Invisible War: An Interview with YIWEN CAO

Please tell us about the projects you worked on before making ‘Invisible War’. How did you start, and how did you learn to make films?

Before making 'Invisible War', I made a short film '"Release" Nuclear Contaminated Water', which won the Best Film of Cannes International Film Festival's Animation Day. And both are AI films. You know that AI technology is developing very fast. So you can regard these films as some special recordings, to show how AI influenced films in past years. And AI is a very cost-efficient way to make films. I hope more and more new filmmakers, especially young people can seize this opportunity to express themselves and break monopoly.

Tell us about ‘Invisible War’. How do you describe it?

It's quite abstract and with lots of indication. Though most of people's lives in this world looks peace, there are lots of invisible spirits or power are try their best to fight for protecting the earth planet, even sacrificing themselves. We shouldn't just want to take advantage of the world for satisfying selfishness. We should feel grateful and limit our exaggerating desires.

Please tell us about your favorite filmmakers.

The creator of ‘The Man From Earth’, Jerome Bixby. He is an impressive Sci-Fi author. And also his son, Emerson Bixby, who is the screenwriter of this film and the director. And people who contributed to this film like the director Richard Schenkman and the producer Eric D. Wilkinson. They made a meaningful film to this world. Appreciate it!

If you were given a good budget, what would be your ideal project?

Actually, I have prepared a feminism suspense for around 8 years. I want to direct it by myself because I’m the one who knows what spirit this film needs to convey. And it will have a good power for helping audience who suffer a lot to heal themselves. But I haven't found the suitable producer and I rejected people who just want to buy the screenplay many times. I'm still waiting for people who indeed know the mental and social value of this film. And I will try my best to finish this film if I was given a good budget. It’s not my personal dream, it’ more about individuals’ missions and big love.

Describe how you would ensure that production is on schedule. What steps would you take?

I'm the kind of person who pays attention of efficiency and likes to consider almost everything before shooting. Thus, I try to push myself to finish every part I need to handle ASAP. And for those parts that I need other's help, I also accompany and take care of others to finish their jobs. And I'm used to work from preparation section to very last part of a program, to make sure that everything could be under control.

What was the hardest part of making ‘Invisible War’.

Time. Since I wanted to make a new film to screen on 2024 Venice International Film Festival's Animation Day, at that time, the applying deadline was very close. And though I could use my last short film, I wanted audience to see new things. Thus, I pushed myself to make this short film in several days.

If possible, tell us about your next work. What plans do you have for your future work?

Though I made some AI films, my wish is to finish the feminism suspense, which I referred in above answers. That film is not a traditional social stereotype feminism film, and I believe it will heal lots of people, not only women, but also men. I wish I could have enough budgets and supports to finish this plan, just like burning my life to give a big gift to this wounded world.