cheesy but true. I always start to miss home about a year after my last trip. But this time there's a greater fatigue, I think. Maybe I just lack stamina... but the whole PhD thing has been an awfully long process... Ok. whatever. Will stop complaining.
Yesterday I volunteered to been an extra in the inde-documentary, the 'Qiu Jin Project'. It's about the life and deeds of Qiu Jin, 'China's first feminist' according to the website. So apparently she went around inspiring women to become independent, educated, and demand equality in the household. She also trains a 'woman army', which is where we came in. Filming was yesterday at Berkerley, and they sent emails to all the Bay Area wushu lists to ask for Asian women who know wushu to be part of this 'army'.
There were roughly 30 of us: young and not-so-young, beginners to advanced, at Tilden Park. The person who played Qiu Jin is Li Jing, formerly of the Beijing Wushu Team. She taught us a basic routine, which we then did for like, 20 takes. Then we did a sequence of 10 punches for roughly 15 takes. Then we sat around looking inspired and awed while she demo-ed a routine. (10 takes) Then we sat around looking thoughtful, confused and maybe slightly inspired and awed while she made a speech about how women should be independent (10 takes each for 2 speeches). The whole thing lasted frm about 9am - 2pm.
I've decided that being a movie star is not for me. And probably being a director/camera man/producer etc is also not for me.
Check out the movie trailer, and a Lijing demo reel: