“Night Market Hero,” a film produced and scripted by TNUA alumna Yeh Tan-ching and directed by his brother Yeh Tien-lun, has reaped a box-office success of NT$140 million so far and won a nomination for best comedy at the Okinawa International Movie Festival.
The Yeh siblings – the heros behind the success of the local-color comedy about street vendors’ life in Taiwan’s famous night markets – may be young, as they are only in their early 30s. But they are no strangers to the world of TV and film production.
Their parents both worked in the TV-film industry. Tan-ching recalled how their parents would take them to work during school holidays and allowed them to run around in studios.
Tan-ching, a graduate from TNUA’s Department of Theatre Arts, suggested that her love for the art form may have germinated during those childhood years.
She joked that she chose theatre arts as her major as she did not know what else she could study or do. Her brother chose film-related studies. Their parents initially were not very supportive of their choices, as they knew this would be a very difficult road to take. But after realizing that their children were determined to do so, they gladly accepted their choices and gave them full support.
Tan-ching has been an actor, and participated in production management. But she seems to like her latest role as a screenwriter better.
She said she has more energy for creativity than management, and she will devote more to screenwriting in the future.
Tien-lun, who has hosted gourmet and children shows, said he had taken part in many TNUA productions even before he became a student of the school.
Commenting on the huge success of his very first film, Tien-lun said he has to thank the entire cast and production team.