“Listen Before You Sing” Moves the Audience, Taichung Premiere Full of Positive Energy
The moving Taiwanese film “Listen Before You Sing” is based on the story of Bukut Tasvaluan, the founder of the Vox Nativa Children’s Choir in Taiwan, and it is also the debut film of the emerging director Yang Chih-Lin. The key scenes were filmed at National Taichung University of Education, Taichung MRT’s Wenxin Forest Park Station, Da-Shin Elementary School, and the surroundings of the National Taichung Theater. The moving and heartwarming plot conveys a story filled with positive energy. The premiere was held yesterday evening (14th) at Taichung’s Shin Kong Cinemas, where director Yang Chih-Lin thanked the Taichung City Government’s Information Bureau, Education Bureau, and the Taichung Film Development Foundation for their assistance in the filming, and he praised Taichung for being full of kind and friendly people.
“Listen Before You Sing” is scheduled to be released tomorrow in Taiwan, and a special premiere was held in Taichung on the eve of its release. Producer Wolf Chen, director Yang Chih-Lin, lead actor Umin Boya, main cast Bokeh Kosang, Sakinu, and conductor Bukut Tasvaluan of Vox Nativa Children’s Choir made a surprise appearance. Huang Kuo-Wei, director of the Information Bureau, was also at the event to show his support. The cast celebrated Sakinu’s birthday before the movie screening, while Umin Boya, Sakinu, and Bokeh Kosang recreated the harmonized version of the “Happy Birthday Song” from the movie. Sakinu also hopes that the movie will touch the audience and spread more positive energy to the world.
Director Huang Kuo-Wei of the Information Bureau, said that “Listen Before You Sing” was set in National Taichung University of Education, Taichung MRT’s Wenxin Forest Park Station, Da-Shin Elementary School, Hotel National, the hills behind Chaoyang University of Technology, and the surroundings of the National Taichung Theater. The city government will continue to create a friendly film and television environment, providing film subsidies and production assistance services so that it can become the warmest and strongest support for film crews in Taichung. Taichung welcomes both local and overseas film production companies to come to Taichung for filming.
Yang Chih-Lin, the film’s director, pointed out that the key scene of the Bunun children going to the city to participate in a competition was filmed at an actual elementary school choir competition. The filming process during the pandemic prevention period was particularly arduous, and it was very difficult to shoot without disturbing the competition participants. He thanked the Information Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Taichung Film Development Foundation, and the participating schools at the choir competition for their assistance. The success in filming is owed to the friendly and kind people of Taichung, and he was very glad to be able to share this excellent work with Taichung.
Producer Wolf Chen said that Taichung has a pleasant climate and a friendly environment for filming. He thanked the Information Bureau and the Taichung Film Development Foundation for their support in enabling the filming to go so smoothly. Actor Bokeh Kosang pointed out that Sakinu usually gives people the impression of a variety show host, but this time he gave a refined and wonderful performance in the film, which brought tears to people’s eyes. Actor Umin Boya said that as an Indigenous youth, he hopes to become a role model for children to follow and look up to, just like the coach in the movie.
The Information Bureau said that “Listen Before You Sing” is performed by the male lead Umin Boya, female lead Ella Chen, and the Bunun children. The story is about an elementary school in the mountains that was facing the crisis of school closure, and they formed a choir in order to save the school, with the goal of winning the national championship. Despite the setbacks in the process, they still managed to overcome the difficulties to find their true voices and confidence. The whole film is inspired by the eight-part harmony of the Bunun people. For more information, please visit the Facebook page “Listen Before You Sing” (https://www.facebook.com/Listenbeforeyousing/).