Lou Yi-An Visits NCCU to Share His Creative Journey, Inspiring Students' Passion for Storytelling
Date :
2025-05-28
Department :
International Master's Program in International Communication Studies
【Article by IMICS】
Director Lou Yi-An was invited to give a lecture at the International Leadership in Communication of College of Communication at National Chengchi University (NCCU) on May 23, where he shared his creative journey and life experiences with students. He began with a lighthearted yet sincere tone, noting that although he has often returned to campuses for film screenings, participating in a class as a guest speaker felt especially meaningful this time.
His upcoming drama series Our Bar is set to premiere on MyVideo on May 30. The ten-episode series blends themes of mixology, everyday life, and human nature, and has been described as a Taiwanese version of Midnight Diner.
However, behind its seemingly lighthearted tone, the series faced numerous production challenges. Lou admitted that filming in the bar setting was quite demanding. Since actors could not consume alcohol during filming, the production team had to focus heavily on creating realism — everything from the look of non-alcoholic drinks to the preservation of ice cubes had to be carefully designed.
When discussing his collaboration with actors, Lou especially shared the background of his frequent partnership with actor Morning Mo. He emphasized that while many people assume they are a fixed creative duo, these collaborations have mostly stemmed from practical production considerations. He also spoke about his experiences working with other actors such as Huang Pei-Jia, Wang Yu-Hsuan, and veteran actor Cheng Chih-Wei, offering concrete examples of their professionalism and on-set interactions. These stories gave students a more tangible understanding of the filmmaking process.
As for future plans, Lou revealed that he is currently developing a new feature film titled Dream Serpent, which will return to themes rooted in social issues and historical context. The story incorporates real-world social materials and spans three different eras, aiming to be a work grounded in both realism and historical narrative.
Reflecting on his own academic journey, Lou admitted that he once questioned the practicality of what he learned in university. However, over time, he came to recognize how philosophy and film theory have deeply influenced his creative thinking. “Often, we don't know how certain knowledge will ferment and grow at the start — but eventually, it surfaces and shapes the way we tell stories.”
Reported by Chiang Yu-Jiun
Director Lou Yi-An was invited to give a lecture at the International Leadership in Communication of College of Communication at National Chengchi University (NCCU) on May 23, where he shared his creative journey and life experiences with students. He began with a lighthearted yet sincere tone, noting that although he has often returned to campuses for film screenings, participating in a class as a guest speaker felt especially meaningful this time.
His upcoming drama series Our Bar is set to premiere on MyVideo on May 30. The ten-episode series blends themes of mixology, everyday life, and human nature, and has been described as a Taiwanese version of Midnight Diner.
However, behind its seemingly lighthearted tone, the series faced numerous production challenges. Lou admitted that filming in the bar setting was quite demanding. Since actors could not consume alcohol during filming, the production team had to focus heavily on creating realism — everything from the look of non-alcoholic drinks to the preservation of ice cubes had to be carefully designed.
When discussing his collaboration with actors, Lou especially shared the background of his frequent partnership with actor Morning Mo. He emphasized that while many people assume they are a fixed creative duo, these collaborations have mostly stemmed from practical production considerations. He also spoke about his experiences working with other actors such as Huang Pei-Jia, Wang Yu-Hsuan, and veteran actor Cheng Chih-Wei, offering concrete examples of their professionalism and on-set interactions. These stories gave students a more tangible understanding of the filmmaking process.
As for future plans, Lou revealed that he is currently developing a new feature film titled Dream Serpent, which will return to themes rooted in social issues and historical context. The story incorporates real-world social materials and spans three different eras, aiming to be a work grounded in both realism and historical narrative.
Reflecting on his own academic journey, Lou admitted that he once questioned the practicality of what he learned in university. However, over time, he came to recognize how philosophy and film theory have deeply influenced his creative thinking. “Often, we don't know how certain knowledge will ferment and grow at the start — but eventually, it surfaces and shapes the way we tell stories.”
Reported by Chiang Yu-Jiun