Director Zhang Yimou

Zhang Yimou was born in Xian, China, in 1950. He attended school there but the Cultural Revolution quickly postponed his schooling. He began to work at a mill, but was very interested in photography and pursued it as a hobby. When he heard of the Beijing Film Academy he quickly applied and was enrolled but later rejected because he was 5 years too old. After writing letters to the Director asking to be let in, he was finally accepted and went on to work as a cinematographer on films such as One and the Eight, Yellow Earth, and The Big Parade. He then went on to become a director with his debut film Red Sorghum.