After Class

After Class began as an assignment for a documentary workshop exploring the many sides of the Chinese dream. Around that time, the theatre society at my university was preparing a production of Mr. Donkey. I was drawn to how seriously the students took it, even though the show had nothing to do with their grades or future careers. Conversations about Chinese students often focus on academic achievement, and I wanted to capture another part of their lives: finding something they loved and putting their hearts into it together.

This was one of the first projects I filmed with my own Sony DV camera, and I felt super excited behind it. I hadn’t developed many fixed ideas about filmmaking yet, which left me free to follow my curiosity and capture what was there. The students were so absorbed in rehearsals that they barely noticed me. I still remember one scene where they helped each other stitch costumes and fabric for the set while practicing their lines. Around them, the director and sound technicians adjusted the microphones, actors rehearsed their movements and reactions, and four or five students worked together to move a large table into place. I loved the life in that room—everyone busy with their own task, all working toward the same show.

Looking back, I’ve grown more attached to After Class despite its imperfections. What stays with me is the students’ enthusiasm and the care they put into everything, from costumes and makeup to lighting and sound. They wanted to make a good show for an audience of fellow students, and I still find that shared commitment moving. I’m glad the film preserves a little of their time together. More than anything, I love it because my subjects shine through simply by being themselves.