On the evening of 26 October 2022, Professor Zhang Yan of Beijing Normal University was invited to give a lecture to the teachers and students of Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA). The topic of her lecture was "Reflections on the Development of Chinese Film in the Context of Building a Film Power". The lecture was jointly held by STA’s Dramatic Literature Department, Playwriting Research Centre and Graduate School. Professor Chen Jun, dean of the Dramatic Literature Department, presided over the lecture. Almost 100 teachers and students listened to the lecture online.
Professor Zhang Yan is the secretary-general of the Teaching Steering Committee of Theatre, Film and Television Majors under the Ministry of Education, and a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Arts and Media of Beijing Normal University. She is also the executive director of the Asian and Chinese Film Research Centre of Beijing Normal University, the executive director and secretary-general of the Hong Kong Film Committee of the China Taiwan Film Research Association, the deputy secretary-general of the Film and Television Association of Chinese Universities, a national-level leading radio, television and network audio-visual talent, and a Beijing municipal-level leading radio, television and network audiovisual talent. Some of her specialized areas include Asian film research and film industry research etc.
Professor Zhang Yan's lecture was problem-oriented, that was, how to enhance Chinese film in the context of a building a film power? The lecture rolled out in four aspects. First of all, Professor Zhang Yan showed us the trend and status quo of the development of Chinese film since the new century. Secondly, Professor Zhang Yan analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of the development of Chinese film in comparison with the United States, the only film power in the world at present. Thirdly, Professor Zhang Yan established an evaluation index system for a world film power with reference to a variety of evaluation systems. Finally, Professor Zhang Yan proposed four paths for China to become a world film power.
After the lecture, Professor Zhang Yan provided lively and wonderful answers to questions raised by the students about screenplay creation, adaptation of online literatures into movies etc, from which the students benefited greatly. Professor Chen Jun pointed out that China's rise is not only in economic and military aspects, but also in taking up responsibility in cultural aspect, and that cultural research is very necessary for film research.
