YouTuber Chung Chia-po Invests NT$300,000 in Self-Funded Short Film 'A Plan'

YouTuber Chung Chia-po has ventured into filmmaking, self-funding and starring in his short film 'A Plan' with an investment of NT$300,000. The film, which uses a mockumentary format, centers on Chung's online persona attempting to produce an adult film. This independent project has earned him a nomination for Best Narrative Short Film at the prestigious Golden Harvest Awards, surprising many in the industry.

Chung, who emerged from the YouTube channel 'Whatever, I'm Fine,' brings a decade of filming experience to this project. Initially, he intended 'A Plan' to be a longer YouTube video with a minimal crew. However, encouragement from his cinematographer and producer, who are frequent participants in the Golden Harvest Awards, led him to seek an editor and ultimately submit the film. He admitted to approaching the nomination with a "no expectations, no disappointment" mindset, which helped mitigate any potential regret after not winning.

The film's title, 'A Plan,' originated from Chung's initial fundraising goal. If successful, it would be 'Plan A'; if not, 'Plan B,' dictating the film's direction. Unfortunately, funding issues and execution challenges led to the plan's abandonment, but the title stuck as he edited the film.

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For me, spending 300,000 to make a short film, this is my luxury spending, filmmaking is my Rolex.

'A Plan' features cameos from several popular Taiwanese influencers and friends, including Joeman, Taiwan Commute First Brand, Kua-chi, and actor Chang Kuang-chen, all of whom participated without pay. Chung expressed his gratitude by hosting a thank-you dinner. He particularly thanked Joeman, who despite being in his busiest period promoting the new iPhone, readily agreed to participate.

Chung invested NT$300,000 of his own money into the short film, viewing it as a personal luxury, much like owning a Rolex. He stated that while his peers might spend on watches or cars, his passion lies in filmmaking. He plans to continue pursuing his filmmaking aspirations, aiming eventually to direct a feature-length film, embracing the challenge and learning process involved.

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Who wouldn't want to! That would be so cool!