Central Taiwan Film Studios opens in Taichung City

2019/07/24

Central Taiwan Film Studios opened July 22 in Taichung, underscoring the effectiveness of local government efforts to build the city into a regional movie production powerhouse.
 
 Located in Wufeng District, the 3.12-hectare, NT$793 million (US$25.51 million) complex features state-of-the-art facilities such as two indoor audio studios, one large-scale film stage and a seven-meter-deep tank for underwater videography. It will be overseen by Taipei City-based Central Motion Picture Corp. under an operate-transfer model.
 
 According to Taichung City Government, the idea for the studio took shape in 2000 and firmed a decade later after renowned Taiwan-born director Ang Lee filmed parts of his four-Oscar winning 2012 offering “Life of Pi” in Taichung using the tank and a wave machine. Construction, which commenced in October 2016, was completed in July 2018.
 
 During a prerecorded message played at the inauguration ceremony, Lee said he is pleased to see the facility become a reality, adding that Taichung’s favorable weather and convenient transportation links are two major reasons for the city’s potential success as a major film center.
 
 Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen said she is grateful for the contributions of predecessors Lin Chia-lung, minister of transportation and communications since January, and Jason Hu, former minister of foreign affairs, for advancing the initiative. The city government will leave no stone unturned in promoting the studio and attracting film projects from around the world, she added.
 
 TCG said a series of support measures for the studio are in the pipeline. These include cooperating with local tertiary institutions to offer training programs for students seeking careers in movie production, as well as initiating exchanges between Taiwan and international filmmakers.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)