Sylvia Chang Ai-chia shows no signs of slowing down. The 71-year-old Taiwanese film legend is actively touring festivals with Daughter’s Daughter, finalizing post-production on Measure in Love, and writing her next feature, set to shoot in 2026. Despite decades in the industry, Chang maintains an intense pace: acting, mentoring, producing, and always writing. Her lifetime commitment to filmmaking began when she transitioned from being a pop singer in the 1970s to a screen performer, vowing to treat cinema not as a stepping stone but as her life’s work. She has since taken on nearly every role in the industry—from writer and actress to director and producer—across a wide array of genres.
She co-produced Daughter’s Daughter with director Hou Hsiao-hsien and supported emerging talent like Kung Siu-ping, whose film Measure in Love she helped develop and fund. She believes first-time directors in Hong Kong and Taiwan shouldn’t be limited to low-budget films, especially when platforms like Netflix set high standards. For Chang, post-production is a favorite phase, one that lets her collaborate with experts like renowned sound designer Tu Duu-chih.
Chang’s approach is rooted in exploration and emotional truth. She carefully builds characters, sometimes scribbling notes on call sheets, and isn’t afraid to learn from past failures. She recalls her directorial debut Once Upon a Time (1981) as a misstep but gained maturity with Passion (1986). She remains curious, drawing inspiration from films like Flow, a wordless 2024 Latvian animation, and is now experimenting with visual storytelling and minimal dialogue.
Her upcoming project, co-written with You Xiaoying, emerged from a short story rich in imagery. Casting is crucial to her—when she sees the right actor, she knows immediately. Though nostalgic about traditional cinemas, she laments the shift toward small screens and stresses the irreplaceable magic of watching films in a large, darkened theater.
Despite earlier vows to avoid producing again after difficult experiences, she’s back at it—driven by a love of collaboration and fresh perspectives. Comedy remains one of her favorite genres, though she admits it’s hard to find the right material. What keeps her going is the spark of the unexpected, the excitement of something new that emerges on set and adds life to a story.
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