“The Arc of Life” Set in Taichung, Ruby Lin, Ivy Chen, and Jian Man-Shu Praising the Good Life in Taichung
The workplace romance drama “The Arc of Life”, which was subsidized by the Information Bureau of the Taichung City Government and produced by Comic Communication, has struck a chord with viewers since its release with its authentic storytelling and has been hailed by netizens as a “must-see Taiwan drama of 2021”. The three main characters, Ruby Lin, Ivy Chen, and Jian Man-Shu, returned to Taichung yesterday (20th) to hold a book-signing session. In addition to sharing with the public their interesting stories about filming in Taichung, they also thanked the city government for its active assistance in filming and praised the good life in Taichung.
“The Arc of Life” took four months to shoot in Taichung. The main theme of “youth entrepreneurship” mentioned in the plot echoes the atmosphere of Taichung’s youth innovation. Revitalized spaces of old houses and youth entrepreneurship environments were specially selected for the set locations, including Fantasy Story - Green Ray, coffee shops, old houses, Maple Garden, and cultural creative studios. The entire series is a feast of Taichung up close.
“All the memories are coming to mind!” The three main characters said at the book signing yesterday that they had an amazing impression of filming in Taichung. The set locations in the film include Wenxin Forest Park, Dahe Road, Yingcai Park, Civic Park, and the Xiaoxueshan Visitor Center. The production team would like to thank the Taichung City’s Information Bureau for their assistance in making the filming process go so smoothly.
Ruby Lin, one of the main characters and producer, said that this is the first time she stayed in Taichung for a long period of time, but she is also becoming more and more familiar with the place. The people of Taichung are polite and kind, the roads in the city are wide and spacious, and the restaurants and parks occupy a large area, making it feel very comfortable and she recommends that people can come to Taichung for vacation more often. Ivy Chen said that people in Taichung are very kind and hospitable, and have their own pace of life, which is very different from the crowded and rushed Taipei.
Jian Man-Shu, who went to school in Taichung, mentioned that she went north to study after graduating from high school and returned to Taichung because of filming. She found Taichung “both familiar and unfamiliar”. It was familiar as she had spent the most youthful and carefree time of her life in Taichung, but it was also unfamiliar as Taichung has become more vibrant and lively. There are many surprises and details to be found down the streets and alleys that she had not encountered as a student.
The Information Bureau further explained that Taichung’s diverse landscape and cultures have attracted many film production companies to come and shoot there. The Information Bureau has taken the initiative to provide film production resources including administrative support, subsidies, and sets to actively build up Taichung as a film-friendly city and support Taiwan’s soft power to go global.
“The Arc of Life” is directed by award-winning directors Jerry Feng, Hsu Chao-Jen, and Lin Chih-Ju, and stars A-list actors and actresses Ivy Chen, Ruby Lin, Roy Chiu, Jian Man-Shu, Lee Li-Chun, Pauline Lan, Chris Wang, and J.C. Lin. The series is available in Hong Kong, Macau, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, and Canada, and can also be viewed by overseas viewers via the iQIYI app or on the iQ.com website. The drama is broadcasted on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Star Chinese Channel. You are invited to follow the protagonists on a creative journey through Taichung.