七天 Seven Days

Wanqi Yu

Seven Days | Trailer | 2021

Logline

Two roommates find connection in unlikely circumstances.


Artist Statement 

Seven Days is a narrative film about family and friendship. It is based on my shared living experience with my high school friend several years ago. Although we are not living in the same country anymore, we are still spiritual support for each other. Around the world, there are a lot of international students like me. Most of us go abroad alone while our parents stay in their home country. Every day we miss our parents and loved ones back home. Apart from homesickness, the biggest fear for us is not being able to return to see our loved ones after an emergency. My work explores the relationship between two roommates who are international students living in Canada.


Behind the Story

The production has been two days in early December with one day of pickups. Under lockdown in COVID-19, writing a script for this particular situation has been challenging. I have changed my script entirely after I chose to shoot at home to decrease the risk index. Additionally under lockdown, all the actors’ auditions have been online, a new challenge for people in front of and behind the camera.

The idea of the film originates from my homesick as a student studying abroad and my empathy towards a friend who has a similar background: she is unable to visit her sick relatives back in her home country. I have been living by myself for three years in a foreign country, therefore want to inject the sentimental insight in my film based on my personal experience. I believe this work reflects the real life of shared-living international students, and I hope it can resonate with people.


Production Credits

Cast

Cali | Menglei Liu

Kayla | Jingyi Hua

Mom | Jing Shi

Crew

Director | Wanqi Yu

Producer | Wanqi Yu

Camera Operator | Xinrong Wang

Camera Assistant | Xiaohua Liang

Editor | Wanqi Yu

Sound Mixer | Nanxi Feng

Makeup | Xiaotong Ye

Re-recording Mixer | Doug Paterson

Special Thanks

Carlito Ghioni, Danvid Feng Liang, Harry Killas, Lindsay McIntyre

Rafi Spivak, Shanjun Yu, Siqi Yang, Zhiyun Zhang


Produced at Emily Carr University of Art + Design © Wanqi Yu 2021

Wanqi Yu

I'm seeking opportunities
Contact Me
Wanqi Yu is originally from Beijing, China, where her lifelong passion for filmmaking and photography took hold. She has a Bachelor of Media Arts degree in Film + Screen Arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Among the different genres of films Yu has tried out over the last three years, she prefers making short narratives about the subject of human relationships: friendship, love and family. Her passion in producing and directing has earned her opportunities to intern for the Crazy8s Film Program as a production assistant.
Profile image of Wanqi Yu