Director for Documentary “The Way of a Confucian”

We are seeking a gifted, experienced documentary director with a refined artistic sensibility and exceptional storytelling ability to craft a compelling narrative for a 90-minute film.

Synopsis:


Since 2002, KongYangborn in 1969 in Jilin City, China has been articulating the metaphysical depth of Confucianism, and he has been doing so for over twenty-three years. How should one pursue the spiritual path in life? Looking back through history, the wisdom of Confucius—”To hear the Way in the morning and die in the evening”—has already provided us with the answer. In the early 2000s, as the internet was just beginning to develop in Mainland China, KongYang started teaching Confucianism online. After recovering from a serious illness, his teaching style shifted, with a greater focus on “gongfu” (self-cultivation). Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye. In 2024, Mr. Kong launched the “Rituals in Action” program, and the students truly began to change—one by one, Confucians rose up. “The Way of a Confucian” is no longer just KongYang’s journey; it has become the path of thousands of Confucians.

Previous trailer: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/umUm1pj9tryzhKWA2XypXg

KongYang said

“Since my master’s studies, I have been exposed to the religions of the world. Therefore, my understanding and perspective on the development of Confucianism have always been connected with the world’s religions. My view of Western religions is open — even appreciative — though, from today’s standpoint, I also see certain shortcomings. I believe that the metaphysical dimension (as found in world religions) should be brought forward on a global level. This universal metaphysics, I believe, is what we refer to when we speak of a unity running through the realms of the metaphysical, the physical, and the practical — including what we see today in AI. This, I feel, is our true path.”

Aboud KongYang:

Since high school, KongYang has shown a passion for traditional Chinese culture, especially for transcendental beliefs. After college, he had entered a budda temple to practice, and gradually explore the path of faith. Later, following different professors, systematically studied the classics of Confucianism, and became the academic descendant of Ma Yifu and Chi’en Mu, two prominent Confucian masters in modern China.

Qualifications:

1. Ability to craft a compelling narrative structure for a 90-minute documentary, drawing from over 220 hours of footage and a detailed character profile of Mr. KongYang, ensuring the film embodies both spiritual depth and artistic excellence.
2. Previous experience in editing documentaries or feature-length film/videos
3. A genuine interest in metaphysical topics, faith, or any religion — or a personal background in a belief system.
4. Proven capability to manage and work with a large volume of raw footage and audio, including extensive Mandarin dialogue and specialized terminology related to Confucianism.
5.  Some familiarity with Confucianism and Chinese classics (Guoxue), ideally with prior research experience.
6. Basic knowledge of Mandarin is preferred. If you are not fluent, you should be comfortable using AI tools to interpret the material or collaborating closely with our Mandarin-speaking team (there are a few people who can speak English in the team).
7. Strong ability to work independently and to structure a compelling story from existing footage and character profiles.
8. Capacity to collaborate effectively across time zones, including with team members based in mainland China. Working remotely is acceptable.
9. Excellent communication skills, as the production process will involve frequent and detailed discussions.
10. If you also edit your own work, or if you have a trusted editor you collaborate with regularly, please mention this in your cover letter.

Materials:
Over 220 hours of footage (including multiple camera angles).
Duration: 70-90 minutes.

RATE: Around $10000-18000 (Ideally, the project would be completed within 3–4 months, but due to the large volume of material, it may take as long as 6–8 months. The timeline will depend on the director’s and editor’s capabilities and pace). Negotiable if you have a huge passion and ability for this project.

We expect the story to be engaging, with clear pacing, and possess a global perspective. This is a creative-forward role with room for editorial input and shaping the story.

Interested candidates should reach out Aiming Song ([email protected]) with:

• A resume
• A link to your reel or previous work
• A cover letter
  • We would like to learn more about you. Please address the following questions in your cover letter:
    1. Why do you believe you are well-suited to direct this documentary?
    2. Why you have interest in our project?
    3. Do you have any beliefs you’d like to share? Feel free to skip the question if you’re not comfortable discussing it.
    4. Do you have any knowledge or experience with Confucianism or traditional Chinese culture (Guoxue)?