While the fashion for finding "roots"' may be new in the West, it has a long tradition in China, with its 5,000 years of history. Many epic literary works have been written paying homage to the efforts of ancestors to open up the land. Several of these stories have been adapted for the stage or screen to refresh memories and to strengthen feelings of patriotism." The Pioneers" is the latest, and perhaps one of the greatest, examples.
"The Pioneers" is inspired by a short newspaper report which appeared on December 13, 1976, stating that Dr. Paul H. Giddens, a petroleum specialist from the United States, had pointed out that the search for oil in Taiwan was started by two American technicians, A. P. Karns and R. D. Locke 98 years ago. Giddens asked the government of the Republic of China to erect a centennial memorial tablet on the bank of Houlung Chi in Miaoli in two years time. Research conducted by the Chinese Petroleum Corporation, however, revealed that the first oil well was drilled by a Chinese called Chiu Gou in 1861, 16 years before the Americans' attempt. The government therefore politely turned down Giddens' suggestion.
This may seem an ordinary story to most people, but it was endowed with special significance for director Richard Chen. He picked one of his best students Chang Yi, 27, to write the script. After graduating from the Movie Department of the World College of Journalism, Chang worked as movie script holder, playwright, editor-in-chief of a movie magazine, and planning section chief in an advertising agency. His main aim, however, was to be a novelist.
In order to understand his ancestors' motives and hard work in exploring for oil, Chang visited in person the site of the first oil well drilled in Taiwan on the banks of the Houlung Chi in Miaoli. Standing alone by the deserted oil well and a memorial tablet erected close by, he pictured in his mind the hardship his ancestors must have experienced, and was awed by the historical significance of the place. It was as if he could hear his ancestors calling.
In response to the call, Chang Yi resigned from his job and concentrated on writing the script for the movie. With the encouragement of his wife, he shuttled between Houlung Chi and the library, visited aged scholars, and perused records so as to obtain a better understanding of conditions a century ago. Using all the powers of his imagination, he breathed life into the story of a significant event in Taiwan's history and the characters and spirit that brought it about, for the benefit of readers.
The story is set 100 years ago, when some of the first Chinese settlers arrived in Taiwan and started the search for the valuable mineral deposits which is still going on today. Wu Ling-fan and his parents, from Chiaying in Kwangtung province, were among the first settlers in Taiwan. After his parents died, Wu was sold to the Fusheng Dyeing Mill as a slave to pay for his father's funeral expenses. There, he won the heart of the owner's daughter, Chiang Wan, and they eloped to start a mineral exploration project in Shihweichiang. In his search for oil, Wu sacrificed his life and that of his eldest son, but his will was eventually carried out by his second son.
According to the author's interpretation, Wu Ling-fan is a typical tragic hero. Although he is sometimes foolish, he always abides by his principles. Once he makes up his mind, he never changes it. He adheres to his ideals in spite of all the trials he must face, and displays the highest dignity and values before his tragic end.
Another theme of the movie is the blood ties between the two generations. Though Wu's two sons do not understand or support his father's determination to search for oil, at the crucial moment, his elder son is killed by aborigines as he strives to protect his father. His second son takes up his father's career to search for oil after his death. Through the theme of petroleum exploration, the ancestors' undaunted spirit is full revealed. Chang's message is that today, society lacks passion and the will to act, qualities which have been replaced by scepticism and cynicism. "We must emulate our ancestors' perseverance and unquenchable spirit," he says.
Chinese actress Hsu Feng was chosen by director Chen to play the leading female role of Chiang Wan, a pliant but strong woman. Wang Tao was chosen to play the leading male role, Wu Ling-fan, a character of primitive and strong convictions.
To perfect his masterwork, Richard Chen flew to Hollywood to learn modern techniques, and to recruit foreign actors and actresses for the movie. It was finally decided that John Philip Law, who played the role of "Michael Strogoff," would play engineer A. P. Karns; Deborah Zon, Madame Luma; and Vad Champion, an American insurance agent in Taiwan, R. D. Locke.
