Last night, a gathering of top international creative talents took place at the MGM Theater in Macau, kicking off the thematic seminar and global recruitment ceremony for “MGM 2049”. The distinguished guests included: Chairman and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, Pansy Ho, internationally renowned Chinese director and the Artistic Director of “MGM 2049” Zhang Yimou, Music Director and crossover musician for “MGM 2049” Wu Tong, Dance Director and resident choreographer at the Hong Kong City Contemporary Dance Company for “MGM 2049” Sangjiaga, Visual Director and independent visual designer Dominic Faraway, and Underwater Cinematography Director and underwater filming expert for “MGM 2049” Bernard Prentice, inaugurating this grand cultural and tourism event!
“MGM 2049” Residency Show
“MGM 2049” is the first resident mega production in the Greater Bay Area personally directed by Zhang Yimou, featuring a top-notch creative team that combines technology and innovative performance styles to reinterpret traditional Chinese culture and break the boundaries of the stage. Director Zhang describes this as his challenge, an art performance rarely seen globally. This resident show is a tribute to the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China and the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland, contributing to the new high-quality development stage of Macau’s cultural performance arts.
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From “Dialogue · Fable 2047” to “MGM 2049”
But when it comes to inheritance, it inevitably brings to mind Zhang Yimou’s previous work “Dialogue · Fable 2047“.
“Dialogue. Fable 2047” is a brand new conceptual performance directed by Zhang Yimou, with the theme of the relationship between humanity and technology, creating a stage play that combines tradition and modernity. Through a mix of visual appeal, entertainment, and thoughtfulness, this art form presents the confusion that humans face when confronted with the rapid development of technology. It combines artistic beauty, philosophical reflections, and the latest technological implications, offering the audience a visually stunning and spectacular viewing experience.
The “2047” in the name represents the future, and the creators also show an attitude—they use the latest technology from around the world to give traditional, nearly lost arts a new form of expression, making them a more powerful and vibrant inheritance, while guiding people to reflect.
Audiences who have seen the previous work may have experienced a kind of aesthetic shock and a freshness that subverts past viewing experiences. As for this “MGM 2049”, while it cannot be revealed too much, director Zhang Yimou mentioned, “From ‘Dialogue·Fable 2047’ to ‘MGM 2049’, it’s like an upgraded version of the previous work, and as a residency show, it is a very bold idea and decision, presenting a performance with 8 segments, 8 sets of traditional culture, and 8 sets of modern technology colliding to bring out many unique feelings. Besides the different elements, there are also things that couldn’t be realized in the previous works, serving as this completely new, original part. The effect is very unique, it needs everyone to experience personally.”
Youth and Youthfulness
Of course, when it comes to inheritance, an important aspect is undoubtedly related to people. “I feel that today’s audience is no longer satisfied with just watching entertainment-oriented interactions or performances, and the market has become more diversified, especially with the broadening of young people’s needs,” said director Zhang Yimou.
Heritage needs people, especially the younger generation, so it emphasizes the charm that attracts young people. Art cannot remain unchanged, nor can it be confined to museums only. Therefore, creativity and innovative development are necessary. “Young people need to understand, care for, and pass on, so that Chinese culture can continue to flourish. Art also needs to evolve and diversify to enter people’s hearts, reach the young, resonate with them, which constitutes real and good art.”
Later, he further conveyed to the young people: “When engaging in art, persistence is key, especially in today’s internet era. In fact, holding onto dreams is the most challenging. The more information overload and interconnectedness there is, the harder it is to stay true to oneself. And all of us standing on stage, visible to everyone, are the result of perseverance.”
Future
Is technology a friend or an enemy? Perhaps no one can answer this question definitively today, but at least we have the space to think and reflect.
Left: Renowned Chinese director and Chief Director of “MGM 2049”, Zhang Yimou
At the intersection of high technology and comprehensive aesthetics at MGM Theater, guests on stage and audiences off stage collide in thoughts to explore the Eastern creative trends of the performance. This residency show has been transformed into a base that integrates cultural heritage, talent cultivation, and promotes Macao’s diversified development. Bringing a market-exclusive stage show to Macao, it also focuses on cultural tourism and stage creation to enhance Macao’s performing arts industry’s international competitiveness. Therefore, MGM will launch a “Global Recruitment Kickoff Ceremony” to recruit talents on stage and behind the scenes, together creating and illuminating Macao as the “Capital of Performing Arts.”
Director Zhang Yimou mentioned, “Today, Macau as the ‘Capital of International Performing Arts’ carries the historic mission of heritage and innovation. We have chosen Macau as the creative venue for this performance, hoping to utilize its international tourism platform and gateway advantage to further expand the window of Chinese culture internationally. ‘MGM 2049’ will adhere to an international perspective, the fusion of Eastern creativity, and future aesthetics, utilizing technology as a global technical language, reinforcing the confidence of the Chinese nation, and allowing the world to fall in love with China.”
Looking forward to “MGM 2049” to debut at the MGM Theater in December!
