KEEP MOVING KEEP BALANCE

The filming theme of this video assignment is "the 45-degree Youth." The subject of the filming is Chen Jiayu, a self-media blogger, curator, and skilled handicraft maker. She is also the owner of "Via Coffee" in Shanghai Jinze Ancient Town.

 

During the interview, Chen Jiayu told me that in 2019, she and her husband decided to return to Shanghai from Dali, Yunnan, where they had been working for many years, to pursue their careers. The couple, who are used to a slow-paced lifestyle, found a two-story house in Jinze Ancient Town that had not yet been developed at the time. They transformed it through a "renovation explosion" into Chen Jiayu's studio. The ground floor serves as a cafe and music area, providing a place for tourists to rest and enjoy coffee, as well as a social space for Chen Jiayu and her friends to gather, chat, and play music.

 

The second floor serves as her personal studio where she engages in handcraft creation and some fine craft work. Across from the studio, Chen Jiayu recently rented a space to host small exhibitions. They also rented an old villa in a village, less than a 15-minute drive from the studio, where they live. Some of her self-media filming work is also carried out in this villa. The couple lives in the suburbs of Shanghai, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, leading a busy yet orderly and content life.

 

In Chen Jiayu's view, as a freelancer, she may appear to be living a laid-back lifestyle, but she always maintains a mindset of being mentally prepared to face changes. She constantly learns new skills, cultivates new interests, and expands her network, while also accumulating valuable connections. She believes that by embracing the endless possibilities of life and preparing for future challenges, her life as a self-employed individual is more fulfilling than the routine and smooth life of office workers. She sees their lives as a form of "lying flat," a concept that reflects a passive and stagnant existence.

 

During this filming, I have met many interesting and visionary young people who live their lives in a way that they like and find satisfying, without fearing judgment from traditional perspectives. They are able to find inner fulfillment and nourish themselves while being prepared to pack up and face challenges whenever opportunities and changes arise. I believe this is perhaps the true meaning of "the 45-degree life." I am extremely grateful for this filming experience, as it has not only allowed me to improve my filming skills but also introduced me to friends who have rich inner worlds, and stories filled with love and understanding. It has given me the opportunity to explore the fascinating and unrestrained souls of these individuals.

 

Additionally, initially, I had chosen to focus on the theme of fertility rates, hoping to find a DINK (Double Income, No Kids) couple to showcase this topic. Through a friend's introduction, I connected with Chen Jiayu and her husband. We had some preliminary exchanges on social media to understand each other better and discuss the general content of the shoot. However, after actually arriving at the location on February 17 for the shoot, I judged that the environment and materials were more suitable for the theme of "the 45-degree Youth." Consequently, I made some adjustments on the spot.

​

On February 5-9, I contacted the filming subjects, confirmed the filming time and location, and created a shooting plan.

 

On February 17, I arrived at the filming location at 13:00. From 13:00 to 14:00, I further communicated the details, familiarized myself with the environment, and captured some B-roll footage. From 14:00 to 15:00, I determined suitable locations for the interview and adjusted the equipment before officially starting the recording. From 15:00 to 16:00, I continued to capture additional B-roll footage. During the process of collecting B-roll footage, a senior designer who lived nearby happened to visit the exhibition. Chen Jiayu accompanied the designer and provided explanations. Additionally, some friends visited for music exchanges that day, which provided valuable material.

 

From February 17 to 25, after collecting the previous work videos and photo materials provided by Chen Jiayu, I completed the final video editing work.