<h5>If one day in the future we talk to future generations about the unforgettable memories of fighting COVID-19, documentaries must be the best tool. </h5>
In 2020, "Ryan's Safety Journal" became popular, and achieved dazzling playback on foreign social platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, as well as on mainstream domestic platforms such as Learning Powerhouse. Among them, the episode of "Telecommuting" reproduced by CGTN alone has more than 200,000 views per article. Ryan's eight episodes of the "Ryan's Peace Journal" series posted on his personal Weibo account have been played more than 1.74 million times. But the discussion behind this work may be more valuable than the data.
The documentary series' author, James Ryan Nolton, is an ordinary American who works and lives in China. He taught at Changsha University. On Weibo, netizens affectionately called him "Uncle Bearded". He used the popular Vlog format to share China under the COVID-19 epidemic with the global audience.
After the release of "Ryan's Peace Journal", a series of praise poured in: "A country that does not forget friends is a decent country." "If I were a Chinese citizen, I would feel safe and confident." The country went to great lengths to ensure that its citizens were taken care of. On the B station, a netizen even issued such an exclamation: "I actually learned a lot about China that I did not know about a foreign friend." ”
As a university foreign language teacher who has been in China for three years, Ryan has a deep interest and affection for China, and he likes this ancient land and friendly people. However, many countries wear colored glasses on the new crown epidemic that China has encountered, and whenever he sees some slander or rumors on social media, he will have a bold idea flashing in his heart - it is better to use the camera in his hand to shoot the real China and tell the world what China really is.
Therefore, Ryan calmly and objectively recorded everything in front of his eyes through the first perspective: the daily protection of the epidemic, the fun of remote work, Vulcan Mountain Hospital, the warm moments of international mutual help... There are no grand scenes, nor are they well-known characters. His shots are all human fireworks of chai rice oil and salt, and the subway stations in Beijing and the farmers' markets in the community have become his material. But it is this real power that connects the scenes of warm anti-epidemic pictures and outlines the anti-epidemic heroes who have stepped forward one by one.
Ryan quoted a statement from Bruce Aylward, the head of the World Health Organization's expedition: "If I have COVID-19, I want to receive treatment in China. We went to visit a hospital in China and asked how many artificial lung systems there are? There are 5 of them replying. There are 5 units in a hospital? We don't have that much in europe as a whole. ”
In the cruel situation of the global pandemic of the new crown epidemic, in the face of the malicious speculation of some politicians in the West and the false reports of a few media, Ryan and his "Ryan's Safety Journal" may become a glimmer of light, lighting up the power of reality and transmitting the right values, and it may become a typical - foreigners can also tell the Chinese story.
"As long as everyone can unite and overcome the difficulties together, they will eventually win this war without smoke." At the end of the documentary, Ryan said. In his eyes, instead of bluntly telling the world what China really is, it is better to vividly present China from the perspective of ordinary people. That's the power of documentary, and that's the voice Ryan delivers through his work.
In 2021, Ryan once again launched "Ryan's Safety Journal Post-Epidemic Era Interview", the battle between humanity and the new crown epidemic continues, and the story of Ryan and China continues to move forward.
On October 19, during the World Forum on Chinese Studies, a reporter from the Morning News chatted with Ryan.
Here's what the Morning News reporter had with Ryan:
<h2>"After the epidemic is over, I want my parents to come to China</h2>."
Q Morning News: Why did you come up with the idea that your previous work was more like a Vlog work, documenting China from a first-person perspective?
A Ryan: I started Vlogging because I was bored during the pandemic, and my family kept asking me about the same safety issues, and resources at the time could only do one thing like that.
Fortunately, this eventually became a job, and many media outlets reached out to me for cooperation. I also went on to do some more serious documentaries.
I'm excited and enjoy doing documentaries. Because, with a mobile phone, you can go to shoot, and your expression is also very free. In order to shoot the documentary, I recently went to Sanxingdui in Sichuan and some rural areas to shoot, and these experiences were very interesting to me.
Photo caption: Ryan
Q Morning News: What changes have been made to your work and life since Ryan's Ping An Journal became popular, and how does your family view the things you have done in China?
A Ryan: I think the biggest change is that I'm sitting here and giving interviews now, which was unimaginable two years ago. Through the documentary, I saw what Chinese were looking for.
I am very happy to see that Chinese netizens like my work very much and have left a lot of comments. I found that Chinese netizens are particularly fond of understanding how foreigners view China. Through the production of "Ryan's Safety Journal", I learned that Chinese netizens have such a demand.
Photo caption: Ryan became popular on overseas social media
As for my family, my mom is a talker, my dad has always been very supportive of me, loves anything I do, and wants my career to be more progressive. They laughed when they learned that a lot of the media interviewed me.
My friends didn't support me coming to China at first, and they thought I wouldn't be able to stick with it, but I've been in China for four years before I know it. My parents wanted to see my life in China for themselves, but unfortunately they couldn't come because of the epidemic.
If the epidemic is over, the first thing I want to do is bring my parents to see China.
Q Morning News: As you mentioned, Chinese would like to see foreigners' views on China, so how do you personally view this issue?
A Ryan: Given my cursory knowledge of Chinese history, I noticed that historically China has been good at learning from the advanced culture of the West, which is different from Americans, who think they are perfect. Of course, I love my country very much, but I also know very well that the United States also has a lot of problems.
Now, the communication of information between the world is very convenient, and I think people are more interested in the views on an issue from different perspectives. Instead of seeking recognition, for example, people pay attention to me, maybe they just want to know what this foreigner thinks.
Photo caption: Stills from Ryan's Peace Journal
<h2>"I am very grateful for the decision I made to China</h2>."
Q Morning News: After photographing so many people and places, you are also very familiar with China. Can you use a few key words to describe what you see as China?
A Ryan: The first is "big", I have gone to many places in China, but I have only seen a very small part of China, and there are still many places that have not been; the second is "enthusiasm", Chinese very hospitable to foreigners, the first city I went to When I came to China was Changsha, the enthusiasm of the people of Changsha also impressed me; the third is "change", I have only been in China for four years, but the changes in China that I have witnessed are very rapid.
As an American, I have cherished the "American Dream" since I was a child, but now I believe more in the "Chinese Dream". I am grateful for the decision I made to Go to China.
Q Morning News: Because of the epidemic, the vast majority of Chinese cannot go abroad and see the outside world. I'm curious, what would you think about travel in the context of COVID-19?
A Ryan: I hope that overseas travel can become a achievable event in the near future. Now, I'm also pushing for an Affordable Travel project.
I think it's travel that shapes us. I also came to China because I like to travel, in fact, it takes thirty hours to travel from my hometown to China. Today, I and everyone look forward to an end to the pandemic as soon as possible so we can travel as we please.
Q Morning News: I noticed that you recently filmed a documentary related to the post-epidemic era, what are your next shooting plans? Can you talk about what you think of as the "post-pandemic era"?
A Ryan: I just finished a work on the theme of "Centenary of the Founding of the Party" with a video website, and I also interviewed all walks of life, such as the artificial intelligence industry, and recorded their lives.
My next project is mainly to document life after the epidemic, such as the newly opened Universal Studios in Beijing, and some factories. It's also about my imagination of China. COVID-19 isn't over yet, but Life Goes On!
Source: Thoughtful