Italian luxury brand Prada has announced that director and actress Jia Ling is its new brand ambassador. From actress to director, Jia Ling has consistently been at the forefront of contemporary creativity.
With her consistent high-quality creative output, Jia Ling has become one of China’s most popular actresses. She has been active in films, television, and stage performances, appearing on the Spring Festival Gala seven times. In 2021, Jia Ling wrote, directed, and starred in her first film, “Hi, Mom,” which became the highest-grossing film globally by a female director. Recently, her film “YOLO” became the 2024 Chinese New Year box office champion.
The ambassador campaign for Jia Ling, shot by renowned fashion photographer Wang Ziqian, captures her as a creator through handheld photography and interview-style recording. She defies being confined by labels, focusing on creation and sharing her thoughts and perspectives with the public through various forms such as acting and storytelling. Her works often contain meticulous and thoughtful observations of society and life.
Additionally, Prada released a Q&A with the photographer and stylist involved in the campaign:
- How is Jia Ling different from your impression of her?Stylist: She has recently been staying by the seaside in Sanya, so her skin is tanned and looks very healthy and firm. It’s a very natural life texture. I initially thought a comedy director/actress might be overly quiet in private, but this contrast wasn’t evident in her. Overall, any preconceptions were dissolved by her easygoing and friendly aura, like meeting an old online friend in person.
Photographer: Her overall vibe and state are not much different from my impression of Jia Ling. But seeing her in person, face-to-face from the big screen, was still a shocking transformation.
- From a creator’s perspective, how do you want to present Jia Ling?Stylist: I want to use three distinctly different styles to represent Jia Ling’s different identities: a director with absolute box office influence, a “tough” figure sparking widespread social discussion, and a woman. I want her to appear powerful yet retain her feminine charm. Using well-tailored trench coats, little black dresses, and cardigans—very basic items—I aim to treat her impartially, without molding her into a spectacle, nor erasing her gender traits. I hope these styles will look fashionable and practical over time, suitable for movie festival posters, rather than sensational topic images.
Photographer: I want to present a “familiar” yet “new” Jia Ling to the audience.
- What was it like working with Jia Ling?Stylist: I felt she was very daring and willing to try, which gave collaborators strong confidence.
Photographer: On set, she often said, “You are more professional; you decide.” As a photographer, this complete trust from her made me feel very secure and good.
- What impressed you most on set?Stylist: There was a very fitted gown that might have been a style she had never tried before, but she looked great in it. We ended up choosing a photo of her laughing heartily, and her infectious laughter was genuine.
Photographer: There were many memorable moments on set. For instance, Jia Ling’s humor was very intelligent, making the tense shooting atmosphere very relaxed.
I genuinely liked her smile, which was friendly and confident, radiating very positive energy throughout the shoot.
｜Source: Official Press Release
｜Image Credit: Provided by the brand
｜Editor: LeZhi
