The Department of Filmmaking on February 25 arranged a discussion between Prof. Ronald Michael Norman and Prof. Wang Tung on the latter's “Strawman,” and “Hill of No Return” – two films set in Taiwan under Japan’s colonial rule.

Prof. Norman has a rich experience in Hollywood film production, having been the director and producer at the Los Angeles-based Horizon Productions.

He teaches various courses at TNUA, such as script editing, TV drama series, comedy studies and production budget management.

Prof. Norman has a deep understanding of the films that Prof. Wang – the incumbent chairperson of the Department of Filmmaking – has directed.

He said it is important to understand the meaning behind the story, including its historical, political and social context. Prof. Norman noted that “Strawman” represents the cultural differences and cruelty of war during Japan’s colonial rule in Taiwan through black humor rather than vivid bloody scenes.
“Strawman” is a world-class film, Prof. Norman said. The plot is simple, but the details are intricate. The camera motion is precise, presenting a touching narrative.

Prof. Wang said he chose the colonial background for the two films because a filmmaker must understand his or own culture and identity before setting foot on the international stage.

He disclosed that he had spent almost 12 years studying Taiwan’s history and decided to make a Taiwan trilogy (the third being “Banana Paradise”).

Prof. Wang said film is meant to “move” the audience through sights and sounds. But the key point is how to convey real feelings rather than just offer empty and meaningless mixes of sights and sounds.