In the process of jade carving, some raw jade have been put into bin before beginning the work. However, XU Kai refuses to abandon those imperfect materials of jade, but revives them through creative designs, just like a doctor serving for his patients. Thus XU is named as “the surgeon of jade”.

About the Filmmaker

Submitted by ZHANG Tao

In college years, Zhang Tao had great interest in creating short dramma scripts, then he entered into the industry of film and television as a director and playwright. In 2016, Zhang joined Ergeng’s “More Suzhou” team, and shot dozens of short documentary films, such as “The centurial bathhouse” (《百年澡堂》), “Old thing” (《老东西》), “A one-year waiting” (《一年等一回》), “On the splendid opera costumes” (《锦绣戏衣、十指春风》), “The magic folding fan” (《秘扇》) and “The surgeon for jades” (《玉医》).

As a director, Zhang Tao has gained great recognition in Suzhou. He is good at adding the narrating style with his personal characteristics in films, through which he is capable to show the real psychological activities of filmed people. In terms of interpersonal communication, Zhang has a special and smart way of interviewing and is strong at digging out the deeper stories of filmed target people. Born in a literary family, Zhang is obessed with taking some contents such as humanity and folk beiraft as the theme and using his point of view and ordinary citizens’ stories to tell more about Suzhou City and China to make more people around the world notice the profound humanity, beautiful landscape and attractive folk custom and tradition through the platform of “More Suzhou”.

Filmmaker’s Website: http://www.ergengtv.com/

张涛， 导演、编剧。大学期间因热衷于短剧本创作，随后进入影视行业，2016年进入二更更苏州团队，先后拍摄《百年澡堂》《老东西》《一年等一回》《锦绣戏衣、十指春风》《秘扇》《玉医》等数十部短纪录片。

作为导演在苏州获得了较多肯定，擅长在影片中加入特有的叙事风格，并以此反映拍摄对象的真实心理活动。在与人物沟通上具有独有的刁钻访问法，善于挖掘拍摄对象更深层次的故事。作为一个出生在文学家庭的导演，钟爱以人文情怀和民间手工艺作为题材，用自己独特的视角看世界，以点带面，通过小人物的故事来讲诉苏州、讲诉中国，让更多的人通过更苏州看到苏州的人文、地理、民俗、情怀。