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2019-05-06
Qu Quánlì
PRESENTER
The world needs fools!
Director Chiu Chuan-li of *Taiwan 3D: The Beauty of Taiwan*
Director Qu Chuanli, known as the “byword for Chinese 3D imagery,” lived an ordinary life, but his journey through life was as eventful and dramatic as a screenplay.
When Director Qu was 35, at the peak of his career, he was diagnosed with a fist-sized brain tumor and told he might have less than six months to live. After undergoing risky surgery, he was left with complications including partial deafness and blindness and facial nerve paralysis. True to his name, he believes that life is about giving it your all.
After winning the “World 3D Award” in Hollywood in 2013, he has gone on to win numerous awards in the field of 3D imaging in recent years. These technologies, built from nothing, came from more than 3,000 days and nights of filming since Director Chu first encountered 3D in 2008, covering 220,000 kilometers, documenting 300 artisans whose crafts are on the verge of disappearing, and capturing countless Taiwanese landscapes facing change.
Having once heard the bell signaling that life’s final class was near, he vowed that “life may seem like a journey toward the horizon, but in truth, it is a journey inward.” He hopes to continue creating in 3D and help more people around the world see Taiwan’s beauty. Without financial backing, he built Taiwan’s first 3D mobile cinema. Since setting out in 2014, over more than 1,200 days, it has traveled 130,000 kilometers, visited 316 townships and 1,200 rural elementary schools, and shown 3D documentaries about Taiwan to 130,000 children and seniors. Through this work, he hopes to use his expertise to give back to this land and its children.
Perhaps life presents many challenges, but he always believes: “The road may be difficult, but no matter how hard it is, we must bravely keep moving forward. Just do it!”
Q & A
Q: How do you start your day?
A: My day has two modes. In Taipei: After getting ready each day, I take my little dog along to buy a Taiwanese breakfast (sweet potato congee), then drive to my farmhouse in Jinshan to check on my happy little farm, pull weeds, and get some exercise. When I’m working out of town: After getting up each morning, I take a walk around the neighborhood. When I get home, I make boiled eggs, have a banana and a cup of oatmeal for breakfast, and then sit by the entrance to enjoy the view.
Q: Where do you usually spend most of your time?
A: Jinshan Old Street. I go to my farmhouse in Jinshan almost every day to turn the soil and fix things. I also buy buns or sweet potato congee near the old street to eat at the farmhouse. I’m actually a homebody; aside from work, I like staying at home and don’t enjoy going to crowded places.
Q: Which restaurant do you go to most often?
A: Rather than restaurants, I prefer sampling local flavors from street vendors. If you get the chance to visit Jinshan, you can pick up Jinshan Wang meat buns near the old street, or try A-Lang Tian Bu La, a 36-year-old shop in the market. Everything is freshly made and fried that day, offering traditional old-fashioned flavors. I especially recommend the taro pastries, a seasonal item available only in June and July.
Jinshan Wang meat bunshttp://kswang.com.tw/about.html
Q: What do you do for fun after work?
A: After work, I’m usually pretty tired. Once I get home and take a shower, reading is my biggest source of entertainment. I also listen to music and look things up while scrolling through Facebook. Rather than entertainment, I’m more interested in experiencing the joys of everyday life. “Experience comes from living wholeheartedly; inspiration comes from experiencing wholeheartedly.”
Q: Having made so many films, have you encountered anything interesting or memorable?
A: The most interesting thing is that new challenges always arise during the filmmaking process. Many people ask me why I make 3D films. Honestly, I don’t know (laughs), because you just learn and do things, and only find out what will happen after you’ve done them. You never know what kind of film your next one will be, or whom you’ll meet. I never imagined I’d receive an award alongside Ang Lee or work with Director Hou. That’s what makes filmmaking fun, and it’s also the most fascinating part of this work.
Q: If you weren’t a director, what would you want to do?
A: Speaker: I think sharing is a wonderful thing. It’s great that sharing your own story can give others strength. Even though I’ve given more than 300 talks, I’m still adjusting and practicing. Although I can speak fluently and keep a good rhythm now, I still need to practice constantly and incorporate each day’s new experiences into my talks.
Q: What advice does Director Chu have for young people who want to pursue a career in directing?
A: Given global trends, pursuing a career in the film and television industry is a good choice, but you should first assess your abilities and whether you can accept the lifestyle that comes with making films. These are all factors to weigh. Nowadays, with everyone able to pick up a phone or camera and shoot, we’re in an era where everyone is a director. Because equipment is so easy to access, the barrier to entry is too low, and the biggest problem is that people haven’t learned the fundamentals and theory thoroughly. In the past, the industry operated on an apprenticeship system: you might spend three years carrying equipment before you even got to touch a camera. During those three years, you would practice the fundamentals, such as composition and lighting. That’s what builds a solid foundation. In any profession, expertise isn’t acquired overnight; it accumulates gradually.
Q: Does Director Qu have any hidden-gem spots to recommend?
A: Yangmingshan, Taipei’s backyard, has many attractions to see. Though it’s a small area, it encompasses a diverse range of landscapes. Qingtiangang, for example, is a lava terrace formed by lava eruptions in the Tatun Volcano Group, while Menghuan Lake has a rich bird ecology. If you have time, you can take a day trip along the Yangjin Highway to the North Coast, visit Jinshan Old Street, see the Queen’s Head at Yehliu, and then head to Guihou Fishing Harbor for seafood. There’s plenty to eat and do along the way. Yehliu Geoparkhttp://www.ylgeopark.org.tw/content/index/index.aspxYangmingshan National Parkhttp://www.ymsnp.gov.tw/
Q: What is a book you’ve read recently? Did it leave you with any insights or thoughts?
A: I recently reread Laozi’s *Tao Te Ching*. When I read it before, I could only grasp its meaning intuitively. After gaining more life experience, I can better appreciate what it says when I revisit it. When I come across something I don’t understand, it’s actually quite interesting to look online at the interpretations people have offered. Everyone’s experiences and perspectives are different, so their readings of it vary as well.
Q: What do you find most interesting or appealing about Taiwan?
A: Taiwan is a small island surrounded by sea, rich in natural ecology. The migration of purple crow butterflies at “Daowu Mountain Island Give” in Pingtung is one of the world’s two major overwintering butterfly valleys, alongside Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Valley. This land may be small, yet it can stand alongside Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Valley. Hengchun, at Taiwan’s southernmost tip, is aptly named “springlike all year round.” Its seascapes and romantic charm became famous through director Wei Te-sheng’s film *Cape No. 7*. The old town’s history and human warmth, together with its uniquely favorable natural conditions, make it the place on the island closest to the sun, its slender cape pointing toward the equator. Taiwan is fascinating: it has mountains and sea, and every kind of scenery!!!
Q: What do you look forward to most when staying at a hotel?
A: The room is clean, and it would be wonderful if there were a window with a view of green plants or nature!!
Q: What is your impression of the hotels under Taipei Inn?
A: I think what Taipei Inns does particularly well is that every property has its own distinctive style, thoughtfully combining the original building design with creative cultural elements. The one that left the strongest impression on me was CityInn Hotel Plus Taichung Station Branch. It’s in a very convenient location, right behind Taichung Railway Station. The entrance was clean and bright, and, most importantly, the staff were very welcoming. Since I had to start work at five the next morning, a staff member specifically asked whether I’d like them to prepare a breakfast to go. I thought that was so considerate. The warmth of human interaction is irreplaceable.
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