Taichung City in central Taiwan has been selected as a shooting location for U.S. director Martin Scorsese’s new production “Silence,” with filming set to commence in mid-February 2015.
“We welcome the decision and will throw the full weight of the local government behind the project,” Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu said. “Every effort is being taken to continue implementing related measures and developing Taichung into an innovation-friendly metropolis.”
According to Hu, major projects in the pipeline include Central Taiwan Cinema Center in Taichung Gateway District and Central Taiwan Film Studios in Wufeng District—two facilities certain to take the local filmmaking industry to new heights.
Scorsese, who toured key facilities such as the 6,750-ton water tank used by Taiwan director Ang Lee for the main scene of his Oscar-winning “Life of Pi” at shuttered Taichung Shuinan Airport, praised the city’s weather and filming environment. He said he looks forward to a pleasant partnership with the local government when his team comes back next year.
This is the second time Scorsese has visited Taiwan to scout locations for the film. Last year, at the urging of Lee, he toured a number of possible sites in Taipei City and Hualien County.
Based on author Shusaku Endo’s historic novel, “Silence” tells the story of two 17th century Jesuit priests faced with violence and persecution after traveling to Japan in search of their mentor and to spread the word of God. It is reportedly set to star Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver. (SFC-JSM)
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