Taiwan Film Projects Seek Overseas Audiences, Adaptation to Sector Challenges: ‘We Need to Think International Before We Start Shooting’

As a movie buff with over three decades of immersion in the world of cinema, I find it invigorating to witness the innovative strategies Taiwanese filmmakers are employing to carve out a niche in the international marketplace. The dual-location thriller approach and adapting popular romantic novels for cross-cultural productions seem particularly promising.


One option for creating a more competitive position for Taiwanese films on the global stage involves translating and adapting an existing English-language script into a bilingual, dual-location thriller. Additionally, taking a previously popular romance novel and partially filming it in the U.K. could also contribute to this goal.

On Wednesday, two strategies were presented during a panel discussion at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest, titled ‘Where is the bright future for TW film?’ The discussion featured acclaimed director Nelson Yeh (‘Night Market Hero’), U.S.-based director Weiko Lin, and Taiwanese actress and screenwriter Herb Hsu (‘Untold Herstory’).

Throughout the meeting, the group discussed several hurdles encountered by the Taiwanese film industry. These obstacles ranged from audience distraction due to short video clips, insufficient backing for domestic movies, particularly art house films and those in lesser-spoken languages, a scarcity of women directors, and an overexposure to American cinema content.

Lin stated, “Growing up, Taiwanese viewers have become accustomed to watching Disney and American films with Chinese subtitles without even noticing. To break new ground, it’s important that we incorporate the strongest aspects of Hollywood into our content while infusing them with local flavors to make them uniquely ours.

He referenced films like “Minari,” “Past Lives,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and Ang Lee’s “Wedding Banquet” as models for his aspirations. He also clarified that while “Crazy Rich Asians” is frequently cited as a breakthrough in Asian cinema, it remains essentially a Hollywood production.

Next summer, Lin intends to film a movie titled “Chalk” in Boston, U.S., and has been exploring possible locations. The plot revolves around a woman who becomes part of the U.S. witness protection program and uncovers that her assigned bodyguard is none other than her long-lost son. According to Lin, the crime and drug-related scenes will likely be in English, while those focusing on family dynamics will be in Chinese.

I’m deeply intrigued by the historical drama series that Jade Y. Chen, renowned for her oriental tales, is crafting – a female-focused production titled “Queen Victoria’s Favorite Cup of Tea,” inspired by her novel “The Merry Leaf.” This captivating series promises to delve into the origins of Taiwan’s beloved bubble tea while weaving a tale about a 19th century woman who finds herself pursued by three men. Although the script is still in its early stages, I’m excited to hear that Chen is contemplating re-releasing her novel under a title that mirrors the series’ theme.

Both projects are being developed with producer Yeh and his Good Image company.

When planning to take Taiwanese films overseas, it’s important to consider international audiences from the outset, according to Hsu,” is a possible paraphrase that maintains the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language.

Read More

2024-11-06 11:16