TV drama exports Taiwan culture, soft power to Latin America

2016/08/15

Hit Taiwan TV drama “The Way We Were” is set to screen in Latin America next month, helping share the nation’s pop culture and soft power with viewers throughout the region, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aug. 12.

“Art and culture are a form of soft power and also an indicator of a country’s development,” said Jeremy Liang Horng-sheng, acting director-general of the MOFA’s Department of International Information Services, at a news conference staged in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture in Taipei City.

“Taiwan is a country rich in exuberant culture, and every effort must be made to showcase it on the international stage. The MOFA will work with the private sector to further project Taiwan’s soft power to the world.”

The 26-episode TVBS Media Group series, which won Golden Bell Awards—Taiwan’s equivalent of the Emmy Awards—in 2015 for best TV series, best director and best supporting actress, will be broadcast with Spanish dubbing and subtitles on 13 TV networks in Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay, as well as other friendly countries Argentina, Colombia and Mexico.

According to Liang, the series was chosen for its culturally representative storylines and high production values. “It was one of the best among numerous outstanding local productions,” he said, adding that the selection panel had an extremely tough time making a final decision.

Starring accomplished actors such as Ann Hsu, Ruby Lin, Queenie Tai, Jason Tsou and Weber Yang, the drama portrays a love and friendship story dating back 16 years from 2014. The series was first broadcast locally on Public Television Service and TVBS two years ago before screening in Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the U.S.

This is the second time the MOFA has introduced a Taiwan TV drama to Latin America. In April 2015, “The Fierce Wife” played on 10 TV networks in eight countries, achieving critical acclaim and high ratings.

The initiative is one of many undertaken by the government aimed at introducing Taiwan’s multicultural society and opening the door to new opportunities for local TV and film productions companies in the lucrative 400 million-plus Spanish-language market worldwide, according to the MOFA.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=246969&ctNode=2194&mp=9)