Chang Chen Advises Taiwan Actors to Adapt Like Water

Chang Chen, chair of the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee and last year’s Golden, best leading actor winner for 'Lucky Lu,' advised six rising performers at a Taiwan Creative Content Fest showcase in Taipei.

The event, titled 'TCCF x The Golden Horse Awards: Taiwan Emerging Actors Showcase,' featured Bai Xiao-ying, Ho Man-xi, Rosen, Jimmy Liu, Ma Shih-yuan and Lin Yi-ting, all nominees or winners of Best New Performer at the Golden Horse Awards.

The lineup included performers from two consecutive Golden Horse Awards cycles, with Bai and Ho nominated for this year’s Best New Performer award for 'Girl' and 'Sunshine Women’s Choir,' respectively.

Ma won the Best New Performer award last year for 'Left-Handed Girl,' while Rosen, Liu and Lin were nominated for 'Marching Boys,' 'Blind Love' and 'A Dance With Rainbows,' respectively.

Bai, who began acting at age six, is now a university student studying film. She trained in traditional Chinese martial arts for a decade. Ho described herself as slow to warm up, serious and full of contrasts, and hopes to take on physically demanding roles.

Liu practiced taekwondo for seven years. Lin said, 'At this stage, I feel it’s more important to light up others than to light up myself.' Ma said acting helps her relieve pressure, adding that giving herself fully to a role allows audiences to feel sincerity.

Rosen spoke about his love of nature and how acting lets him learn new skills for each role. He learned Western fencing for a project and later won a competition.

Chang praised the actors, saying they must be like water, changing shape to fit the vessel.

Chang noted that each film set has its own atmosphere, whether directed by Wong Kar-wai or Hou Hsiao-hsien. He emphasized the need for actors to understand the room each director and team gives them.

Chang also cited Ang Lee’s advice to read autobiographies of people with different personalities, adding that Taipei’s familiarity with its environment can help actors perform at their best.