Cinematographer Yihuan Zhang Documents a Meditative Monk’s Healing Journey into the Prison System

Film Cinematographer (DP) Yihuan Zhang appreciates the documentary form for being “spontaneous and uncontrollable, and for focusing on authentic stories.” Indeed, the documentary movies Yihuan has worked on as a DP have appeared in international film festivals across the globe from LA Shorts and the World Culture Film Festival, to the Prague Film Festival and the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. These films and shorts include The Blessing in Disguise, Beautiful Dreams, and China's Fight against COVID-19.

While China-born Yihuan enjoys the challenges of working the cameras and lighting on scripted dramas, like One Tree Inn, he was totally inspired by one recent documentary project, On the Road with Dhama, because it took him inside the California Prison system. His goal for his film, where he acted as both director and cinematographer, is to “offer a different perspective on life and inspire people in their own journeys.”

Imagine if you will—filming a Monk amidst lifers

The documentary follows De Hong, a man who suffered a pattern of physical and verbal abuse as a teenager back in his former home in Vietnam. After arriving in the US, Zhang documents that De Hong, now a monk, found the principle that offers compassion for people who have hurt you, enabling you to free your mind of anger and resentment. Wanting to break the pattern of abuse of many incarcerated people including men and women, De Hong the monk began teaching meditation in California prisons, and the documentary explores what motivates him to practice in such a way.

DP Yihuan Zhang suggests, “The only message I hope people take away from this work is one of peace. I didn’t consciously think about the message during the production process; I was simply interested in De Hong’s story and wanted to understand why he chose to meditate inside California prisons. I began with that simple idea. Now that the work is complete and audiences can view it, I believe the message is not solely mine to dictate. Each viewer will interpret the film in their own way and form their own beliefs.”

The challenge of being both director and DP

Acting in both capacities would normally be a challenge but Yihuan found the dual responsibilities to complement each other, saying: “It felt very natural for me to take on both the director and DP roles for this project. When I started, my intention was to stay close to the monk and follow him on his journey. I initially envisioned this as a ‘road’ movie, even though the final product didn't quite match my initial image due to several factors including the limited time for production. I imagined traveling with him extensively, filming many scenes in the car, and capturing numerous conversations along the way. This is why I decided to handle both roles myself, hopefully making it easier for me to travel alongside him.”

The best laid plans of mice and men

Indeed, poet Robert Burns once wrote about how the most carefully planned plans can turn out differently than expected. During the filming of this documentary, Yihuan explains: “The biggest challenge was maintaining my focus on both listening and observing. When I operate the camera, my attention tends to be on the monitor, which can sometimes cause me to miss important moments happening outside the frame or the words he speaks. This could lead to difficulties in following my subject (the monk De Hong) movements or missing out on key points in our conversation, which might be more significant than the visuals. For instance, while filming him share stories with incarcerated individuals, he would sometimes show me artwork he received from them. If I wasn’t fully attentive to his words, I might forget to shift the camera from his face to his hands as he held the artwork or to pan to where he was pointing. Although I could always return to film the artwork later, I felt I had missed the emotional weight of those moments. However, I believe that filming him as he shared his stories in the car helped me connect with him more deeply. I think he appreciated having someone there to talk to. Since it was just the two of us, he was able to be more open and relaxed while sharing his experiences. I was particularly glad when he talked about his father during our drive. In other words, doing both roles allowed me to stay close to him and create a more intimate environment for storytelling.”

Overcoming permits and paperwork on “Road to Dharma”

The documentary almost didn’t make it to filming, as Yihuan says obtaining a permit to shoot inside the prisons was incredibly challenging. He recalls, “We tried for months, and just as we were about to give up, we received a response from CIW in Chino, thanks in part to the help of my mentor. This gave us the opportunity to film there. Once we secured our permit, everything actually went quite smoothly. On the day of our shoot, we arrived around noon, went through security and paperwork, set up our lighting, and then waited for the meditation sessions to begin. What we found interesting was that the older inmates seemed less concerned about being filmed, while many of the younger ones were much more apprehensive. One young woman even wore sunglasses during the meditation session. On the other hand, an older lady shared a deeply touching story about her relationship with her daughter, which we included in the final cut of our film.”

How films can inspire the filmmaker

His journey is inspiring, not only because he helps others but also due to his own struggles. He has dedicated half of his life to healing from his past suffering. I’ve come to realize that people can change, but it is a long and difficult process that requires not only individual effort but also support from others. So, if you ask me what I find fulfilling about telling his story, I would say it’s the lessons I've learned from him, and my desire to share a piece of that knowledge with others.

Cinematographer Yihuan Zhang is working on two new feature documentaries—"One More Dance” & “You Tell Me How to Live.” Check out Yihuan Zhang on IMDb, and on Instagram.