Officials were split yesterday in their response to local media reports that the Government Information Office (GIO) and the Ministry of National Defense (MND) would begin working together to help make war films.
GIO Minister Pasuya Yao (
The last locally produced military movie -- Yes, Sir II -- was made in 1988. After its poor performance in the box offices, many local filmmakers lost interest in making war films.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
The issue hit the spotlight after a Chinese-language newspaper yesterday reported that, as part of an effort to boost the image of the military, that the GIO and the MND would begin cooperating in the film industry.
After his swearing-in ceremony as GIO minister, Yao told reporters that he has no problem providing the necessary help for local filmmakers who wish to make such movies.
He even offered his own insights into producing a successful film: "It is a good idea. But, maybe we want to adopt a new angle and be more creative when we making such films, instead of simply relying on cliches like filmmakers have in the past."
However, Yao's passion about producing war flicks was not shared by the MND.
"We do not have any plan to help," said Navy Rear Admiral Liou Chih-chien (
Liou said that the MND has long had standing orders for all personnel not to take part in producing war films. Former minister Tang Yao-ming (
Since the annual budget for the military has been declining each year, Liou said, the MND does not have any plans for such extravagances as hiring a filmmaker.
"In addition to budget problems, our manpower has been gradually decreasing year by year. So really, we could not spare any personnel for [a movie production] at all," Liou said.
Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko Chun-hsiung (
He said he would be more than happy to act again -- if somebody invites him.
"My movies inspired many young men to join the military before. I will be happy to do it again," he said.
"However, maybe -- just maybe -- I should play the role of minister of national defense this time, if I act in such a movie again," Ko said.
Ko, who was born in Kaohsiung in 1945, started his movie career in the early 1960s. He won several awards for best actor at various festivals, including the Golden Horse Awards and the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.
Known by some as "the John Wayne from Kaohsiung," He is best known for the heroic characters he played in an array of war films, which he began making in the 1970s. Many of the films were set against the backdrop of the World War II Pacific Theater.
Other films were essentially anti-communist propaganda, including Everlasting Glory (英烈千秋, 1974), 800 Heroes (八百壯士, 1975), Victory (梅花, 1975) and A Teacher of Great Soldiers (黃埔軍魂, 1977).
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS