China pilot tv programme

The Olympics have gone and the pollution is back. Beijing at its best?! I love visiting this town but the smog and air filth drives me nuts. The Ocean Vista Films team has been producing a half hour business programme for global broadcast giant Bloomberg, in Mandarin. The programme focuses on modern china's successful new breed of businessmen. Our choice for this pilot programme was Lui Da Di, a fascinating creative genius who owns a string of restaurants (including Beijing's first Japanese eateries), who races trucks across the desert and has helped kick start the local art scene here. He designs all his restaurants from the ground up, including the menus and their ingredients. He also runs a community art house  supporting local artists and was the first Chinese to race in the tough Paris to Dakar Rally. He has a laid back view on life, never wears a suit and doesn't care much for flash cars - very unusual for a Chinese businessman. His passion is his big Man rally truck, which he uses to explore China and Tibet. It's the first time I've directed a full Mandarin-speaking documentary and I must say, my lack of linguistic skills in this area has proven a real headache. Directing and editing when you don't understand fully what's being said (or whether its been said well!) is a slow and painful process and my producer/translator is probably as worn out as I am. Luckily, my local team has been patient and we've put together an interesting story on a fascinating man. It will screen for the first time at the upcoming Beijing Film Festival.