Unlocking the Secrets Behind Taiwan's Film Success with the Creative Forces Behind Its Global Sensation

Unlocking the Secrets Behind Taiwan's Film
Success with the Creative Forces Behind Its Global Sensation

“The Red Envelope taps into traditional folklore about marriage to a ghost, but at its core, the real essence lies in blending ancient culture with modern trends—specifically weaving in LGBTQ+ themes.”

It seems Taiwan’s entertainment industry is making a major comeback, grabbing global attention once again! After the release of the wildly popular Marry My Dead Body, not only did it revive the local film industry, but it also became an international hit. The movie's success has been incredible, both in terms of box office and awards, sparking the creation of the follow-up series GG Precinct, which is also generating a global buzz.

At the Taiwan Movie Week 2024, both films were part of the lineup. We had the chance to sit down with the masterminds behind this success—producer Jin Pai-lunn, the brilliant director Cheng Wei-hao (director of Marry My Dead Body and GG Precinct), and the talented Yin Chen-hao, who joined forces to help shape GG Precinct. These rising stars are bringing Taiwanese cinema back into the global spotlight.

Tell us about the success of these films.
Jin Pai-lunn : The Taiwanese entertainment industry had been in a slump for a long time. People in Taiwan were mainly watching Hollywood movies or international series—Taiwanese audiences also loved Thai horror films! But when Marry My Dead Body came out, the local response was overwhelming, and the positive feedback kept pouring in. Viewers of all ages loved it. One parent even wrote to us, thanking us for opening up a conversation about LGBTQ+ issues with their child, which they had been afraid to broach. They said it helped bridge the generational gap and fostered more understanding within the family. We heard from many LGBTQ+ youth who started reconnecting with their families, which was incredibly heartwarming. It also helped open society’s mind overall.

Yin Chen-hao : Another fantastic piece of feedback was that everyone loved the police squad in the movie. Despite there being a lot of characters, people could easily identify with each one. Viewers would say, “That character reminds me of a friend!” or “That’s exactly like my neighbor!” These characters felt like people we all know. We really focused on making these characters realistic, so they resonate with the audience and create a strong connection

Why did you choose the "Red Envelope" as a core theme in the film?
Jin Pai-lunn : The idea actually came from a script competition! I was one of the judges, and we reviewed over 300 submissions, but the "Red Envelope" story really stood out. In Taiwan, a red envelope symbolizes the folklore surrounding marriage to a ghost, but the real key to the story’s success was blending this ancient cultural belief with modern trends. We decided to bring in LGBTQ+ themes and mix the old with the new to create something fun and dynamic. This collision of contrasting worlds is what made the story connect so deeply with people’s personal experiences.

Was GG Precinct written as a continuation of Marry My Dead Body?
Cheng Wei-hao : We wrote Marry My Dead Body first, without any plans for a sequel. But once we finished editing, we realized the police squad was so interesting that we wanted to develop it further. So I reached out to Yin Chen-hao and another writer to help craft the script for the GG Precinct series, and Yin came on board as a co-director. While it uses the same characters, GG Precinct isn't exactly a direct sequel. The plot, themes, and storytelling style are completely different.

Why did you use Chinese idioms as a concept in GG Precinct?
Yin Chen-hao : We wanted to create a detective series with a uniquely Eastern twist. Western murder mysteries often reference the Bible, so we thought, what’s our equivalent? We looked back at something almost every Taiwanese person has studied—Chinese proverbs. We’ve all read, memorized, and written them, sometimes even incorrectly! So we built on that idea, making the misuse of proverbs a motive for the crimes in the story. It was challenging but fun to see which proverbs could translate well into a visual narrative, though some ideas were too intense or expensive to shoot. We ultimately chose ones that worked best for the show.

How do Marry My Dead Body and GG Precinct differ in their messages?
Cheng Wei-hao : Even though the same characters appear in both, the themes are totally different. Marry My Dead Body is more abstract, dealing with the supernatural and cultural elements, while GG Precinct is grounded in reality, focusing on facts, investigations, and logic. Even the humor is different. One’s a movie, the other’s a series, so the viewer's experience varies too. We made sure the details in both reflect these differences.

Do you have plans to expand this concept further?
Jin Pai-lunn : We’ve talked about it! The police squad is still such an interesting concept, and fans love them. Who knows, maybe we’ll send them to solve cases in Thailand next (laughs). It’s an intriguing idea, but we haven’t had serious discussions yet.

