In the last few years, Taiwan’s love affair with romantic dramas has cooled. But, some local creative leaders say, the flame may not have – or should not have – gone out entirely.
As this year’s RisingStories International Story Pitching Competition entry period closes, jury members and partners in the annual initiative say romance is being replaced by a cross-genre fusion.
Golden Bell Award-winning director and writer, Lai Meng-jie ("Trade War"), says the declining interest among Taiwanese creators in romance themes reflects changing audience tastes.
The traditional “love-above-all” formula no longer appeals to modern viewers, who now prefer romance as a secondary element intertwined with other genres, such as medical or legal dramas, he says.
This cross-genre fusion offers greater appeal to today’s audiences, Lai adds.
On the other hand, Carol Wang, chief content officer of Sanlih E-Television’s (SET) programming department, believes that while romance themes may be declining in Taiwan, they still hold significant commercial value, particularly in the global market.
SET is the media partner of this year’s RisingStories competition, which is expected to close on 400 entries. So far, entries have been received from Canada, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.
Wang urges creators to reevaluate the potential of romance stories and explore this genre further.
Many agree with her, highlighting the value of romance in creating pop stars.
Star Ritz Productions’ producer, Angie Chai ("Meteor Garden"), known as the ‘godmother of idol dramas’, highlights school romance themes, which have a unique competitive edge in the Asian market. However, she also notes that today’s productions need to be packaged with contemporary issues, rather than focusing solely on romance.
Topics such as cyberbullying and fashion trends can be integrated to enhance the appeal of the work, she says.
Screenwriter Lin Pei-yu ("U Motherbaker"), often called the queen of BL dramas, says BL and GL dramas have flourished in recent years. She cautions against over-saturation. She also encourages creators to maintain diversity and innovation to avoid creative ...
In the last few years, Taiwan’s love affair with romantic dramas has cooled. But, some local creative leaders say, the flame may not have – or should not have – gone out entirely.
As this year’s RisingStories International Story Pitching Competition entry period closes, jury members and partners in the annual initiative say romance is being replaced by a cross-genre fusion.
Golden Bell Award-winning director and writer, Lai Meng-jie ("Trade War"), says the declining interest among Taiwanese creators in romance themes reflects changing audience tastes.
The traditional “love-above-all” formula no longer appeals to modern viewers, who now prefer romance as a secondary element intertwined with other genres, such as medical or legal dramas, he says.
This cross-genre fusion offers greater appeal to today’s audiences, Lai adds.
On the other hand, Carol Wang, chief content officer of Sanlih E-Television’s (SET) programming department, believes that while romance themes may be declining in Taiwan, they still hold significant commercial value, particularly in the global market.
SET is the media partner of this year’s RisingStories competition, which is expected to close on 400 entries. So far, entries have been received from Canada, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan.
Wang urges creators to reevaluate the potential of romance stories and explore this genre further.
Many agree with her, highlighting the value of romance in creating pop stars.
Star Ritz Productions’ producer, Angie Chai ("Meteor Garden"), known as the ‘godmother of idol dramas’, highlights school romance themes, which have a unique competitive edge in the Asian market. However, she also notes that today’s productions need to be packaged with contemporary issues, rather than focusing solely on romance.
Topics such as cyberbullying and fashion trends can be integrated to enhance the appeal of the work, she says.
Screenwriter Lin Pei-yu ("U Motherbaker"), often called the queen of BL dramas, says BL and GL dramas have flourished in recent years. She cautions against over-saturation. She also encourages creators to maintain diversity and innovation to avoid creative stagnation.
As Taiwanese creators, like their counterparts everywhere, try to merge local identity with global appeal, industry leaders urge balance.
Both Lai and Wang say that an overemphasis on local cultural elements may limit the global reach of a work.
Wang also emphasises that entertainment value is crucial for penetrating the international market, regardless of the cultural background of the production.
Entries close at midnight Taiwan time on 14 October. This article has been adapted from original interviews conducted by Sanlih E-Television (SET), which together with ContentAsia, is a media partner of 2024 RisingStories International Story Pitching Competition. The competition targets Mandarin-speaking creators in the Asia-Pacific region. Winners will receive a script development contract and a NT$100,000 advance, offering a stepping stone to bring their stories to life on screen. Information at https://www.risingstories.com/en