On the afternoon of May 27, an expert observation and seminar on the mental health film “Say Good Morning to Me” was held in Beijing. More than a dozen experts from the film, education and psychology fields, local government leaders of the production company and the film’s creative team gathered together to discuss the film’s story, characters, artistic value and practical significance. The experts at the meeting believed that the film was novel in subject matter, approached major issues from a small incision, was sincere and touching, and provided new ideas for the creation of films of this type, with strong practical significance and humanistic care. At the same time, some optimization suggestions were also put forward.
The film “Say Good Morning to Me” is directed by young director Sun Jia. It focuses on the mental health issues of teenagers and tells the story of the heroine Xia Chuzheng who suffers from depression and once wanted to commit suicide. However, during a collective sketching trip to the mountains by teachers and students, she gradually came out of the shadow with the help of her classmates and achieved psychological healing. The film will be released nationwide in late June.
Rao Shuguang: An attempt with great social significance
At the beginning of the meeting, Rao Shuguang, President of the Chinese Film Critics Society, delivered a speech. He pointed out that in today’s society, mental health issues are increasingly receiving attention, and the mental health of college students cannot be ignored. As a form of popular image art and a powerful communication medium, movies have unique advantages in reflecting social reality and triggering public thinking. “Good Morning to Me” focuses on the theme of college students’ mental health. It is courageous and wise. It is an attempt with great social significance and is valuable. I hope that through the artistic expression of the film, more people will pay attention to the mental health issues of college students.
Afterwards, Cui Yanjie, member of the Standing Committee of the Yuci District Committee and Minister of Propaganda of Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, delivered a speech. As the government leader of the location of Shanxi Yirong Culture Media Co., Ltd., the first producer of the film, he said that college students’ mental health is an important issue. The film “Say Good Morning to Me” directly faces this issue from an artistic perspective. It is not only a positive response to social pain points, but also a deep care for the youth group. It is not only a film and television work, but also a wake-up call to the soul of society and a beam of light that illuminates psychological difficulties. Yuci District attaches great importance to the development of the film and television cultural industry and fully supports this film work that carries a sense of social responsibility.
During the creative sharing session, the film’s producer, vice president of the Beijing Film Academy and dean of the China Animation Research Institute Sun Lijun, the first producer Shanxi Yirong Culture Media Co., Ltd. Chairman Zhang Yongjian, the film’s director and screenwriter Sun Jia, the starring actors Shang Xiaoyi, Bai Xiaoou, Xu Huanhuan, and art director Chang Kai spoke one after another, introducing the film’s original intention, shooting and production, artistic appeal and behind-the-scenes footage.
“Good Morning to Me” Director Sun Jia
Filling the gap in movies about adolescent mental health
During the discussion, the experts at the meeting conducted a professional analysis of the film from multiple dimensions. In terms of artistic expression, the experts affirmed the film’s delicate lens language and bold and creative narrative techniques. In terms of social significance, everyone agreed that “Good Morning to Me” fills part of the gap in films on the theme of adolescent mental health and has important practical significance. The film truly reflects the psychological problems that college students may encounter in academic pressure, family conflicts and self-identity crises, which can arouse the audience’s emotional resonance and enhance the public’s attention to adolescent mental health issues. In addition, the experts also made some optimization suggestions for the film. The main creative team listened carefully to the experts’ suggestions and expressed their gratitude.
The successful holding of this expert observation seminar is not only a comprehensive “diagnosis” of the film, but also marks an important advancement of the film from the creative stage to the stage of social value transformation. Through the in-depth discussion and exchanges of experts, all parties involved reached a consensus: mental health-themed films have strong social and realistic significance and humanistic care spirit. “Good Morning to Me” is a valuable attempt and a realistic medium-cost film with depth and warmth.
The seminar was hosted by the Chinese Film Critics Society. The seminar was attended by Rao Shuguang, President of the Chinese Film Critics Society, Jiao Hongfen, Chairman of the China Film Producers Association, Huang Qunfei, Executive Vice President of China Film Distribution Co., Ltd., Huangfu Yichuan, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of Contemporary Film Magazine, Zhao Weifang, Director of the Institute of Film and Television of the Chinese Academy of Arts, Zhang Wei, Executive Vice President of the Chinese Film Critics Society, Wang Haizhou, Dean of the Graduate School of the Beijing Film Academy and Distinguished Professor of the “Changjiang Scholar” program of the Ministry of Education, Li Chunli, Editorial Coordinator and Senior Editor of the Literature and Art Department of Guangming Daily, Wang Chun, Director of the Internet Information Office of the Film Art Center of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Hu Jianli, Secretary General of the Chinese Film Critics Society, Ji Zhiwei, former Secretary of the Party Committee of the Beijing Film Academy and Vice Chairman of the Art Education Committee of the China Adult Education Society, Hu Peicheng, former Director of the Medical Psychology Teaching and Research Section of the Peking University Health Science Center and an expert in psychological counseling and treatment, and Chen Dongmei, a senior teacher at the Second Affiliated High School of Beijing Normal University. 13 experts attended the meeting and expressed their wonderful views.
Xinhuo Cinema｜Academic screening and creative exchange event preview of the film "Say Good Morning to Me"