because the country is not just Beijing, or the Hong, it’s truly a diverse country,” lens master Jeff who visited the country shared during the NGC documentary press launch.
“And the other thing that we really would like to do with this series is to set up a unique visual style. Since Jeff is a still photographer and I worked on a number projects for the National Geographic and for other people, we have a good understanding of visuals and what makes a good show. Part of it, too, is the fact that I am a filmmaker and Jeff is a photographer our credibility rests on the visuals on the series,” Peter, the younger Hutchens added.
By exploring the unfamiliar and “unexpected” parts of China, the duo traveled in places like Gansu where they were kicked out when Tibetan protests turned the tranquil province into a place of unrest. They participated in ‘‘dragon boat race’’ in the Yangtze River with the Chinese locals, climbed a five-story sword ladder, jumped in a freezing pool in minus 14 degree Celsius temperature, and the list of their adventure continuous as they traveled from rough and tumble Western China.
“We know China pretty well, but because of the way we look, we couldn’t blend all that well. And that always left a certain feeling of distance. For me that makes the country so fascinating and I think it’s one of the reasons why we had a good time,” Jeff explained, revealing that they moved to Harbin, China in the early 1980s as ‘‘outsiders’’ to a homogenuous community of some seven million Chinese people.
“China was the first place we lived and the connection with it is the strongest. We speak enough Mandarin to get into trouble... but not enough to get us out of it,” said Peter, who also grew up in South Africa and the Philippines as a member of the globe-roaming Hutchens family.
At the beginning, the duo were asked by questions concerning about their show because the documentary seems not fit in just one particular genre. That particular fact makes the series suitable for the NGC for it caters to varied audiences.
“When you’re making a show or when you’re pitching a show in television, people will always want to say: ‘What is it, what is your show?’ I think our show was actually hard to define from the beginning, which is really tough when we first set up. Is it a travel show? Yes there are travel elements. Is it a buddy brother show? Yes we are brothers and we are buddies except when we fight,” Peter, the quick-witted younger Hutchens, explained.
Capping their visit to the Philippine were a meet and greet portion, a photo exhibit of their travels, video clip screenings and a photography seminar where the brothers imparted tips and techniques to attending students and hobbyists. The event was held at The Reading Room, Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City.
The six-part documentary will air until November; encores will be shown the following day. For more information and schedule, visit www.natgeotv.com.
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