Blog
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SCEN China Youth Summit
Here’s another event Michael is doing, this time in Scotland! To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of SCEN (Scotland China Education Network), on Friday 2nd December, Michael will be doing a talk about The Story of China at the SCEN China Youth Summit! Michael will discuss his recent 6-part history documentary series on the history of China, accompanied by clips from the show. Where? The Pentland Auditorium, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE. When? 10am-3pm Event and Refreshments free. Please book with Judith McClure: judithmcclure12a@aol.com For more information, see the link here -
Recording a music track for ‘Story of China’.
A little behind the scenes action. Celebrated opera singer Hermione Wu joins our composer Howard Davidson to record a poem written by Li Qingzhao, an 11th Century poet for the Story of China soundtrack. Li Qingzhao was traveling to Dong Lai, where her husband had just taken a new official post. She was around 38 years of age. Penglai is a magical island where immortals live. Here’s the translation of the poem, ‘A Farewell Letter to my Sisters’ Tears stain my silk robe with rouge and powder, as the song of farewell is repeated, thousands of times over. I’m told the going is hard over these endless ranges of mountains that block the view. In my lonely lodge I listen… -
Michael Wood Receives award from the Al-Khoei Foundation
We’re very pleased to say that Michael Wood received a special award on Saturday from the Al-Khoei Foundation, on the occasion of the international conference in London to mark the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. The Al-Khoei Foundation are a UN affiliated Muslim charity devoted to interfaith dialogue and human rights work, with whom Maya Vision has had long connections going back to our multi-award winning film Saddam’s Killing Fields (Saddam’s Latest War in the US). They were also kind enough to lend us a beautiful location in the US whist we were filming for our series ‘Sacred Journeys’. -
Sacred Journeys wins a Christopher Award!
Congratulations to Team Sacred Journeys for another well-deserved award. The Christopher Awards honour books, movies, and television that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.” The committee selected our film that tells the story of American wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan who travel to France to bathe in the sacred waters of Lourdes. We share this with Lourdes Volunteers, Leo Eaton, Anisa Mehdi, WGBH and especially the men and women who shared their story with us. Thank you. Your heroism and service have inspired us all. -
Philip Taylor 1967 – 2015
Philip Taylor passed away suddenly and very unexpectedly on 27th March whilst editing our latest film on the poetess, Sappho. We had only known Philip for 6 weeks but in that time, he had become an integral part of the Maya Vision team and we are all deeply shocked and saddened by his passing. Philip was always cheerful, friendly and made time to help, teach and offer advice to everyone in the office on all aspects of life. Philip was interested in everything – from the latest technical developments in the TV world to how to make the best healthiest drink (sweet potato, carrot and ginger apparently!) which he generously shared with all of us. Quite apart from his renowned… -
Chris Collins 1962 – 2014
Of all the people working in the British film industry that started their careers at Maya Vision perhaps the most significant was Chris Collins, Senior Development and Production Executive with the BFI Film Fund. So it was with great sadness we learned that Chris passed away at the beginning of November.Chris joined Maya Vision in the late 80s as a production assistant quickly rising to producer and helping shape Maya Vision along the way. By ’96 Chris had moved on to become a Development and Production Executive at the BFI and later worked at the UK Film Council, with Film Four and BBC Films. It’s testimony to Chris’s talents and personality that so many filmmakers have contributed their professional and… -
Getting our priorities right
Everyone knows that film crews need coffee but not necessarily what it takes to get a caffeine fix in some locations. Here Mick, our soundman, brews up on top of an ancient mound from the Shang Dynasty, 1600 BC watched carefully by Michael. -
Yellow River filming
Filming on a pontoon bridge on the Yellow River. This was actually a rare sunny day with blue skies, sadly not caught on this camera! We were very fortunate as the bridge was undergoing maintenance work so the only noise was from a queue of trucks waiting patiently for it to reopen. -
Michael marvels at the size of the planets in China
while the locals get on with their shopping under the night sky, forests, umbrellas and snow trees. This shopping mall is in Xi’an, one of the oldest cities in China, and the location of the capital during the Han, Sui and Tang, several of China’s greatest dynasties. -
Bored with being a TV presenter….
Michael is a hit as the new TEFL teacher in China! Michael visited this school at the site of the tomb of Du Fu, one of China’s best loved poets. The pupils showed Michael around and shared their enthusiasm for eighth century verse, and their pride in the super-hero poet linked to their own home town.