THE VOICES is a film about a fifty-year-old woman who suddenly loses her voice after a stagnant and bleak life. One day, she meets a man selling fresh milk at the market, and they develop an ambiguous relationship after sharing their hearts. This story is also like a fairy tale fable, where the protagonist must face herself with sincerity and bravery to regain her lost voice. This desire to find one's voice is also a new chapter for the author during her creative career in her master's degree. Through introspective self-awareness as a creator, the author examines the intrinsic motivation behind the creative intention, attempting to actively write a piece that no longer indulges in self-pity, instead revolving around the tragic fate in the previous creative context of the author. The author hopes the film will serve as a witness, unraveling the chemical effects between the author and the values that influence the work.
The author began writing THE VOICES in 2019 and received the 109th Short Film Grant of the ROC Ministry of Culture in 2020. Due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, the production had to be postponed. It finally completed and successfully premiered at the end of 2022. This thesis will document the author's journey through the repeated revisions of the script's theme, creative brainstorming with the team, and communication and discussions with the actors. Last, it will reflect on the mistakes made by the author in the decision-making process after extending the timeline.
This thesis consists of six chapters:
Chapter 1 — Introduction: review the author's past creative context and the concept of THE VOICES.
Chapter 2 — Literature Review: explore the themes of "The Constraints of Women in Social Roles," "The Impact of Social Frameworks on Women's Health," and "Women's Identity Crisis and Awakening.” And list relevant films that are used as references for research.
Chapter 3 — The Creative Notion: examine the core themes of the script in five stages along a timeline.
Chapter 4 — Style design and performance strategies: provide detailed descriptions of the intended visual style and conduct landscape surveys.
Chapter 5 — Production and Execution: outline the planning, filming process, and post-production stages while examining the creative process.
Chapter 6 — Screening and Feedback: analyze audience feedback, evaluate the shortcomings of the work objectively, address the gaps between the overall production process and the director's intentions, and further analyze and review as a conclusion.