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‘Sealed Off’ is a short film released in 2023 that is an adaptation from Eileen Zhang’s original story. Set in the 1930s during an unexpected air-raid lockdown, the story is about an accountant and a teacher who meet and quickly fall in love. With cinematography by Yichuan Huang and direction by John Jiang, we are honoured to have spoken to the pair to share the behind-the-scenes story of the film.
Director John Jiang first heard of Eileen Zhang’s short story through his grandmother, who was very fond of the writer. He describes talking with her about her experience growing up in Shanghai during the 1940s and 1950s, the period in which Sealed Off is set. Jiang was keen to re-tell the story with a modern twist.
The film was shot at Chedun Film Studio in Shanghai, the same location where ‘Lust, Caution’ was filmed. This location, says the director, is the only place where one can accurately represent the streets of Shanghai with a high degree of detail.
Jiang describes the story as being neither a past nor modern story; “its core is timeless, spanning different eras. I was thinking about what kind of visual effect could present a feeling of something distant, near and far.”
Cooke Anamorphic/i FF SF lenses were chosen for the film. “Cooke lenses have always been our first choice because they create a closer, warmer feeling. This is why I chose to use Cooke lenses with a large full-frame camera, especially the anamorphic series, which balances this feel while capturing the old Shanghai scenes. The final film is sharp, realistic also having the sense of distance. These lenses use modern techniques to interpret a vintage visual effect.”
«The Anamorphic SF lenses left a deep impression on me. I believe these lenses greatly helped with the stylization and characteristics of the film. The inherent widescreen effect allows for a broader view without distortion, which helps immerse our audience into the era in the film.»
Huang discussed some challenges they faced whilst filming. He recalls the train compartment scene. “Our lead actors were all sitting a single corridor, making it difficult to move the camera. Even handheld shots were inconvenient in the tight space. The Anamorphic/i FF 1.8x Macro 85mm lenses, allowed me to stay close to the actors in this confined space, capturing their performances effectively.”
Jiang agreed with the cinematographer, remarking that without the Cooke Anamorphic/i FF 1.8x Macro 85mm lens, “it would have been impossible to shoot in such a space. We would have had to disassemble part of the train.” The director shared some further insights on his experience using these lenses.
“The human eye’s vision is equivalent to 30-50mm focal length. The widescreen effect allows us to use a shorter focal length while maintaining a broader perspective, creating an intimate visual effect without losing any field of view. This way, we can achieve a sense of closeness while still capturing the breadth of the city or era. Cooke lenses are excellent at rendering skin tones, which is crucial for portraying the intimacy between characters. To truly convey the closeness between the two characters, it’s essential to capture the most realistic, warm, and delicate skin tones.”
The start of the film is in black and white which is then transitioned to colour, then to more intense colours and then back to black and white. Jiang states that the colours represent the relationship between the two characters. “Black and white usually depict them in a state of separation. As the colours become more intense, their relationship grows closer. It’s a story that comes full circle, starting and ending in black and white, with the most intense colours at the climax, symbolizing their relationship. The colour transitions also help the audience feel like they are entering and then leaving a distant era.”
Yichuan Huang concludes our conversation with his overall experience using the lenses. “In my opinion, Cooke lenses are particularly suitable for the southern regions. The humid and warm environment offers a unique experience. When depicting intimate relationships, family ties, or humanistic subjects, Cooke lenses are an excellent choice.”
It was a pleasure speaking with John Jiang and Yichuan Huang, thank you for your kind words.
