Update #4: No Word from Ai Weiwei in 24 Hours
Hi everyone,
Just a brief Ai Weiwei update:
Ai Weiwei remains in detention twenty-four hours after being taken into custody at Beijing Capital Airport on the morning of April 3rd. His wife, Lu Qing, was taken into the local police station for questioning late last night, but has received no word about her husband. Meantime, all eight studio assistants have been released and continue to report a strong police presence around Ai’s studio compound. During their questioning, assistants were repeatedly asked about their salaries, size of the studio and visa status. Police also confiscated hundreds of objects from Ai’s studio, including computers, hard drives, CDs and notebooks. Four police officers remained at Ai’s studio until midnight on April 3rd hoping to interrogate other members of Ai’s staff. At 5:20 am in Beijing on April 4th, Ai’s lawyer Liu Xiaoyuan reported that Ai’s phone remained off and that he had been unable to locate the artist. Police returned to the studio Monday morning and have been stationed at the gate since 7 am.
Wen Tao, an activist and former journalist, was also arrested during yesterday’s raid. No one has been able to contact Wen in 24 hours.
For additional coverage: Time Magazine: Not Another Day in the Life of Ai Weiwei NYTimes: China Takes Dissident Artist into Custody HUM News: [REPORT] Noted Chinese Artist Detained at Beijing Airport, Studio Raided
We hope the next time we write with an update that we'll be the bearers of good news. Meantime, thank you, as always, for your generous and unfaltering support.
Alison
793
Backers
$52,175
pledged of $20,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 28, 2011.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Receive a digital download of the film when it becomes available.
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
Receive the DVD edition of the film when it becomes available.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Receive an official AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY t-shirt and a digital download of the film when it becomes available. Includes international shipping.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Receive a digital download of the film, an official AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY t-shirt and 10 snazzy, collectible NEVER SORRY buttons. Pictured at left and includes international shipping.
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
Receive a limited edition DVD set of Ai Weiwei films, which includes AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY, AI WEIWEI: NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHS and a limited edition run of a disc of NEVER SORRY deleted scenes bundled with an AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY t-shirt and collectible buttons.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Receive the tee, buttons, download, the NEVER SORRY DVD and two 8 x10 limited edition photographs of Ai Weiwei (edition of 20) signed by director Alison Klayman. We'll bundle all of these goodies in a chic NEVER SORRY tote bag and you will also get a special 'thank you' in the film's credits because we're very, very grateful.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Receive everything at the $500 level and two tickets to a private screening in New York or Los Angeles (transportation and lodging not included).
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
Receive everything at the $1000 level and 2 unique original hand-made porcelain sunflower seeds (packaging by the artist) from Ai Weiwei's Sunflower Seeds (2010), at the Tate Modern.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Receive everything from the $2500 level, plus the limited edition DVD set of Ai Weiwei films and two fine arts catalogs signed by Ai Weiwei as a thank you for being one of Alison's and Weiwei's biggest fans! You will also be listed in the credits as a member of the Producer's Circle and receive Producer Circle updates, mailings and bonus clips.
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
Alison Klayman is a freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker. While living in China from 2006 to 2010, Klayman produced radio and television feature stories for NPR’s “All Things Considered”, AP Television, Voice of America, and “As it Happens” on CBC. Her work has also appeared on Current TV and The New Yorker website.
Klayman did her own sound recording and camerawork for AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and graduated from Brown University in 2006.
Why are the old, fat, arrogant Chinese leaders such shits and why does the world put up with such ass holes, they exist in so many countries including ours-------it is time to end stupid, arrogant, selfish leaders in all countries. Where is compassion, kindness and caring? Where are government leaders that really care about people? End the Chinese terror....let us all support this great and wonderful voice in China. I and many of us stand with you!!!!
Theodore M. Crisell (Former Democratic Nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives.
I stand as a voice of one loudly opposed to the Chinese leaders that support such policies. What are you so afraid of? It is time for Freedom in China, not more fear. The old leaders will fall, their time has come, we must all stand up around the world to challenge the older leaders in every country that suppress people and voices for freedom. Let us join hands around the globe and see that this man is immediately set free. I send this message to the Chinese leaders....let this man go now..........you have been put on notice! Theodore M. Crisell
China is my homeland and I love my country. Ai Weiwei is a great man and a good person. He speaks out Chinese mind which most of the words are dared to be spoken out by other Chinese. Now He can't speak. I believe every Chinese should speak for him now. I want to ask a question to our government:" Where is Ai Weiwei?" I want to say "Free Ai Weiwei..........."