Nanfu Wang Takes One DSLR into the Heart of China's Human Rights Issues with 'Hooligan Sparrow'

In a place where government officials regularly coerce sex from minors without reproach, Hooligan Sparrow is a rare glimpse into the lives and work of the few brave human rights activists who risk their lives to protect the rights of women in China. We caught up with Nanfu at Sundance 2016 to talk about the inception of the project, shooting with very minimal equipment and constantly evading secret police.

And finally, Nanfu's advice to first time filmmakers:

I think for a lot of people who want to make films, the hardest thing is to start. They always have an idea, but probably aren't confident because they don't have money or equipment or are afraid of failure. So my advice would be to just go ahead and do it with the equipment you have — even if it's just a cell phone — and have the determination to finish it with or without money. No matter what.

For more, see our complete coverage of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

No Film School's video and editorial coverage of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival is sponsored by Blackmagic Design.