Taiwanese women filmmakers should strive to be honest and daring in their films rather than worry about box office sales, said British filmmaker Lisa Gornick last night, who was in the country to take part in the 14th annual Women Make Waves Film Festival.
Gornick advised aspiring Taiwanese female filmmakers to make low-budget films so they could afford to "learn from their mistakes."
She said that the proliferation of low-quality television shows could be considered a "blessing in disguise" as that meant viewers were not "fussy" about what they watch or expect a masterpiece every time they turn on the TV or go to the cinema.
PHOTO: CNA
The undemanding nature of the audience allows filmmakers to have room to make mistakes, she said.
"My recommendation to young female filmmakers in Taiwan is not to worry about spending a lot of money on making the movie. Rather, place more emphasis on saying what you really want to say and be very honest. Voice your opinions and be as daring as possible," she said.
Gornick was one of six women filmmakers at yesterday's press conference to start the festival, which will run until next Sunday. Her film, Tick Tock Lullaby is a wry comedy that discusses the issue of lesbian pregnancies.
Festival director Sophie Lin (
"It is not a matter of audience acceptance, but rather if the audience is informed about the festival," Lin said.
With the "if you build it, they will come" mentality, Lin was confident festival goers would not be disappointed with this year's selections.
The theme of this year's festival, "Global Women in Action," is a celebration of all the struggles and achievements women around the world have undertaken to sustain and promote female consciousness.
One film in particular, Zanzibar Soccer Queen,directed by Cameroon native Florence Ayisi, is a documentary featuring a female Muslim soccer team, Women Fighter, in the east African country. The film, she said, shows the power of African women and helps them break free of the stereotypical view of African, and especially Muslim, women as being silent and submissive.
Foreign tourists who purchase a seven-day Taiwan Pass are to get a second one free of charge as part of a government bid to boost tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. A pair of Taiwan Passes is priced at NT$5,000 (US$156.44), an agency staff member said, adding that the passes can be used separately. The pass can be used in many of Taiwan’s major cities and to travel to several tourist resorts. It expires seven days after it is first used. The pass is a three-in-one package covering the high-speed rail system, mass rapid transport (MRT) services and the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle services,
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