Categories
Making Documentaries Making Documentaries

Into The Shaolin Documentary Film

Into the Shaolin Documentary showing in film festivals worldwide.

Working Title: The Heart of Shaolin

Shaolin Temple February 5, Lunar New Year

The Into the Shaolin, a feature length documentary, is finished production at Shaolin Temple in China. Shaolin is the birthplace of Kung Fu and Ch’an Buddhism, a cultural mecca for many followers in China and around the world. The documentary is directed by Hongyun Sun of Beijing Film Academy in China. The documentary is being screened in film festivals worldwide.

The Into the Shaolin Story

Within the ancient monastery and daily rituals, Into the Shaolin documentary delves into the unknown personal experiences of modern monks and others at Shaolin Temple. In today’s world, where the Internet plays so a large a role, the connection between the monks of Shaolin and the outside world has changed. There are new conflicts and resolutions concerning traditional customs, Chinese Ch’an (Zen is a branch of Ch’an outside China), love, fame, fortune and Kung Fu practice.

Xiao Shami

Heng Kun’s father died at a young age. His mother remarried keeping his younger brother and sending young Heng Kun to Shaolin Temple to study. He became Xiao Shami, excellent at Kung Fu with the Shaolin Temple Wushu Group. The Internet brought him Into contact with his mother, who he misses. He loves his life at Shaolin but wants to explore the outside world and possibly reconnect with his mother and brother.


Shi Yanzi and Marta Neskovic

Shi Yanzi, a Shaolin Temple farmer, was born in 1978. He has been the head of the Shaolin Temple Wushu Regiment. Master Yanzi actively practices a style of farming meditation at Shaolin Temple. He organically combined farming and Ch’an culture. Four, of the brothers and sisters in Yanzi’s family, followed him to Shaolin.  Shi Yanzi, Ch’an cultivates the 800 acres at Shaolin Temple year round.  He has strong notions about Ch’an Buddhism and farming.

Marta Neskovic, a 26 year old doctoral student from the University of Belgrade in Serbia studies at Shaolin Temple. She dresses in gray garments like the monks and students. She practices Kung Fu, learns Ch’an Buddhism and Chinese language. At the same time she is working on her thesis. Marta’s story is one of adjusting to life at Shaolin and also keeping in tune with her family and friends.

Shi Yanzhuang

Shi Yanzhuang, is general coach of the Washu group at Shaolin. His martial arts, Wei Zhen Shaolin, and his performances have been praised many times globally. His philosophy brings Ch’an practice to the external performance of Kung Fu.

Some monks at Shaolin are orphans who find there way to the temple.

Shi Yanyong

“Who am I?” Shi Yanyong does not know his birthday, has no parents, does not know his exact age. At ten, he followed a Taoist priest from Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to Shaolin Temple, where the priest abandoned him. He grew up at Shaolin. Encouraged by the Abbot, he accomplished many things from Kung Fu and meditation to poetry and living in the mountains. His life and search for identity are part of story of Into the Shaolin.

These Shaolin residents and others, have unique stories to tell about their lives at Shaolin. They relate what it means to them, the conflicts, struggles and who they are now.   These compelling, interweaving stories reveal much about contemporary life today at Shaolin Temple. Set against the pallet of culture and history of Shaolin Temple they paint a vivid picture few have seen.