Entertainment

Seqalu: Formosa 1867, docudrama on American expedition to Taiwan to begin screening August 14

screenshot from Seqalu
Entertainment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A 12-part docudrama based on a novel set around real historical events involving an American punitive expedition in Taiwan in the mid-19th century will go to air on PTS August 14. The TV drama produced by Taiwan Public Television Service (PTS) took 3 years to make with 135 days of filming on location in Pingtung County, and other areas of Taiwan. PTS chose March 12 to make the announcement on screening dates as the day marked the 154th anniversary of

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A mutant virus, excess gore, and violent zombie hordes: Taiwan’s first movie release in 2021

scene from Taiwan zombie film The Sadness
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Some pre-release reviews say that the Made in Taiwan zombie flick The Sadness is different from horror movies such as Korea’s Train to Busan, because the monsters are not the living dead, but living humans that have mutated in such a way that they are hellbent on fulfilling the most evil desires in their hearts. But, according to the official trailer, and research so far, The Sadness promises to be horrifying, and will probably rate quite highly on the cringe

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MOJ releases feature movie “The Greater Good” to promote national security and protection of state and technological secrets

poster for movie "The Greater Good"
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Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) recently released an NT$5 million (US$179,475) feature film highlighting the importance of information security as the country faces threats of false information, and breaches of information security, which in turn constitute a threat to national security. First aired on TTV on December 4, the movie was uploaded to YouTube December 8, and has since gained more than 61,000 views. The movie, which is subtitled in both Chinese and English has received positive responses

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Taipei City New Year’s Eve party to go ahead: Mayor says “Don’t be defeated by irrational fear”

Taipei 101 Taipei City New Year's Eve fireworks
Entertainment 
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While New Year’s Eve parties in most counties and cities around Taiwan will have been cancelled after a returnee from the UK tested positive with what the media has been touting as a ‘mutant’ strain of COVID-19, Taipei City’s New Year’s Eve party will go ahead, Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) announced today, December 31. New Year’s events around the country were cancelled one by one yesterday, with a series of announcements from municipal governments, many of whom decided

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Construction starts on film set in preparation for biggest production in Taiwan film history

Wei Te-sheng at site of film set under construction for first installation of upcoming "Taiwan Trilogy."
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Construction started September 1 on a film set to reproduce an indigenous settlement of the Siraya people from 400 years ago, in preparation for what is slated to become the biggest film production in Taiwan’s history. Taiwan filmaker Wei Te-sheng, who previously wrote and directed blockbusters Cape No.7, and Seediq Bale: Warriors of the Rainbow, has undertaken a massive project in the form of a historical trilogy covering the Dutch colonial era in Taiwan in the early 17th century. The

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Entertainer fined for sharing “marijuana kills COVID” message

Hsieh Ho-hsien
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Taiwanese singer Hsieh Ho-hsien ( 謝和弦 ) was found guilty of disseminating false information and handed a fine of NT60,000 by the New Taipei District Court today, after sharing a post on Instagram in February titled “Weed kills coronavirus.” Police received a report about Hsieh’s Instagram post and first questioned the 33-year-old entertainer on February 24. An investigation found that Hsieh had received a message from a friend on February 6, claiming that marijuana could “kill” coronavirus. Prosecutors said that

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Youtuber arrested after spending night in IKEA to make video

youtuber in IKEA
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Police arrested a man today, after he uploaded a video that showed him hiding out in a store room of an IKEA store, then spending the night in the showroom. Max Lee, 25, son of Taiwanese actor Lee Hsing-wen, allegedly sneaked into the IKEA store in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, in the evening of October 28. The video Lee produced shows him hiding in a storeroom before sneaking up to the fourth floor showroom in the early hours of

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Taiwan President committed to Interstellar Peace after enemies threaten to “conquer the universe”

President Tsai Ing-wen poses with Star Wars fans May 4, 2019
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President Tsai Ing-wen reconfirmed her commitment to peace in the universe today, May 4, 2019, while taking part in this year’s “May the fourth be with you” activities in Xinyi District, Taipei City. President Tsai’s statements come after Kaohsiung Mayor, and Presidential hopeful, Han Guo-yu (韓國瑜) pledged to “conquer the universe.” At a conference held Tuesday, April 30, Han laid his plan for the future of Taiwan, which included “to be rooted in Taiwan, to embrace China, to have an

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Taiwan’s King of Comedy Passes Away

Chu Keliang in costume
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Popular entertainer Chu Ke-liang died of liver failure at 5:00am this morning, Monday, May 15, at National Taiwan University Hospital after a long battle with colorectal cancer. He was 70 years-old. President Tsai Ingwen was among the many who sent condolences to Chu’s family. President Tsai wrote on Facebook that Taiwan had lost a generation’s King of Comedy. “We hope he will continue to bring laughter in heaven,” said Chu’s family, who released a statement around 7am. Born Hsieh Hsin-Ta

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Taoyuan City Prepares for Coldplay Concerts

venue for Coldplay Head full of dreams concert in Taoyuan City Taiwan April 2017
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Taoyuan City government warned commuters and residents that several streets around the outdoor venue for Coldplay concerts will be closed to traffic between 2:00pm and midnight on April 11 and 12. [See Related Article: Coldplay to Play in Taiwan.] A total of 80,000 tickets have been sold for the two concerts to be held in the front square of Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station. Commuters traveling to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport for flights on the 11th and 12th have been

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Martin Scorsese in Taiwan for “Silence” Premiere

scorsese arrives in Taiwan January 18, 2017 for premiere of Silence
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Martin Scorsese arrived at Taipei Songshan International Airport today after taking a private flight from Japan to attend the Taiwan premiere of his movie “Silence,” which was filmed in Taiwan. The 74 year-old AFI Life Achievement Award director stepped out of the EVA Business Center at 3:09pm this afternoon, Wednesday, January 18, described as “elegantly attired in a casual suit” by a writer at Apple Daily. Set in 17th century Nagasaki, Japan, the film follows the story of Catholic missionaries

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