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2019-05-06
Qu Quenli
PRESENTER
This world needs fools!
Director Qu Chuanli of *3D Taiwan*
Director Chu Chuan-li, known as the “byword for Chinese-language 3D imagery,” has led an ordinary life, but the twists and turns of his journey through life have been as captivating as a screenplay.
When Director Qu was 35, at the peak of his career, doctors discovered a fist-sized brain tumor in his head and told him he might have less than six months to live. After he underwent the risky surgery, he was left with hearing and vision loss on one side and facial nerve paralysis. True to his name, he believes that life is about giving it your all.
Since receiving 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 the ground up, grew out of Director Chu’s work with 3D beginning in 2008: more than 3,000 days and nights of filming, 220,000 kilometers traveled, 300 craftspeople on the verge of disappearing documented, and countless Taiwanese landscapes facing change.
Having once heard the bell signaling that life’s final class was just around the corner, he vowed that “life may seem like a journey toward distant horizons, but in truth it is a journey inward, toward oneself.” He hopes to keep creating in 3D and help more people around the world see Taiwan’s beauty. With no financial backing, he built Taiwan’s first 3D mobile cinema, and since it hit the road in 2014, it has traveled 130,000 kilometers over more than 1,200 days, visiting 316 townships and 1,200 rural elementary schools. It has shown 3D documentaries about Taiwan to 130,000 children and seniors—his way of using his professional expertise to give back to this land and its children.
Perhaps life presents many hardships, but he always believes, “The road may be difficult, but no matter how hard it is, we must bravely keep going. 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 to get a Taiwanese breakfast (sweet potato congee), then drive to my farmhouse in Jinshan to check on my little farm, pull some weeds, and get some exercise. When I’m working out of town: Every morning after I get up, I take a walk around the neighborhood. When I get home, I make myself a boiled egg, a banana, and a cup of oatmeal for breakfast. Afterward, I sit by the door and enjoy the view.
Q: Where do you 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 like going to crowded places.
Q: Which restaurant do you go to most often?
A: I prefer sampling local flavors from street vendors rather than restaurants. If you get the chance to visit Jinshan, you can stop by Jinshan Wang Meat Buns near the Old Street, or “A-Lang Tianbula,” a 36-year-old shop in the market. Everything is made fresh and fried that day, offering a taste of traditional old-time flavors. I especially recommend the taro pastry, 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 already exhausted. Once I get home and shower, my main form of entertainment is reading; I also listen to music and look things up or scroll through Facebook. Rather than entertainment, I’m more interested in finding joy in life’s experiences: “Experience comes from living mindfully; being moved comes from experiencing mindfully.”
Q: After making so many films, have you had any interesting or memorable experiences?
A: The most interesting thing is that new challenges always arise in the process of making a film. Many people ask me why I make 3D films. Honestly, I don’t know (laughs), because you learn and do things as you go, and only find out what will happen after you’ve done them. You never know what kind of film the next one will be, or whom you’ll meet. I never imagined I’d accept an award alongside Ang Lee or collaborate with Director Hou. That’s what makes filmmaking fun—and what makes this work so fascinating.
Q: If you weren't a director, what would you want to do?
A: As a public 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. Even now, when I can speak fluently and keep a good rhythm, I still need to practice continuously and incorporate new experiences from each day into my talks.
Q: What advice does Director Chu have for young people who want to pursue a career in directing?
A: In light of global trends, working in the film and television industry is a good choice, but you should first assess your abilities and whether you can adapt to the lifestyle of making films. These are all things to consider. We’re now in an era when anyone can pick up a phone or camera and become a director. Because equipment is so readily available, the barrier to entry is too low, and the biggest problem is that people haven’t firmly learned even the basic principles and theories. In the past, the industry operated through apprenticeships: you’d spend three years carrying equipment before you even started handling a camera. During those three years, you’d practice the fundamentals, such as composition and lighting. That’s what builds a solid foundation. Professional expertise in any field doesn’t develop overnight; it accumulates gradually.
Q: Does Director Qu have any favorite hidden gems he’d recommend?
A: Yangmingshan, Taipei’s backyard, has many attractions to see. Though it is a small area, it encompasses a diverse range of landscapes. Qingtiangang, for example, is a lava terrace formed by lava flowing from the Datun Volcano Group, while Dream Lake is rich in birdlife. If you have more time, you can take a day trip along the Yangjin Highway to the North Coast: stroll through Jinshan Old Street, see the Queen’s Head at Yehliu, and then stop at 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’s a book you’ve read recently? What insights or impressions did you take away after finishing it?
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 understand what it says much better when I return to it. When I come across something I don’t understand, it’s actually interesting to look online at the interpretations people have offered. Everyone’s experiences and perspective shape a different reading of the text.
Q: What do you find most interesting or appealing about Taiwan?
A: Taiwan is a small island surrounded by sea, rich in natural ecosystems. The purple crow butterflies migrating through the “Island Guna” area of Dawu Mountain in Pingtung form one of the world’s two largest 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—its climate is springlike all year round. The charms of its sea and its romantic atmosphere became famous through director Wei Te-sheng’s film *Cape No. 7*. With its historic old town, rich local character, and uniquely blessed natural conditions, it is the island’s sunniest place, its slender cape pointing toward the equator. Taiwan is a fascinating place: it has mountains and seas, and every kind of scenery!
Q: What do you look forward to most when staying at an inn?
A: The room is clean, and it would be wonderful if there were a window overlooking greenery or nature!!
Q: What is your impression of the hotels under Taipei Inn?
A: I think what Taipei Inns does so thoughtfully is give each hotel its own distinct style, carefully blending the original architecture with creative cultural elements. One that left a strong impression on me was CityInn Hotel Taichung Station Branch. Its location is very convenient, right behind Taichung Railway Station. The entrance is clean and bright, and most importantly, the staff are very warm and welcoming. Since I had to work at five o’clock the next morning, a staff member thoughtfully asked whether I’d like a breakfast to go. I think that kind of warmth in human interaction is irreplaceable.
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