Directors to capture 40 years of change

Thirty world-renowned documentary directors will come to cities and villages that symbolize China's reform and opening-up to catch on film the huge changes made over the last 40 years.

Some of the directors said it's vital to focus on the details of daily life in China in order to tell stories that will attract an audience.

The activity was organized by the State Council Information Office.

"This year is the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, which deeply affected not only China but the whole world," said Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

"It dovetailed with the Chinese yearning for a beautiful life and fulfilled the world's expectations about peaceful development," he said. "Many directors attending the activity are old friends of China, and I truly believe this activity will further promote friendship between China and the rest of the world."

The Chinese and foreign directors will visit places symbolic of the reform until Nov 20, including Shanghai's Pudong area; Shenzhen, Guangdong province; and Xiaogang village in Anhui province.

Abram Sitzer, director of original content at Discovery Networks Asia Pacific, thought it was incredible that China has maintained its rapid economic growth throughout the last 40 years. He also paid a lot of attention to the details of daily life when telling Chinese stories.

"Many people are interested - as am I - in details about how this change was possible, and what changes are taking place with the economic growth," he said. "People want to know what's happening from the perspective of first-person stories."

Malcolm Clarke, a famous UK filmmaker who has won an Academy Award for best documentary, preferred to focus on the people and reasons behind the achievements.

"Nobody cares about the fact that more bridges and roads are being built, but they care who built those bridges, roads and bullet trains," he said, adding that "1.4 billion people have 1.4 billion good stories, and I just want to find them".