Educated

Educated was the first film I wrote, directed, and produced. It grew out of my own experiences and those of others in my generation, particularly the pressure to treat education as a route to material success. The story follows a student and tutor during a study session. As the tutor talks relentlessly about the necessity of good grades, the student remains silent, increasingly frustrated by his words, until she responds with violence. Through that unequal exchange, I wanted to examine the purpose of education, the responsibilities of educators, and the consequences of verbal violence.

Tonally and visually, I wanted the film to evoke a northern Chinese sensibility, drawing inspiration from the gray, desolate landscapes in Hu Bo’s films. As a student production, we had almost no budget and only one day to shoot. Creating the blood-splash effect was our biggest practical challenge.

I worked closely with the first assistant director, cinematographer, and SFX artist to achieve the blood-splash effect within our limited time and budget. Their help was essential to bringing that moment to the screen, and we wrapped successfully within our one-day schedule.