Feature Film ‘Silver Screen Dreams’ Premieres in Australia

Feature Film ‘Silver Screen Dreams’ Premieres in Australia
Paul Fletcher, the shadow arts minister, attended "Silver Screen Dreams" premier in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 6, 2022. (Xu Shengkun /The Epoch Times).
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Silver Screen Dreams, the latest feature-length art film by New Century Films, premiered in Sydney on Nov. 6.

Paul Fletcher MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Arts, Government Services, and the Digital Economy, met with the production team before the premiere, thanking them for coming to Australia and saying that the film illustrates a “timeless, universal message” of “human themes.”

Set in the performing arts industry in mainland China, Silver Screen Dreams tells the story of Lin Meiyue, an actress who is traumatized and disillusioned by the fame and profit-oriented industry. In the midst of her despair, she is saved by her faith, dissolves her resentment with compassion, and regains a new life.

Fletcher said the character who suffers adversity chooses to forgive those who hurt her before, expressing “universal human themes”.

“Forgiveness is a value that is celebrated by every one of the world’s great religions, and there’s a good reason for that,” he said. “It is a timeless message, a universal message, forgiveness, compassion.”

New Century Films' latest feature art film "Silver Screen Dreams" premiered in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 6, 2022. The picture shows Paul Fletcher, the shadow arts minister, with the cast. (Xu Shengkun /The Epoch Times).
New Century Films' latest feature art film "Silver Screen Dreams" premiered in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 6, 2022. The picture shows Paul Fletcher, the shadow arts minister, with the cast. (Xu Shengkun /The Epoch Times).

“Bringing such a story to life through the power of film, through the power of the screen, as is done in this movie Silver Screen Dreams… I think is performing a great service. I’m sure that audiences will not only very much enjoy a compelling story, but we‘ll learn, and we’ll take away some valuable lessons.”

Winner of 12 awards and nominations at international film festivals, Silver Screen Dreams was produced by North America-based New Century Films, which has produced over 40 films since its foundation in 2018.

Fletcher, who served as art minister in the Morrison administration, said he worked with many filmmakers and that filmmaking takes a lot of time, money, and creative focus.

“It’s very demanding and very draining for everybody involved, so to be producing this many films, as New Century Films has done, I think that’s quite a remarkable achievement,” he said.

Lead Actresses: Good Actors Have Moral and Artistic Qualities

Alyssa Zheng, who plays Guo Xinyu in the film and Leah Feng, who plays Lin Meiyue, won awards for best actress at Canada Alternative Film Festival and American Golden Picture International Film Festival, respectively. They both said that truly good actors should have both moral and artistic qualities.
Alyssa Zheng played Guo Xinyu in Silver Screen Dreams. (Xu Shengkun /The Epoch Times)
Alyssa Zheng played Guo Xinyu in Silver Screen Dreams. Xu Shengkun /The Epoch Times

“An actor should not only have good skills, but also good moral character,” said Alyssa Zheng.

Zheng, who played an actress in the film, said she felt from the character that a good performance “must be a manifestation of pure truth, pure goodness, and pure beauty”.

She shared her experience of filming that “in order to bring good, positive messages to the audience, the actors themselves should have such qualities” because “external expressions only cannot move people.”

“Art is endless, so I keep encouraging myself to be a humble person who keeps trying to learn, to be better and purer in all aspects,” she said.

Leah Feng said that a good actor “should not only improve herself in terms of skills but also in terms of character” so that she can really “pass on positive energy and goodness to the audience”.

Leah Feng played Lin Meiyue in Silver Screen Dreams. (Xu Shengkun /The Epoch Times)
Leah Feng played Lin Meiyue in Silver Screen Dreams. Xu Shengkun /The Epoch Times

Audience Moved To Tears

The two consecutive screenings of the film in Australia deeply touched the audience.

Robert Balzola, a solicitor, said that he was moved to tears by the kindness of the actress in the film.

“At the very end of the movie, towards the ultimate climax, the reconciliation,” he said. “That point, where the tide turns through forbearance and forgiveness at that critical moment; What was an openly hostile, irreconcilably hostile situation is broken.”

“100 percent performance. I can’t fault it,” he praised the actress. “She made me cry, and I don’t [usually] cry. I was very taken by it.”

Solicitor Robert Balzola attended the premiere. (Xu Shengkun/The Epoch Times).
Solicitor Robert Balzola attended the premiere. (Xu Shengkun/The Epoch Times).

TV Broadcaster: Never Give Up Dreams

Davy Nguyen, the executive producer and director for HeyYa TV, a Sydney-based media company, said that Silver Screen Dreams sends “a very good message” out: “never give up on your dreams.”

As a TV and radio presenter, Nguyen said that the film is “very touching” and “very empowering.”

“A lot of people should watch this movie to be able to see that no matter what life throws at you, don’t give up on hope,” he said.

“What’s so empowering about the story at the end, she forgives,” he continued. “I think that is a very empowering message. Sometimes a lot of people do things that upset us or hurt [us], but the power of forgiveness is so powerful.”

“That’s something I took away from this movie today. It’s an amazing film.”

TV and radio presenter Davy Nguyen attended the premiere. (Xu Shengkun/The Epoch Times).
TV and radio presenter Davy Nguyen attended the premiere. (Xu Shengkun/The Epoch Times).

After the premiere of the film, eight members of the cast and crew, who flew from Canada to Australia, attended an audience meeting, posing for photos and sharing a dinner party with the audience.

Silver Screen Dreams has had its world premiere in Vancouver, Canada; Los Angeles, California; Middletown, New York; and Brooklyn, New York.
Wen Qingyang, NTD reporter Phillipe Wang and Isabel Wang contributed to the report. 
Cindy Li
Cindy Li
Author
Cindy Li is an Australia-based writer for The Epoch Times focusing on China-related topics. Contact Cindy at [email protected]
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