Taiwanese opera actress Chen Ya-lan (陳亞蘭) has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the sequel to the television series for which she won Best Leading Actor in a Television Series at the 57th Golden Bell Awards this month.
Chen is the first woman to win the “actor” award, having played the male role of the Qing-era Jiaqing Emperor (嘉慶帝) in the drama Lord Jiaqing and the Journey to Taiwan. Her campaign is also the first of its kind for a Taiwanese opera television series.
“I am willing to dedicate myself to the only type of drama that originated in Taiwan,” she said at the awards ceremony, referring to traditional Taiwanese opera troupes known as gezaixi (歌仔戲), adding that she hopes that efforts are made to help the traditional drama form survive.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
Chen is reported to have sold three homes to raise funds for the drama’s first season.
By working with crowdfunding consultants, Chen hopes to appeal to a young generation of Internet users who might not be familiar with traditional Taiwanese opera, she said.
“Taiwanese opera is the essence of Taiwanese traditional culture, which could be difficult to pass to new generations without a concerted effort being made,” she said.
Apart from advertising expenses, Chen plans to put the funds raised into a trust account, reports said.
Separately, 78-year-old Taiwanese opera star Yang Li-hua (楊麗花) on Saturday won a special performance award at the 33rd Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music, which was held at the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center in Taipei.
Yang began her career at the age of 13 and has performed Taiwanese opera on radio and television, starred in Taiwanese movies and produced theater works.
Winning the award “is the best encouragement to me,” she said. “Taiwanese opera gave me my reputation and I will always work hard for it.”
“She dedicated her entire youth to Taiwanese opera and raised its status,” Chen said as she introduced Yang at the ceremony.
Yang is also an educator who teaches people the central values of the opera — loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness, she added.
“It is because of Yang’s example that I have achieved what I have today,” Chen said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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