Balance of the Five Elements
5 part TV series for ZDF Arte and theatrical documentary “Balance of the Five Elements”. A co-production of NZ/Germany and China, with research, writing and editorial by Marilyn McFadyen. Balance of the Five Elements explores a philosophy so rich and complex, so deeply rooted in thousands of years of Chinese history that even our Chinese colleagues were learning alongside us. These ideas are explored and simplified into theories of change and interconnected webs of existence commonly understood by people of many cultures – for worldwide consumption. Beautifully filmed by Kiwi cinematographer Mike Single , inspired by the film Baraka, and Chinese design principles of balance and visual symmetry