¡@¡@Most
people think of seeing a movie as a pretty straightforward
thing. You look through the newspaper, or see previews
on TV, and decide which one you're going to see. Movie
theaters come with advantages: popcorn, soft drinks and
a good time. Or, if you just want to stay at home, all
you have to do is pick up the remote control and surf
the movie channels--not a bad option if you don¡¦t want
to fight the weekend crowds.
¡@¡@But
for some people, movies are not just distractions. These
people prefers to see films that make them think about
complex issues. They believe there is beauty in cultural
diversity; and that films are closely linked to art and
culture, and should not be thought of only as commercial
merchandise.
¡@¡@For
such people, POP Cinema was created. The result of efforts
by the Government Information Office, the central government's
Council for Cultural Affairs, film director Hou Hsiao-hsien,
and many other dedicated individuals who wanted to bring
into being a place where people can enjoy non-mainstream
films.
¡@¡@ POP
is no ordinary movie theater, not only because it
shows non-mainstream movies, but also because it shows
them as part of film festivals rather than individually.
POP's current film series will continue until February
2004, and includes seven film festivals: the Northern
European Film Festival--"A Wonder of Poetic Imagination¡¨,
the Taiwan International Animation Film Festival,
Summer and Taiwan Films, Digital Films, Classical
Martial Art Films, Classical Taiwanese Language Films,
and ¡§A Tribute to Ozu Yasujir and Contemporary Japanese
Masters¡¨. |
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¡@¡@In
early 1995, Dutch director Lars von Trier advocated what
has come to be called ¡§Dogma 95.¡¨ From his experiences
of filming a TV series entitled ¡§Kingdom,¡¨ he found
that it is easy to capture the attention of the general
viewing audience by using unrealistic characters and plots,
and adding special effects and stunts.
¡@¡@Von
Trier¡¦s Dogma 95 is based on the concept that commercial
films overuse tools like stunts and special effects. Thus,
moviemaking has become very costly and complicated, as
well as too surreal. Filmmaking should have a chance to
return to earlier days, when there were simple plots based
on real ideas and issues. Dogma 95 guidelines call for
the use of real sets and props instead of fabrications.
In addition, cameras should be portable for easy movement
and only natural lighting should be used. The plot should
be based on real situations without the need for superficial
acting techniques or special effects.
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¡@¡@ The
films to be included in this series of festivals were
chosen by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien, best
known for making controversial films about subjects
like homosexuality. When asked why he chose to start
off this series with a collection of Northern European
films, he says that, ¡§Many people in Taiwan are not
very familiar with Northern Europe. So, this is a
good chance for them to find out more about this culture.
In both areas, filmmakers suffer from a limited market,
thus there is a lot that Taiwanese filmmakers... who
have been influenced by Dogma 95. Moreover, there
is much to learn from the determination of Danish
authorities to rebuild the film industry there.¡¨ |
¡@¡@These
film festivals can be viewed at Taipei Spot, the Hsinchu
Film Museum and the Kaohsiung Municipal Film Archives.
The Northern European and animated film festivals have
already concluded, but can still be seen in Kaohsiung
until June 13. At the end of June, the summer film festival
commences.
¡@¡@Tickets
are available at SPOT, the Hsinchu Film Museum and the
Kaohsiung Municipal Film Archives, as well as through
Acer. Ticket prices for screenings range from free of
charge to NT$150.
Taipei
SPOT
18, ZhongShan (ChungShan) N. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei
Tel: (02) 2511-7786 Fax: (02) 2560-5222
www.spot.org.tw
Tickets: http://ticket.acer121.com
Hsinchu
Film Museum
65, JhongJheng (ChungCheng) Road, Hsinchu City
Tel: (03) 528-5840~2 Fax: (03) 528-5843
http://www.hmim.gov.tw
Kaohsiung
Municipal Film Archives
10, HeShi (HoHsi) Road, YanCheng, Kaohsiung City
Tel: (07) 551-1211
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