Director Chen also stressed authentic settings, costumes, and equipment. To meet the needs of the plot, art directors collected and manufactured equipment after careful checking in libraries, museums and with folklore experts. For instance, the decorations in the Fusheng Dyeing Mill costs millions of dollars to reproduce. An opium pipe was borrowed from the Central Library. The contract for Wu Ling-fan to sell himself as a slave was copied from a genuine contract of the times. When Chiang Wan returned for a visit on New Year's eve, her father hosted a banquet. Most of the dishes were cooked by the Grand Hotel, and the silver spoon and porcelain were also borrowed. The boats used by the ancestors, and the oil rig dating from a century ago, were all re-created after several weeks of search.
The two most important settings in the film are Lukang and Shihweichiang. Art designer Chang Chiping said that a 200-meter street from old Lukang, complete with some 100 stores and houses, was built along the river at the Chinese Culture and Movie Center in Taipei. The scene at Shihweichiang was based on the primitive Shihchao Village lying on the Taipei-Ilan highway. The crew surrounded the village with a 700-meter stone wall, and redecorated all the houses to make them look more archaic.
There are several special effects in the movie, including the earthquake which occurred on the Ghost Festival on the 15th day of the seventh moon, and the explosion of the oil well after it is struck by lightning. These two scenes provide the movie's climaxes.
As well as studying old customs, director Chen emphasizes the principles of creativity. This is most clearly displayed in the costume design. Although they are authentic reproductions, the costumes emphasize harmony of color rather than the traditional strong contrast of colors. Music is another good example. The melody of Chinese classical music combined with Western techniques creates a truly authentic atmosphere. The music has been fused in the development of the plot, representing a new development in the Republic of China's film music history.
Leo Lotito, a master makeup artist, was invited from Hollywood to do the make-up for the lead stars of "The Pioneers." Lotito demonstrated his technique in the portrayal of Wang Tao as an old man. He first tightened a portion of the skin of Wang's face, covered it with milky resin, and added a layer of powder after the skin was dry. When he brushed off the excessive powder, wrinkles appeared on Wang Tao's young face.
Richard Chen is among the very few directors in the Republic of China who have received advanced academic training. After graduating from the Southern California University with an M.A. degree in moive-making, Chen directed five pictures. When he proposed the new film to the Central Motion Picture Corp., it was at once approved by general manager Min Chi and deputy general manager Chang Far-her, and an investment of NT$60 million (US$1.6 million) wad allocated. Elegant and refined in bearing, Chen is demanding but systematic in his direction. The most important thing for actors and actresses is to develop their personalities as the plot unfolds, he considers. Of the actors appearing in the movie, Wang Tao and Hsu Feng put in the most outstanding performances.
When Richard Chen first chose Wang Tao for the lead male role, many people were doubtful. For one thing, Wang had only played in kung fu movies in the past four years; for another, Wu Ling-fan is an extremely important character in the movie who must pass from youth to old age. To prove he was an actor as well as a movie star, Wang Tao canceled a film he was producing himself, and shaved his head. At first, he found it difficult to play the role of the old man. After rehearsing repeatedly gestures and expressions in front of a mirror, and placing stones in his shoes to slow down his walk, he gradually adjusted to the role.
Wang Tao is most satisfied with three scenes in the movie. One is his argument with his wife Chiang Wan, revealing the agony of a middle-aged man who can not fulfill his ideals and the second is his grief over the death of his elder son. The last occurs on New Year's Eve when people are being reunited with their families. As he inspects an oil well with a lamp in his hand, he imagines he can see his dead wife smiling at him, and his eyes are filled with tears.
In "The Pioneers," Hsu Feng also develops from being a young woman in a wealthy family to being the wife of a peasant leading a hard and poor life. She has to undergo the experiences of elopement, pregnancy, giving birth, and dying. She spent many hard hours to capture the right spirit of this role.
