Hello everyone,

I'm an Australian independent director, I am now working on a documentary about a unique kite form, Chinese Kinetic Kites, which is fading away due to lack of attention in the society.
The purpose of this documentary is to raise attention in the society and find someone who is willing to pass on this unique technique.
Chinese kinetic kites has been recognized as an national intangible heritage, however, no one in China is willing to pass on the skills. The only person who can create exquisite kinetic kites is now 77 years old, trying to find a proper apprentice who is really willing to learn the skills.
More information about this project and the kites can be found on my Kickstarter project page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1747407323/kite-zhangs-...

It has been very hard to work on my own with this project, I would really like to get your help and spread the news of this project to a wider base of audience.
If you find it interesting, please consider sharing it, it'll really help the situation of kinetic kites.
Thank you very much!

You're off and running! I just watched your teaser and made what looks like the first pledge. I look forward to seeing the film later this year.

Now, about the kites... WOW! These are spectacular. I would love to see these in person, both on the ground up close as well as up in the sky in all their glory. A most interesting gentleman to boot. His kids are everything we seem to see these days, a real shame.

To think this gentleman was forbidden to pursue his passion and art form in the 1960's; shameful.

Good luck!

Thank you sooooooo much!!! Your first pledge really means a lot to me, I just launched the project today and it's the first time I've reached out for help publicly for this project. I would definitely finish this project no matter how.

Best of luck Nathan! Good call putting this on the Power Kite Forum.

I might suggest (assuming you haven't already done so) searching out other forums and blogs related to wind energy, kite flying, aviation, model airplanes, ballooning, etc. There are lots of folks around that have a love of all things wind and flight.

This is the only forum of this sort I belong to, but I suspect others on PKF know of others they may be able to direct you to.

Thanks for the suggestion swesting. I'll do some research and see what I can find.

The skills shown are simply mind blowing, the attention to detail and imagination, for sure this is something that should not be allowed to fade away!
Although it pains me to say this: there are many kite flying groups on facebook that would be worth a try.

Fascinating! I've reposted the article on extremekites.com.au. Lots of kiters in your area, Nathan.

beautiful

loving the intimate quality and uniqueness of all things made solely by human hand.

it is when we are in contact with our virtual self it is realized through the hands.....the man is in contact folks!

I found it kind of disappointing that he is having such a hard time finding someone to carry on the craft, and when Nathan asked the young people why the craft shouldn't be allowed to disappear, they couldn't think of one. They refuse to see the value of a craft that can't be scaled up to Ali-Baba proportions, even though it will be a part of their culture that dies off.

Truly amazing craftsmanship.
I would definitely call those "flying art".
Wow.

Quote: Originally posted by bobalooie57

I found it kind of disappointing that he is having such a hard time finding someone to carry on the craft, and when Nathan asked the young people why the craft shouldn't be allowed to disappear, they couldn't think of one. They refuse to see the value of a craft that can't be scaled up to Ali-Baba proportions, even though it will be a part of their culture that dies off.

the impatient world will be lost without true craftsman once the batteries go dead and machine cries for new parts and the skill to maintain them is in there empty hands and fumbled by their hollow minds, not knowing how man came to create the machines that is now its dead master.

@Pheerider - very Randian of you... I like it!

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

The skills shown are simply mind blowing, the attention to detail and imagination, for sure this is something that should not be allowed to fade away! Although it pains me to say this: there are many kite flying groups on facebook that would be worth a try.

Thank you bigE, I have tried facebook groups yesterday and lots of people were interested!

Quote: Originally posted by PHREERIDER

Quote: Originally posted by bobalooie57   I found it kind of disappointing that he is having such a hard time finding someone to carry on the craft, and when Nathan asked the young people why the craft shouldn't be allowed to disappear, they couldn't think of one. They refuse to see the value of a craft that can't be scaled up to Ali-Baba proportions, even though it will be a part of their culture that dies off. the impatient world will be lost without true craftsman once the batteries go dead and machine cries for new parts and the skill to maintain them is in there empty hands and fumbled by their hollow minds, not knowing how man came to create the machines that is now its dead master.

all your words mean a lot to Zhang, he would be really happy if he hear what you've said. I feel very sad when I was interviewing him because no one in the society can understand him, but you guys really do.

Nathan,

I can hardly speak for the PKF community, but many "wind people" strike me as thinkers and ponderers. For sports that involve big kites like the ones we are into (read: obsessed with) there are many aspects to consider, lots that involve a decent understanding of mechanics, aerodynamics, form and function of different materials, weather conditions, etc. As such, "nerds" are often attracted to these sports as a hobby. Hey, I'm one for sure, and anyway you should never laugh at the nerds because some day you'll be working for one (thank you very much Bill G).

What strikes me as beautiful about both the gentleman in your film as well as his craft is the intricate blend of form and function all wrapped up in strikingly beautiful artwork that actually "works". Throw in the fact that his command of mechanics and aerodynamics has to be off the charts, not to mention his PATIENCE.

Now the fact that folks don't get him in modern day China is regretfully far more a reflection on them than him. Joni Mitchell said it better than I ever could "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone. You pave paradise and put up a parking lot". Short term "sugar buzz" from an electronic gizmo while slunched on the coach or deep, rich long lasting thinking and accomplishment at the workbench. Takes a far keener mind to do the latter, a mind that accepts that all things truly great take great and sustained effort and that life not lived that way is perhaps not quite really living.

Wax on, wax off. Good luck with all this Nathan; I've got a lot of respect for you to be doing this.

Quote: Originally posted by swesting

@Pheerider - very Randian of you... I like it! “Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.” ― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

cool , i am not well read and don't know Ayn....or perhaps i do.

any way, Zhang!----> champion