Minister of National Defense Kao Kuang-chi (高廣圻) yesterday delivered his Lunar New Year good wishes to military officers and reporters and released a promotional video titled Safeguarding the Homeland (守護家園).
In his first post-holiday engagement, Kao thanked the public for their support and reiterated that the men and women of the military are ready to serve and defend the nation.
Kao then launched the first of a three-part video series produced by the Ministry of National Defense and directed by filmmaker Hung Cheng-chang (洪成昌).
At just over two minutes in length, Safeguarding the Homeland features soldiers, pilots, sailors, maintenance crews, special operations units and other branches of the armed forces during training, on patrol and conducting combat maneuvers.
It also showcases navy warships, fighter jets, attack helicopters, tanks, armored personnel carriers and amphibious assault vehicles, as well as new advanced weaponry.
Hung said it was all shot on location as his film crew followed military units during field operations and patrols.
“I wanted to depict the realism and the human side of our armed forces through their daily tasks,” Hung said.
Hung said he had planned a military career after graduating from the military’s political warfare academy, Fu Hsing Kang College, but later changed course to get into film production.
“Because of my past service, I wanted to make an authentic video about our nation’s military,” he said. “I intend to fill people with emotion and encourage them to take pride in our armed forces.”
Ministry spokesperson Major General David Lo (羅紹和), who helped with the film’s production and coordination efforts, said shooting began in November last year followed by about two months of post-production work.
The video’s soundtrack was done by Hsiung Tsu-sheng (熊祖聖), Lo said.
Lo said that it was grueling work and the film crew had a limited budget of NT$960,000 (US$30,500) and a short time-frame to complete the project, as they traveled to frontline posts in Kinmen and other offshore islands, air force and naval bases, and army training facilities around the nation.
Lo said the video has already received positive endorsements from viewers, Lo said.
“It was about time the defense ministry came up with a professionally produced video,” a commentator surnamed Chiu wrote.
“After watching it, I feel proud of our soldiers. It is a good advertisement for the armed forces,” a netizen surnamed Yang said.
The video is available on YouTube (youtu.be/PycUw2oflaY).
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