Newswise — Restoring a classic Chinese silent film and recording it to DVD has preserved one of the era's premier films and acting icons, according to a Ball State University professor.
"The Goddess," starring Ruan Ling-yu, is a classic silent film that showcased the Chinese equivalent of Marilyn Monroe, said Richard Meyer, who directed the project at Ball State's Center for Media Design.
"People would throng to Ruan Ling-yu's movies," Meyer said. "Her popularity was equaled by the suffering in her personal life. By capturing the suffering of her fellow countrymen on film, she became a national symbol."
While staying in Taipei as a Fulbright Scholar in 1997 and serving as a Fellow of the Asian Cultural Council in Hong Kong in 2001, Meyer screened every available Chinese silent film. He was one of the first Americans to see these films.During subsequent visits he traveled to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Having unfettered access to the films and the support of Chinese archivists deepened his fondness for the country's silent films.
"'Silent' is the wrong word for these films," said Meyer, president emeritus of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. "Complete scores were written for each one using native instruments and singers. Because literacy was low, many Asian countries used narrators, too."
Meyer's mission became bringing the films to America and sharing Ruan Ling-yu with American audiences. These films were deteriorating quickly, so he decided that transferring them to DVD and having new music composed would be the best way to preserve the classic productions.
"Ruan Ling-yu made 29 films before committing suicide at the age of 24," Meyer said. "Her funeral was as big as an emperor's. Her films had such impact, and 'The Goddess' was considered to be the best of the era. This is the first of many that I hope to restore."
Meyer's students at Ball State benefited from his experience by learning how to preserve and transfer the delicate films to DVD. They also learned about composing and recording scores, thereby capturing a movie theater's audio ambiance.
Stanley Sollars, Ball State audio production professor and Indiana Public Radio personality, served as the director and recording engineer for "The Goddess." Kevin Purrone, pianist at the Ross School (East Hampton, N.Y.) and former Ball State music professor, composed and performed the score.
The DVD, which is available for $29.95 at http://www.silentfilm.org, has restored Chinese and English versions and a commentary highlighting the project and Ruan Ling-yu's career.
For more information, look for Meyer's biography on Ruan Ling-yu, which will be published by Hong Kong University Press in the next few months.
About Ball State University and the Center for Media DesignBall State University, located in Muncie, Ind., is the third-largest public university in Indiana, with more than 18,300 students. Originally a private teacher training school when it opened in 1899, Ball State became a university in 1965. The 1,035-acre residential campus in Delaware County is an hour's drive northeast of Indianapolis.
The Center for Media Design is a research and development facility focused on the creation, testing and practical application of digital technologies for business, classroom, home and community. The center is part of Ball State's iCommunication initiative, funded by a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
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