What are each of your directorial styles?
Cheng Wei-hao : I’ve always loved thrillers, especially ones with a hint of horror. I’m not sure if it’s my signature style, but it’s what I enjoy most, and I’ve been sticking with it.

Yin Chen-hao : My style isn’t genre-specific, but I pay a lot of attention to detail, especially with character development. I focus on making sure each character feels real, even the minor ones. This adds depth to the story, helping viewers connect more deeply with the film.

What’s the key to making great comedy films?
Cheng Wei-hao : Comedy comes from extreme contrasts. In Marry My Dead Body, one character is ultra-macho, while the other is very flamboyantly gay. When these two have to interact, chaos and humor are bound to follow!

Yin Chen-hao : For me, comedy arises when a character is odd or unconventional and is chasing after something they really want but just can’t seem to get. Their quirky attempts to achieve their goal are what makes it funny.

Which character from these films resonates with you the most?
Jin Pai-lunn : Lin Tzu-ching, the female cop! As a producer, I’m like the head of a team, constantly managing people and projects. I can totally relate to her struggles of keeping things together.

Cheng Wei-hao : Wu Ming-han. He’s macho and speaks his mind, but sometimes he blurts out things without thinking. Afterward, he’s like, “Oh no, why did I say that?” (laughs). I think a lot of men can relate to that!

Yin Chen-hao : I’m more like Chang Yung-kang, the police chief. I love peace and simplicity. If two people are fighting, I’m the one who just walks away and lets them deal with it (laughs).

What makes a great producer or director?
Jin Pai-lunn : A producer works with a huge range of people—actors, crew, sales teams, distributors, and executives. It takes a long time to make a movie, and the hardest part is getting everyone on the same page. Communication is key. You have to be clear about the vision and make sure everyone understands it.

Cheng Wei-hao : I agree—communication is essential for directors, too. Whether you’re talking to a camera operator, lighting crew, or actors, they all need to see the same picture you do. Filmmaking is mostly about working with people, and only a small part is about the content itself.

Yin Chen-hao : To be a good director, you need the passion to tell the story inside your head. The day you lose that passion, you can’t be a director anymore.

What do you think is the charm of Taiwanese films?
Jin Pai-lunn : In the past 10 years, Taiwanese films have really hit a slump. At that time, we felt like a startup team with a big dream—our goal was to figure out how to make great Taiwanese films again. The first step was learning what made foreign films successful in Taiwan. Then, we had to figure out how to make Taiwanese films connect with our own people. We tried everything—some projects failed, while others succeeded. If you ask me what the charm of Taiwanese films is, I’d say it’s the constant effort to learn and grow, to make films that capture people’s hearts, always with something fresh and interesting.

Cheng Wei-hao : For me, the Taiwanese film industry can be divided into two eras. The first was when the older generation of directors achieved great success. The second era consists of a new generation of directors, like us, who grew up under their influence and are now finding our own path to success. If you ask me what makes Taiwanese films unique or charming today, I can’t quite pinpoint it, but I do believe in their charm. I’ll keep making films that captivate audiences.

What are your future goals?
Jin Pai-lunn : For me, the past 10 years have been about learning from the success of international films. But the next 10 years will be about creating our own success. Today, we’ve succeeded in gaining recognition from the Taiwanese audience. Now, I want to take it further—to make the world open its heart to Taiwanese films and embrace them as well.

Cheng Wei-hao : As a director, I want to explore different types of films. Moving forward, I plan to try my hand at genres I’ve never worked on before. I don’t want to limit myself to what I’m already good at. I’m always aiming to challenge myself with something new.

Even though Taiwan Movie Week 2024 has wrapped up successfully, if you missed it or want to relive the magic of Marry My Dead Body and GG Precinct, you can catch them streaming on Netflix. For those waiting eagerly for the Thai version, you’re in for a treat! GDH recently announced a Thai remake of Marry My Dead Body under the title "ซองแดงแต่งผี (The Red Envelope)". The film will feature the talented Billkin Putthipong and PP Krit in the lead roles, with renowned director Tong Banjong Pisanthanakun stepping in as the producer, and acclaimed director Chayanop Boonprakob helming the project. Get ready for a fun and uniquely Thai take on the story!

This article is a collaboration between the Taiwan Movie Week 2024 and BAC Team.