“I don’t think there is a clear direction for the industry in China,” says the 30-year-old humbly in Mandarin during an exclusive interview with Moviexclusive.com.

Ying was in Singapore with his producer-cum-partner Peng Shan recently to promote his second film The Other Half, which was screened at the 20th Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF). Sitting comfortably at the couches in the SIFF Secretariat in Singapore Management University, he tells us about what he thinks of the situation in his homeland.

“If you give in to the studio system, you’d be restricted in many ways. I don’t have any wild fantasies of making it big with the China filmmaking scene.

“I believe in being responsible to my own work,” Ying adds firmly.

After screening his debut film Taking Father Home at last year’s SIFF, Ying is back with his sophomore effort, which tells the story of a troubled woman who works in a law firm as a transcriber. The Sichuan-shot picture is interspersed with real-life stories of common-folk. The multi-talented man serves as the director, screenwriter, editor and art director for the film.

When asked about how Ying was able to tell women’s stories so wonderfully, Peng interjects jokingly: “He is a Shanghai man, and it’s in his blood!”

This is the first time the filmmaking duo is visiting Singapore. They did not miss the opportunity to visit places like Clarke Quay, Bugis Village and the Esplanade.

Recalling how our very own filmmaker Tan Pin Pin brought them around the island, Ying laughs fondly: “Pin Pin brought us to the East Coast Beach, and we think it’s beautiful!”

The couple first caught Tan’s Singapore Gaga (2005) at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, and was impressed by how vibrant our Lion City is. Their impressions were confirmed during their short trip here.

Ying’s praises our countrymen: “We are pleasantly surprised how we didn’t feel like we were in a foreign country. Everyone here is just as friendly and earnest, like the people we know back home.”

While the modest Ying seems pleasant and accommodating, he is sure of his future filmmaking visions.