The Legend in My Heart // 我心传唱的诗歌

(Feature Documentary, 2016)

Director/DP/Editor

This documentary follows four renowned American artists—two writers, a choreographer, and a composer—as they travel to Guangzhou, China, and transcend governmental resistance by inspiring the integration of disabled and non-disabled communities through creative collaboration.

A Film by Kaitlyn Busbee // 凱特琳

Featuring: Christopher Merrill // 克里斯 Stephen Kuusisto // 史蒂芬 Michelle Pearson // 米雪兒 & David Gompper // 大衛

With an Original Score by David Gompper // 大衛

Translated by Ya-Chen Fu // 傅雅楨

Post-Production Visual Effects by Jacob Holland // 雅各

Special Thanks To: US Consulate in Guangzhou Kelly Bedeian Janice Englehart Natasa Durovicova Samantha Nissen Joseph Tiefenthaler University of Iowa School of Music Riverside Recital Hall and all the giving participants.

This film was created in collaboration with the US Department of Education and University of Iowa International Writing Program // 国际写作计划

Director’s Statement

The creation of this film was like no other experience I’ve had as a filmmaker. "The Legend in My Heart" was created in association with the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP). The IWP hosts approximately 30 different writers from 30 different countries each fall for a 3-month long residency program. Cultural diplomacy tours, such as the one featured within this film, allow the IWP to continue to forge and build relationships with countries around the world, which ultimately helps to expand and strengthen their program.

The International Writing Program reached out and hired me as the lone filmmaker for this journey. I was provided with enough funding for travel and lodging expenditures, as well as rental costs for a backpack full of camera gear. I encountered and overcame local governmental resistance and National security permissions obstacles, all amidst an atmosphere of unrest with the Hong Kong protests happening 114 miles away.

What I had planned to do was capture a diverse group of artists teaching cross-collaboration workshops to both the disabled and non-disabled populations within Guangzhou, hoping to bridge the gap for the often marginalized disabled population. What I ended up capturing was an exploration of the human spirit and the common thread that connects us all, sans countries, sans borders, sans differences.

Both the teaching artists and the participants walked away from the experience feeling liberated by the freedom that artistic creation can inspire. And I walked away with a little more hope in my heart for this world and its future.

Behind the scenes look at the editing timeline

Film Festivals

Universe Multicultural Film Festival - Winner Best Documentary
Wild Rose Independent Film Festival - Winner Best Documentary, Best Score
FilmScene in Iowa City - Special Premiere Screening
Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival
Iowa Independent Film Festival

Production Stills
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Behind the scenes stills from the score recording with featured artist and composer, David Gompper, directing members of the University of Iowa Department of Music.