TNUA and Chapman University have been conducting a filmmaking exchange project since this summer, with activities taking place in Taipei and Los Angeles.
This was the second time that the two schools have collaborated in arranging inter-school and international exchange activities, the last time being in 2009, with the hope that students from different cultural backgrounds could better understand different cultures through discussion and cooperation for filmmaking projects.
The project is also meant to give students the opportunities to accumulate experience in international collaboration and improve their international competitiveness. Professor Tung Wang, chairman of the Department of Filmmaking, said the activities not only are enhancing exchange between the two institutions of film art, but also are giving teachers from both sides the opportunity to gain overseas teaching experience.
Students can also gain practical filmmaking experience and understand more about the influence of different cultures on filmmaking, Prof. Wang said. And students can learn to complete a film production under a different culture, language, professional practice and habit, he added.
Taiwan’s film industry lags behind that in the United States, and therefore the project is more inspirational for TNUA students. The exchange project is led by Prof. Jim Shum from TNUA and Prof. Michael Kowalski from Chapman University. A total of almost 20 students from both schools are taking part in the project. Major activities in the project include making short films, workshops and visits to filmmaking, arts and cultural institutions in the host countries.
The project began on July 22 with the TNUA team visiting Chapman for a 12-day filmmaking and learning trip. The second round started on August 9 with the Chapman participants coming to TNUA also for a 12-day visit. The Chapman visitors were eager to learn how filmmaking funds could be obtain in Taiwan, a possible location for their future filmmaking projects.
The project has entered its third phase, which will last till the end of the year. During this phase, both schools will work on post-production for the films they have made. And they are expected to screen the films through video-conferencing by the end of December.