Apart from its artistic and commercial value, the film has set a good example for local movie makers, who can emulate "The Pioneers" unswerving devotion to truth, kindness and beauty. Moviegoers will find many traditional Chinese values such as diligence and thrift in the men, fidelity, virtue and intelligence in the women, and the love between parents and sons, teachers and students, and among neighbors. Above all, "The Pioneers" reminds us to appreciate our ancestors' pioneering spirit, and never to forget our roots.
[Picture Caption]
Opposite: A memorial tablet set up on the banks of Houlung Chi in Miaoli County commemorates the first oil well drilled in Taiwan. Below: With the encouragement of his wife, Chang Yi resigned from his job to concentrate on writing the script for the movie. Chang's main aim is to be a novel writer, and his wife has also achieved success in this field. To commemorate the completion of the script for Yuan or "The Pioneers," they named their new baby Chang Yuan.
Opposite: Richard Chen (right) is among the very few directors in the Republic of China who have received advanced academic training. Elegant and refined in bearing, Chen is demanding but systematic in his direction. Pictures left and below: Wang Tao is chosen to play the leading male role of Wu Ling-fan. Though Wang has played only in kung fu movies in the past, he put in an outstanding performance in "The Pioneers."
1 & 3, In her development from being a young woman in a wealthy family to being the wife of a peasant leading a hard and poor life, Hsu Feng also gives an outstanding performance. 2, Chiang Hou plays the role of the second son of Wu Ling-fan in "The Pioneers."
Opposite, from left: Foreign actors and actresses recruited for the movie include John Philip Law, Deborah Zon and Vad Champion. Law plays the role of engineer A. P. Karns, and Champion, an American insurance agent in Taiwan, plays R. D. Locke. Liu Lin plays an aborigine Chiu Gou. Weng Hou-wei plays the elder son of Wu Ling-fan, and Chang Yin-cheng, Yen Hong. They have a moving love scene in the movie
Chang's main aim is to be a novel writer, and his wife has also achieved success in this field. To commemorate the completion of the script for Yuan or "The Pioneers," they named their new baby Chang Yuan.
Chang's main aim is to be a novel writer, and his wife has also achieved success in this field. To commemorate the completion of the script for Yuan or "The Pioneers," they named their new baby Chang Yuan.
Richard Chen （right） is among the very few directors in the Republic of China who have received advanced academic training. Elegant and refined in bearing, Chen is demanding but systematic in his direction.
Wang Tao is chosen to play the leading male role of Wu Ling-fan. Though Wang has played only in kung fu movies in the past, he put in an outstanding performance in "The Pioneers.
Wang Tao is chosen to play the leading male role of Wu Ling-fan. Though Wang has played only in kung fu movies in the past, he put in an outstanding performance in "The Pioneers.
In her development from being a young woman in a wealthy family to being the wife of a peasant leading a hard and poor life, Hsu Feng also gives an outstanding performance.
Chiang Hou plays the role of the second son of Wu Ling-fan in "The Pioneers.
Opposite, from left: Foreign actors and actresses recruited for the movie include John Philip Law, Deborah Zon and Vad Champion. Law plays the role of engineer A. P. Karns, and Champion, an American insurance agent in Taiwan, plays R. D. Locke. Liu Lin plays an aborigine Chiu Gou. Weng Hou-wei plays the elder son of Wu Ling-fan, and Chang Yin-cheng, Yen Hong. They have a moving love scene in the movie.
Chiang Hou plays the role of the second son of Wu Ling-fan in "The Pioneers.
Foreign actors and actresses recruited for the movie include John Philip Law, Deborah Zon and Vad Champion.
Law plays the role of engineer A. P. Karns, and Champion, an American insurance agent in Taiwan, plays R. D. Locke. Liu Lin plays an aborigine Chiu Gou.
Weng Hou-wei plays the elder son of Wu Ling-fan, and Chang Yin-cheng, Yen Hong. They have a moving love scene in the movie.
Weng Hou-wei plays the elder son of Wu Ling-fan, and Chang Yin-cheng, Yen Hong. They have a moving love scene in the movie.
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