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Host: Twelve years ago, he planted a dream seed. As it was said to be difficult to achieve the dream, others doubt him. Despite that, he put everything he had at stake and did not admit defeat. I think he really stake everything he had. Now, he has to let the world see the story(Movie) he has made that solely belongs to Taiwan. Everyone, please welcome Director Wei De Sheng. I must.
(ENG) Calm down, can I get started? (ENG)
I must really shake hands with Director Wei. I really must thank him. Thank you Director Wei.
DW: Thank You, thank you.
Host: I think the people who have watched the movie are very touched. Everyone has at least understood some parts of the message. There are some that might have been moved by one scene while others by another. I think it has made everyone feel sensational. First, I wish to talk about something that would you most probably be concerned about. How are the tickets selling?
DW: They aren't bad.
Host: They aren't bad, but extremely great. The first part of the film has hit the selling mark of three hundred million?
DW: Three hundred and seven million.
Host: Three hundred and seven million, yes. Also, the second part started as well. Am I Right?
DW: Yes.
Host, Actually, a few weeks ago, during another news broadcast, I was talking about national movies. At that time, many critics were quite worried about you spending seven million for the movie, am I right? This isn't 《海角七號》(Cape No. 7, A Taiwan-Japanese 2008 movie), this is "High Land 7 Million". When you film the movie, how did you expect to recover that budget of seven million?
DW: Of course, it is the safest to recover it in Taiwan.
Host: All of it in Taiwan? Then, did you expected to earn double the amount? Fourteen hundred million?
DW: Doubled the amount? I feel that it is safer to sell the idea in Taiwan rather than overseas.
Host: So, it is better to sell it here in Taiwan.
DW: Yes it is.
Host: So, how much did you wish to earn in Taiwan?
DW: Between fourteen to fifteen hundred million is good enough to recover my budget.
Host: Then, in this fourteen to fifteen hundred million, it not only included the ticket sales. Does it include anything else?
DW: This time, we have merchandise.
Host: Oh yes, this book, it does need money to be printed as well?
DW: Yes.
Host: This has about five volumes, it is costly, isn't it?
DW: Yes. But promoting and selling the book hasn't allowed us to recover our cost.
Host: Did you know that now in Taiwan, there is something important which is the "Seediq Effect" in the movie. This is very clear-cut. Please talk about how you felt the "Seediq Effect" based on your personal experience.
DW: At the beginning, I was very nervous like handing up a homework assignment. I did not know...
Host: How were you not nervous when you used the budget of seven million?
DW: No, I did not mean that but this was when I released the movie, I did not know how the audience would react to it. Until now, a great number of them enjoyed it. At least, the energy level and cultural aspect of the film allowed people to not be feel shy about wearing what they want.
Host: Yes, they are feeling proud of being able to wear clothes that suit their own taste.
DW: Also, they feel comfortable.
Host: Yes. Why did the history of the "Seediq Effect" give you the determination to come up with this movie? What is the cause of that feeling?
DW: At first, I started sourcing around for materials. When you look for them, you would feel an adrenaline rush; like when the weak stands against the strong in a battle. But when you really put action into it,the situation does not keep up to your expectations. You would keep questioning yourself. There will be a lot of uncertainty. In fact, when we look at something, we are always bias. Can we look from different culture and perspectives to look at something? When I found out about this, I was very affected. Originally, when I look from this angle, it was different, it was a whole distinct level.
Host: But, what I am asking about, Director, is that many of us are dream chasers. However, if the level of difficulty to achieve it is sky high, the number of people throwing in the towel would be high as well. Has this hardship cause you to think of not chasing this beautiful ambition? Let it remain as a dream that will not come through?
DW: This is because there is no one is doing it. I would say that if you look at things for too long, it would be akin to living in that generation. Then, you would start to ponder on what and how you should contribute for your generation. When I say my generation, I mean the generation alive in my head. As a matter of fact, the entire process is very simple. The indigenous people believe in fundamentals. Since I have entered into that atmosphere, I would be like-minded and believe that contributing is a good thing.
Host: Have you ever thought of saying "Oh forget it, what am I doing? Why am I going to stay poor just because of some stupid thinking?"
DW: But at that time, I will have already...
Host: This is a saying from an advertisement, am I right? To what I have said? It is in fact the lines of his advertisement.
DW: But at that time, I will have already have reached the end of my pathway, because I would have already moved on.
Host: No matter what situation you are placed in, it is de facto that it has risks. In order to fund your movie project, you borrowed money. Besides, it was special as you... You took a loan from the bank. isn't it? And you had your wife to be the guarantor. As a result, you and your wife were fighting a cold war for three months.
DW: It was towards the end of the film making process...
Host: Then you talk start to talk again...
DW: Yeah, we talked.
Host: Your wife has no idea of what you are doing, she only knows that you took her to sign a loan contract of one thousand, five hundred thousand.
DW: For such matters, when you do not know what is going on, you would get upset and angry.
Host: Then what did you ask her? Did you asked for her permission to let you make the film?
DW: I asked her a while back. It was only when I was making the five minutes test shot when she was getting emotional. After that, Cape No. 7 was about to be released in movie theaters. At that time, I felt that I could not wait any longer. I am already more than forty years old and going to start a family. By chance, I have children, my fighting spirit must just decrease by half.
Host: Looking after children is back-breaking.
DW: You would be under a lot of pressure, financial stress.
