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For the people of Taiwan, June 8 is a day filled with memories! On this day in 2013, we admired the land where we grew up through Po-lin Chi’s first aerial documentary film Beyond Beauty – Taiwan From Above, which captured the beauty and sorrow of Taiwan from a unique viewpoint. Director Po-lin Chi made it his mission to protect the environment, so he devoted his life to record Taiwan from a different perspective, successfully raising public awareness of environmental protection.
On this day in 2017, director Po-lin Chi also announced the start of production for Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE II, which not only showcased Taiwan, but also Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, and mainland China because "ocean currents and monsoons are the same across borders, we all share the same world." He hoped that through aerial photography the world could see the true face of Taiwan, and the people of Taiwan could see the world, conveying the message: "The environment knows no borders, and our future will be the same, good or bad." Unfortunately, two days after the start of production, director Po-lin Chi died in a helicopter crash while scouting for the film.
On this day in 2018, the Chi Po-lin Foundation was established, picking up the baton and continuing Po-lin Chi's mission to document Taiwan's environment, promote environmental education through film, and support and cultivate more young environmental documentary filmmakers. The foundation aims to inject Po-lin Chi's vision and spirit into the next generation, passing on the seeds of environmental sustainability.
After ten years, on June 8, 2023, Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III will begin shooting under the direction of veteran documentary director Jue-ming Mai, taking up the mission and spirit of Po-lin Chi's legacy, channeling his dedication and passion.
Caption: The team of Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III consists of the original crew of Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE, including director Nien-jen Wu, film score composer Ricky Ho, and editors. The photo shows Ricky Ho playing music from the film at a press conference.
Since Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE, Wistron has cultivated a good relationship with director Po-lin Chi, supporting actions to safeguard Taiwan's environment
The Wistron Foundation has always supported Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE and the Chi Po-lin Foundation. Chairman Simon Lin even personally attended the press conference, recalling his admiration for director Po-lin Chi's spirit in his speech, "When director Chi first came to Wistron, we only spoke for less than half an hour, and that was enough for me to tell him that Wistron would support him with the remaining funds needed to release Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE." This documentary film successfully connected each of us with Taiwan, revealing the beauty of the land that nurtured us, as well as its many scars. Following Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE, Wistron paid more attention to environmental pollution issues and continued to work for the environment and ecology.
In his speech, Simon Lin also expressed his appreciation for director Chi, saying that although his untimely passing was heartbreaking, it strengthened our resolute to do our best to fulfill his mission. He deeply hoped that through the success of Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE, which moved the hearts of many people, everything would change for the better. However, ten years have passed, and Taiwan's environmental issues have not ceased. This is why we need Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III. By truly connecting the people of Taiwan and its environment, the documentary film should not only move us and make us reflect, but also push us to take concrete actions.
Picking up the baton, Jue-ming Mai is directing Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III, showcasing Taiwan's mountain, river, and sea stories with real footage
In early 2013, even before the release of Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE, directors Po-lin Chi and Jue-ming Mai were invited to share the stage on the Small Swallow Xiaoyan Night TV show, with the theme of "Discovering the Beauty of Formosa." It is truly a heart-warming coincidence that ten years later the Chi Po-lin Foundation and director Jue-ming Mai collaborated to create Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III! This documentary film was produced by the original crew of Beyond Beauty – TAIWAN FROM ABOVE, with director Nien-jen Wu once again lending his voice, Ricky Ho composing the film score, and even the same editors!
Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III take us on a tour of Taiwan's second-largest mountain range—the Xueshan Range. The peaks of the Xueshan Range are some of the most representative mountains on the island of Taiwan. In this mountain range, we can find the most developed glacial landforms in Taiwan's mountainous areas, the source of important water resources in Taiwan, the habitat of a national treasure, the Formosan salmon, the largest Taiwan Cypress forest, and the world-class Taiwan Red Cypress Sacred Forest. There is even a small mountain lake—the Xueshan Cui Lake. However, the Xueshan Range not only faces the effects of global warming and extreme weather, but also the impact of marine debris, mountains of trash on land, industrial wastewater, food, agriculture, and education issues, etc. Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III will use real footage to showcase the stories of Taiwan's mountains, rivers, and seas.
"I wanted to carry on the aerial photography trend that director Chi started, combine it with my own walking meditation-like style, and observe the world from people’s most familiar perspective, connecting the towering mountains, lush forests, winding rivers, blue oceans, and underwater ecology of Taiwan,” shared director Mai. The whole world was completely taken aback by Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE; now, Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE III will tell the stories of this land from a deeper and more three-dimensional perspective, hoping that people will rediscover their love and passion for Taiwan.
Launch of three events from the commemorative event series celebrating the 10th anniversary of the release of Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE
Using the essence of Po-lin Chi's aerial photography of Taiwan over the past 20 years, the "Power of Change - Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE 10th Anniversary Photography Traveling Exhibition" will be held in Northern, Central, and Southern Taiwan, allowing people of different generations to see his love for Taiwan and continue to raise awareness of national environmental issues. At the same time, influential activists from various fields will be invited to participate in the "Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE - Change 10x10 Environmental Sustainability Forum," examining changes in environmental issues over the past decade from different perspectives. Through cross-disciplinary and cross-generational dialogues, it is hoped that more positive cycles of power will be introduced, passing them on to future generations, and creating a sustainable new future together. Finally, the "Run for Change" event will be widely held across Taiwan, allowing people to experience Taiwan with their own hearts and eyes, fostering closer connections with this land.
[Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE 10th Anniversary Event Series]
Beyond Beauty - TAIWAN FROM ABOVE - Change 10x10 Environmental Sustainability Forum
Date: July 29, 2023 (Sunday) 9:00-16:00 Location: CPC - Kuo Kuang Conference Hall, Xinyi District, Taipei City
[Run for Change]
Date: December 3, 2023 (Sunday) Location: Taipei City Hall Plaza (10K, 21K starting point), Dajia Riverside Park (3K starting point, main venue)