Director Jia Zhangke has finished shooting his new documentary movie Wu Yong, or literally, Useless, which features famous Chinese female fashion designer Ma Ke and her brand name, Wu Yong.

The movie tells about how the designer launched her third label Wu Yong and took it to the Fall/Winter 2007 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show in Paris.

Jia Zhangke, who also directed Still Life, went with his team to Fenyang, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Paris over five months to document the birth of the fashion brand. The Golden Lion award winning director says he couldn't wait to edit the 60 hours of raw material into an 80-minute film.

It's the second time the director has put the life of an artist on the big screen. Jia says shooting the movie was also a process which he opened his mind.

He says it's an interesting thing to record an artist's life and work. There always are some in the world who are far-sighted and are sensitive to ordinary things in our everyday life. To him, it's a delightful experience to share thoughts with those persons.

Ma Ke is an acclaimed fashion designer in China, who had successfully launched her brands "Mixmind" and "Exception" in the past ten years.

She is known for her silent, organic and reflexive clothing which are creative and experimental in shape. 

(CRI July 14, 2007)