Revised Treatment - Isaac Rooks

We see the busy streets of Beijing. Huge skyscrapers line the streets, which are teeming with young people and businessmen. They move along with the streaming, noisy traffic. Among them is Mr. Zhang. Even in the crowd, he stands out in his loose fitting black clothes, his hair and beard wild and graying. The noise of the city builds and builds. Suddenly, we are in a very different location: a lush, green park. Music softly plays from loud speakers as Mr. Zhang gracefully moves through his form, his eyes almost closed. He is surrounded by students, who cast quick glances at him as they try to imitate his movements. Families walking through the park pause to admire his grace and skill. When the form is finished, Mr. Zhang’s body relaxes. The spell is broken. He turns to address his students. Although he seemed completely absorbed a moment ago, he was fully aware of what they were doing around him.
BAM! A leg smashes into the forearm of a large bald man who is protecting his head. As the leg recoils, the bald man lunges toward his opponent. We are now in a bright gymnasium, coldly lit by fluorescents. The two men circle each other in a ring surrounded by other young men, who shout encouragements and crane their heads for a better view. The two men lunge toward each other; they connect, grapple, and fall to the ground. They pause for an instant to gasp for air, before resuming their struggle. The movement lessens as the bald man gets his opponent in a tight hold; the shouts from the onlookers become more frantic. The bald man’s opponent taps the mat and the bald man leaps off, helping the loser to his feet. The two men bow and part. The defeated man looks very grim, but the victor grins from ear to ear. This is Vaughn. A few years ago he was a software engineer in Canada. Now he is a professional mixed martial artist.
Vaughn is just one of a number of interesting characters drawn from across the globe to compete in China. Others include Pedro, a Brazilian, and Hao Tian, a Mongolian. They are members of the international phenomenon known as MMA and they fight for fame in the same city where Mr. Zhang practices Yang style Tai Chi, a martial art whose origins date back to the 1800s. Tai Chi, like a number of Chinese martial arts, has become very internationally popular. However, as these martial arts have gone international, they have lost their cultural specificity – which is an essential element of Tai Chi. In an interesting turn of events, the international synthesis of these culturally bound martial arts, in the form of MMA, has come to China.
This documentary will explore the relationship and conflict between these two forms of martial arts: the traditional and culturally rich Tai Chi and the constantly evolving and international MMA. To better understand these forms, we will talk to and profile practitioners of the respective forms. We will try and get a sense of what drew them to, and what they get out of their respective styles. We will also see what they think of the alternative martial art being profiled.
The visuals will help delineate the two styles. The difference will not be glaringly obvious, but there will be a distinction. The Tai Chi footage will have warm color tones, while cool tones will predominate in the MMA material. The MMA footage will also be cut with a faster tempo as a rule. Another key element to this documentary will be the footage of Beijing itself. The city should be a character and we will strive to capture the diversity of the city, showcasing the new and old, the natural and the heavily industrialized.
The main focus will be on Mr. Zhang. Unlike the young MMA athletes, Mr. Zhang is a fairly unassuming presence. The documentary will introduce Mr. Zhang as he goes about his daily business, eventually introducing his Tai Chi and great strength. There will be a gradual process of introducing this character: setting up certain expectations, and then surprising with the truth. There will be a great deal of action in this film, of all kinds. There will be demonstrations of grace and control, and also quick, violent grappling.
The conclusion comes when these two sides are brought together. Until this point, they have been interviewed separately; now they are going to share a dinner at a restaurant owned by Mr. Zhang’s family. Mr. Zhang is surrounded by his colleagues. Across from him sit a number of young MMA stars. At first, neither side really addresses the other; they talk to their peers as though the others were not there. As the dinner wears on, however, the two sides loosen up and begin to talk to each other. The MMA athletes are skeptical about the real world application of Mr. Zhang’s techniques. They feel it is more of an exercise for the elderly. However, Mr. Zhang demonstrates to them that Tai Chi is actually a very powerful martial art. The MMA fighters are surprised to see examples of such great strength, speed, and skill coming from this older man. The tensions are forgotten as the two sides find their common ground in appreciation of the other style’s skill and merit.
This documentary will be unique because these two radically different styles would not often be linked and compared. The story needs to be told because it offers a fascinating glimpse at a large issue through a personal context. China is a country that is rapidly modernizing and becoming more international. This documentary will explore that evolution through the relationship of these different martial arts and the men who practice them. The project should resonate with young people, particularly young men, who will be able to view these practices in a whole new light.