Bringing New Life to In Spite of the Sun with Editor Andy Shen
Andy Shen (aka Xiaoyao Shen) understands just how hard filmmaking is. Yes, he’s earned a number of recognitions from the film community for his editing work (International Independent Film Awards Gold Winner for Editing, Best Editing at the Crown Wood International Film Festival, Best Editing at the Independent Shorts Awards) which confirm his talent but he’s mostly focused on being a part of a community of artists who, like himself, are striving to craft stories that inspire and inform the audience. Shen’s reputation as a master crafter of these tales often leads other artists to enlist him when the completion of a film seems almost unattainable. Yubo Wang was nearly hopeless about the finalization of his upcoming documentary release In Pursuit of the Sun and asked Andy to lend his skill to the production. When the focus of this documentary had suddenly stopped the filming, it was up to Shen to resurrect the hopeful tale into a sensible and complete form. You’ll have to wait for the official release of In Pursuit of the Sun to see the full story but Shen gives some inside info on his work which brought the upcoming documentary to fruition.
It’s impossible to know how many productions have been derailed and doomed to languish in in some nonexistent state due to unforeseen complications. Consult anyone in the film and television community and they’ll confirm as much. One a number of occasions, Andy Shen has been called in to use his exemplary skillset to breathe life into a film. When the protagonist and central figure of the documentary In Pursuit of the Sun and the film’s directory reached an apex of contention, filming was halted. Even though the shoot recommenced, Director Yubo Wang knew that he lacked the objectivity to tell the story correctly; resulting in his search for the most proficient of editors to bring a true and fair tone to it. Shen stipulates, “I knew Yubo’s experience and opinion of what happened and what the problems were. We decided together that I would review the footage and decide for myself what the truth and prominent message was. Much to the director’s credit, he wanted me to cut a version according to my own perception and view instead of the filmmakers who were involved in the argument. It was something like being a filmmaking forensic editor.”
In Pursuit of the Sun tells the story of BingBing Li, a man on a journey traversing the United States to spread his ideas of how to attain a peaceful soul and existence. Focusing on the first ten days of his travels, we learn why he is undertaking such a radical life and witnessing the challenges it brings him. Though BingBing wants to connect others to a more fulfilling way of living, in doing so he brings a substantial disconnect from the comforts most of us build our lives upon. This is clearly illustrated in one scene which Andy has edited to maximize the sense of separation Li feels speaking to a store attendant through a glass window. Structuring the action so at to make the lack of contact palpable, this edit defines the increasing separation that is overtaking Li’s world. Shen’s juxtaposition of scenes from BingBing’s first day packing of his things (while dancing) against his quiet solace as he folds clothes in a tent during his travels perfectly connects the ideas of what he hopes “will be” and the reality of what this life has become. As with much of the film, Andy’s precise and sensitive tailoring of the story pulls each scene into focus as much as any lens used in the actual filming.
Andy Shen is careful to make it clear that everyone involved with creating In Pursuit of the Sun, from the man on-screen to everyone on the production team, are passionate people who care deeply about giving their best. There are bound to be conflicts when such strong feelings. For his part, Shen relates, “I’m very pleased to be a part of creating this film and proud of the message it conveys. I’ve built a great professional relationship with the director and the ultimate message of the film is not about conflict but instead one of family and multiple generations.”
