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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Tao Ching-ying, Director Yen Yi-wen Recall Harsh Early Career Critiques in Entertainment Industry

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Taiwanese podcast host Tao Ching-ying and director Yen Yi-wen discussed their experiences with harsh criticism and unconventional beauty standards in the entertainment industry.
  • Both women shared anecdotes of being told they looked like frogs or had dirty moles, highlighting the intense pressure and

Tao Ching-ying, a prominent Taiwanese podcast host, and director Yen Yi-wen, known for her work on popular dramas like "The Wedding We Owe You," recently shared candid reflections on their journeys in the entertainment industry during an episode of Tao's podcast, "Women's Affairs."

When I first entered the entertainment industry, I was told, 'How can you look like a frog? Stand aside.'

— Tao Ching-yingRecounting early career criticism about her appearance on the podcast.

Both women opened up about facing harsh critiques of their appearance early in their careers. Tao recounted being told she looked like a frog and should stand aside, while Yen recalled being told her facial mole was "dirty." They humorously embraced their "non-typical beauty" status, with Tao likening the entertainment industry to a "bloody jungle" where one must prove their worth beyond looks.

My mole on my face is very dirty.

— Yen Yi-wenRecalling criticism about her facial mole when starting out.

Yen, celebrated for her directorial achievements, including Golden Bell Awards for actresses Yang Chin-hua and Tseng Wan-ting, and for elevating Chang Hsiao-chuan's performance in "The Wedding We Owe You," discussed the demanding nature of her work. She acknowledged the immense pressure actors face when collaborating with her, describing it as a "painful yet happy process" as they undertake challenging tasks.

I don't think we are ugly; we are non-typical beauties.

— Tao Ching-yingDescribing their looks in the context of industry beauty standards.

When asked about being a good director, Yen emphasized "honesty and acceptance." She believes in transparently communicating her assessment of a script's quality and collaborating with her team to elevate the material. She also advocated for a less authoritative approach to directing, suggesting that the title "director" in Taiwan can sometimes be overly revered, overshadowing the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Yen expressed a personal aspiration to one day write, direct, and star in her own film, though the subject matter remains undecided.

I am very clear that the pressure on actors working with me is very high, but it is a process of pain and happiness.

— Yen Yi-wenDiscussing the demanding nature of her directing style.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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