Host: So this is the reason why you said you want to film the test shot. Nevertheless, this shot made you spend your lifetime savings of two hundred and fifty thousand. During this period, you were in a dilemma if you should utilize it as you were starting a family. Hence, the decision to ask your wife.
DW: Everyone was giving different advice so I was confused. Also, at that time, my wife was pregnant.
Host: That was cruel to let her make that decision, how did you want her to reply?
DW: No, I just wanted to know her view point because I was resolute about going ahead with making the film. Of course, she gave the go-ahead. I once told her that when people grow old, it is very pitiful if they did not have any story to tell. What will happen if I become a elder that loves to complain?
Host: At least you still have many stories to tell the world about.
DW: She did not try to influence me not to chase my dream, she just wants me to do whatever I can before I get old and start to regret. The world is like an oasis to the young because they have the energy to do things. For instance, they can work hard to earn money when they lose it. It did not occur to me that I was losing anything when working on this project as I was thinking simple.
Host: So you were forward looking, you had a target. No matter what the circumstances, you would use the step-by-step approach to push yourself forward, not letting your failures hold you back, am I correct?
DW: That is intellectual thinking. But to be blunt honest, you must just be simple-minded and have that target only as your vision.
Host: I feel that this is because you are special, when you put your mind to it, you would become a true dream chaser. This attitude motivates everyone around him to have the same vision. I know that the entire filming process is very tedious. Apart from that, you used amateur actors. You needed to scout and nurture these actors. How did you convince them that this whole idea would be successful? We can make a dream come through. It is difficult, yet you accomplished it.
DW: Actually, after I shot the five minutes film, Cape No. 7 and then I thought of making this idea appear on the screen, everyone had a bench mark. There was no need for me to spend time to persuade them. It is known that it would not be easy going when working with me. When it is tough, there would always be revolution. This revolution means that when we work long together, we would get to know each other better and the way each individual handles situations. The best achievement for us film makers is to complete a task together, which is not the same as fulfilling the task alone.
Break: Brothers and sisters, it is a painful farewell. Director Wei is also moved.
Host: In your opinion, which was our favorite part of the movie?
DW: I love the part which was the heartbreaking scene of the brother and sister being separated. I tried to watch it three times and each time I was restraining myself not to cry. But my colleagues keep saying I was.
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Host: Seediq is the name of a tribe. Then what does Seediq Bale refer to?
DW: A real person.
Host: How do you think you can become a true man?
DW: You have to realize it yourself. Actually, the generalized idea can be narrowed down so that you can defend your hunting ground and tribe bravely. That is a real man. You have the blood of the Seediq, so you have to do something. Mainly, us, humans, use our conscience to make judgments. If you think about it, have you ever worked hard for something you believe in? No matter what happens, you are worthy of being a real man.
Host: Alright, I would like to ask you this because this film is an overseas film. You would have to watch it with the subtitles or you would not know what the characters are saying. When you listen to the Seediq accent, it sounds quite pleasant. Do you know how to speak their language?
DW: No.
Host: Not even a single line? There is a line that is "I am Mona Ludo“.
DW: I cannot pronounce some words.
Host: I think the two main actors have acted in Mona Ludo before and acted with Mr. Lin QIng Tai. They, especially Mr. Lin, have so many lines, did they memorize all of them?
DW: Yes.
Host: Did you record their voices on set? Or...
DW: Yes.
Host: So, he needed to pronounce all the words accurately. Did he memorized them wrongly and you used NG to cover their mistakes?
DW: Yes, it is very frequent.
Host: That is very exhausting.
DW: Also, it is very difficult for him to do because he is already fifty years old. He is not a ten year-old.
Host: It is also complicated for a young person to remember those lines.
DW: Yes.
Host: Especially when there are so many lines. But I feel that it is brilliant. He has to recall those lines, at the same time, remember what he has to act out and adapt to the settings. So you are very lucky to have found these two actors. I hope you are very happy with them as well?
DW: Yes. I find all the actors we sought after were great. Everyone did an excellent job. Those who acted as secondary characters were also very precise with their actions.
Host: There was a time when the actor playing middle-aged Mona Ludo had a sudden heart attack.
DW: That was before the actual filming; during the training. I find them very unique as they have their own brave sides which is why they face a lot of pride issues. They do not like to lose. Even though he was 48 years-old at that time, he did not like to lose to the younger generation so he went all out. He did not have the energy and stamina to catch up with the younger ones. Thus, he had a heart attack.
Host: It is very fortunate that nothing big happened to him when he was sent to the hospital, correct?
DW: No, they placed a heart support device in him.
Host: Like you said earlier, when Mr. Lin Qing Tai was training, he was not able to outdo the youngsters. But, do you remember that he has this scene with a little boy? The little boy said, " My father said that when you are young, you were a brave hero." How did Mona Ludo respond it? " I am still a hero now." Yes or no? So, every individual wishes to be strong. In the daily lives of our young people, don't you think that it is similar to the middle-aged Mona Ludo? Yes, he is old. However, he still wants to chase his dreams of becoming stronger. It is something you can relate to.
DW: Yes.
Host: AT which scene are you the most touched by?
DW: It is when Mona Ludo's son and daughter were to bid farewell to each other. The actors, Wen Lan and Tian Jun, made it so sentimental. When I was editing the film, I was restraining myself not to cry. But my colleagues keep saying I was.
Host: If you think that it was heartbreaking, I am sure that the audience would also start crying.
