Film crew alleges nearly $1 million in unpaid wages for 'The Long Farewell'

Behind-the-scenes turmoil has emerged for the recently completed film "The Long Farewell," directed by Chang Shu-wei, known for "My Father and My Grandfather." Despite assembling a cast including Golden Horse Award winners Lee Kang-sheng and Chen Shu-fang, along with actor Wang Yao-ching, the production is now embroiled in allegations of unpaid wages, with reports suggesting nearly one million yuan is owed to various crew members.

A location manager, who worked with the team for nearly a month, claims he is still owed approximately 100,000 yuan for his role in securing filming sites, including key locations in Beitou. He alleges a discrepancy in the understanding of his work scope led to the non-payment and has filed a complaint with labor authorities.

Other members of the production team have also come forward with similar grievances. An art department staff member stated that they are still awaiting a final payment of around 500,000 yuan, despite the film wrapping up in May. A producer involved in the film's early stages and pre-production also reported an outstanding payment of approximately 120,000 yuan, with the production side only offering 20,000 yuan, leading to a deadlock.

Attempts to resolve these disputes through mediation have reportedly been unsuccessful, as the director, Chang Shu-wei, has allegedly failed to attend scheduled meetings. With multiple crew members seeking resolution through official channels, the exact amounts owed and the terms of the original agreements are subject to further confirmation through ongoing procedures.