We spoke w/ ChangCanDunk writer-director Jingyi Shao about joining the canon of DisneyPlus sports films, his inspirations, and making a film for his younger self.
There’s nothing quite like a feel-good sports film. Their stories can inspire even the most unathletic of us, teaching us that our dreams are possible and that we can reach them if we just try hard enough.
JINGYI SHAO: I mean, it's surreal. I mean, I don't know if I'll be able to accept it until the premiere when it's going to be at Disney Studios. I'm going to sit in the theater that Walt Disney used to watch dailies in. And even when I was editing, we had to drop in the asset of the castle. And every time it would play, I would cheese, you know what I mean? Because I'm like, "I can't believe it." I mean, Disney films shape culture because kids watch it.
SHAO: I think structurally, I looked quite a bit at Karate Kid. What I really love about Karate Kid is that it's a teenage coming-of-age story, but there's also a lot of heart. That relationship between Mr. Miyagi and his disciple is…there's a lot of real emotional weight in that. There's a lot of sadness, some darker aspects, and it's part of the story.
Eventually I realized that my parents were loving me the best that they could, and they were giving me a lot of lessons that have shown up in later parts of my life. And I hope that with this film, younger versions of me can watch this and know and see more clearly how their parents are loving them and taking care of them and helping them grow in ways that maybe aren't as obvious, because it hasn't been seen in film and television as much, if that makes sense.
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