STORY: Bridging cultures: Artistic journey of playwright He Jiping
SHOOTING TIME: April 24, 2024
DATELINE: May 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:39
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. file footage of He Jiping
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HE JIPING, Playwright
3. file footage of the show of The Top Restaurant
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): HE JIPING, Playwright
5. various of posters of films and TV series
6. file footage of the show of De Ling and Empress Dowager Ci Xi
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HE JIPING, Playwright

STORYLINE: 
Renowned Chinese playwright He Jiping has created works popular among audiences both in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland as she bridges cultures of her "two hometowns."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HE JIPING, Playwright
"If I'm said to have two representative works, one is The Top Restaurant, and the other is De Ling and Empress Dowager Ci Xi."

He Jiping's Beijing-based play, The Top Restaurant, premiered in 1988 at the Beijing People's Art Theater, achieved monumental success.

In 1989, to reunite with her family, He Jiping moved to Hong Kong. Film director Tsui Hark noticed her work in "The Top Restaurant" and invited her to collaborate on the film "New Dragon Gate Inn," marking her entry into Hong Kong's bustling film industry.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): HE JIPING, Playwright
"I had never written for film before, but when Tsui Hark approached me, I saw it as a great opportunity that I couldn't miss. Starting with this movie, I entered the commercial film industry in Hong Kong and embarked on eight years of writing for films and television."

He Jiping's works reflect a deep integration of her dual cultural influences. Her play De Ling and Empress Dowager Ci Xi juxtaposes a modern, educated Chinese woman with the historical figure of the Empress Dowager, blending contemporary and traditional themes in a narrative that has captivated audiences in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

In 1997, the play not only solidified her reputation in Hong Kong's theatrical scene but also became the first Hong Kong play to be performed at the National Grand Theatre in Beijing.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HE JIPING, Playwright
"I have two hometowns. One is Beijing and the other is Hong Kong. Beijing gave me the roots of Chinese culture, while Hong Kong offered me an international perspective."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)