In the Gongguan area of Taipei City, an unusual village—also known as Treasure Hill—is nestled on a hill alongside the Xindian River. The majority of residents used to be mainly military dependents, but nowadays the community hosts a very different sort, including artists from home and abroad and young students enrolled at the relatively new Taipei Media School.
The only institution of its kind in Taiwan, TMS was founded under the auspices of Taipei City Government in 2016. It is an experimental initiative cultivating junior high school graduates’ professional skills in areas like filmmaking, music and theater productions. Operating outside the mainstream education system, TMS employs experienced instructors without requisite teaching qualifications. It also applies a freestyle approach to drafting curriculums and schedules.
Photography techniques are taught outside a Treasure Hill residence.
TMS dropped its original requirement of students spending four hours each day in classroom. Instead, there is greater freedom in arranging schedules via a credit system, which means an end to compulsory courses. Such an adjustment was based on the feedback of coursetakers and close observation of their learning condition by instructors.
TMS Director Tim Chen said granting students more autonomy allows them to think carefully about each decision they make and better understand the importance of accepting full responsibility for these choices.
A smorgasbord of courses is designed for TMS students, encompassing copyright law, composition, film editing, photography and scriptwriting. Also aiming to broaden their horizons, the institution organizes several field trips to locales frequented by disadvantaged members of society or foreign workers.
“Before these trips, most students had little understanding of broader society or the diverse cultures of Taiwan,” Chen said, adding that the experience of coming into contact with different people adds depth to the creative mindset—a fact illustrated by the heightened presence of diversity in produced works.
Outside the classroom, TMS students are encouraged to undertake passion projects or internships. In August, three students were invited to Hungary to participate in a monthlong filmmaking session after their potential was spotted by the event organizer during a related camp last year in South Korea. Since 2016, TMS students have collaborated or worked with various outfits like advertising agencies, concert production companies radio stations, theater groups and television stations, according to Chen.
Students hash out a technical solution during a TMS classroom sound engineering session.
Appearing in a film jointly produced by a professional director and TMS students, Woody Yang—one of the school’s 87 students—said the institution helped him discover his enthusiasm and the courage to pursue a dream. Describing himself before entering TMS as “visually impaired,” “empty-headed” and unable to chart his own course, Yang said he now has the tools to confidently explore an unknown future.
Chen said stories such as Yang’s have given him great joy during his two years as head of TMS. Pleased to have seen many similar examples of personal growth by the students, the director said he is always impressed by the transformation of the teenagers in his charge.
Some of the students endured enormous pressure at school and from parents due to poor academic performance, Chen said. This experimental education system allows them to grow out of past frustrations and regain confidence, he added. “Furthermore, they can find a more effective way to communicate with adults with increasing self-confidence.” (E) (By Chiang Pei-ying)
TMS boasts an enviable selection of cameras and related filming equipment.
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(This article is adapted from Shaped by Talent Behind the Lens in the January/February 2018 issue of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)