The glass box

Infobox Film
name = [http://www.theglassboxmovie.com THE GLASS BOX]


director = Matt Finlin
producer = Fe Hou Communications
Finkle Films
writer = Matt Finlin
Christopher Sinico
Eugene Wu
starring = Kelly Creighton
Lin Ke Hsin
Josh Barnaby
Sean Lin
Huang Yu Chi
Zin Hao Siao
music = Sugar Plum Ferry
Brad MacDuff
cinematography = Alexander Williams
Walter McGee
editing = Matt Finlin
production_company = Fe Hou Communications
Finkle Films
distributor = TBA
released = May 31, 2008 (Asia) Oct 10, 2008 (North America)
runtime = 40 min.
country = Taiwan
Canada
language = English Mandarin

Plot

As the world shrinks and our population mix increases there will be a greater need for inter-cultural understanding and acceptance. The film has a strong social relevance in that cultures can be so different from one another. Yet we are all human beings that share the same hopes and dreams, the same worries and sorrows, and the need for love and understanding. These are the common threads that bind us together as one family in one world. This is the main message in The Glass Box.

The Glass Box is a short fictional film based on the lives of two young women in Taiwan. Claudia is a twenty-three year old North American who has reluctantly come to Asia with her boyfriend to teach English at a cram school. Yin-May, also twenty-three, was born and raised in Taiwan by her father in a fishing community on the island of Chijin. It is a genuine and unique story comparing and contrasting two people from different cultures in a unusual set of circumstances.

The story takes place in the booming metropolis of Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second largest city. Relatively unknown to the western world, Kaohsiung holds one of the world's largest container ports and has seen extraordinary development over the past ten years. Kaohsiung is truly a remarkable city, where old meets new. It is entrenched with various textures and gems distinct to the Asian world.

With the rise of China and the controversy over Taiwan, The Glass Box is a film that will attract audiences in Asia as well as in North America. The Glass Box allows viewers a peek into a very interesting and diverse culture, while juxtaposing the thoughts and feelings of a North American living in a foreign land.

Cast and characters

* Kelly Creighton as Claudia: A 23 year old North American living in Taiwan teaching English.
* Lin Ke Hsin as Yin-May: A 20 something Taiwanese girl living in Taiwan.
* Josh Barnaby as Claudia's Boyfriend:
* Sean Lin as The Blue Truck Passenger:
* Huang Yu Chi as Young Yin-May:
* Hu Chin Chi as Yin-May's Father:
* Siao Zin Hao as The Boss:

Production

"The Glass Box" was in production for over 7 months, and is currently screening in Asia, and North America. The primary locations for this movie are Pingtung City, Kaohsiung City, ChiJin Island and Kaohsiung County in Taiwan (R.O.C.)

The location of the Bin Lan stand used in the filming of the movie is in Pingtung City, Taiwan. One can also see many of the famous landmarks of Kaohsiung in the film. The 85-story Tuntex building dominates the Kaohsiung skyline. The famous ChiJin Island lighthouse, the 50-story Chang-Gu World Trade Center, and the Grand Hi-Lai Tower can be seen as well. The infamous Love River also makes an appearance in the movie.

Casting

Kelly Creighton was always cast in the role of Claudia from the beginning. Matt Finlin specifically wrote this script with her in mind as one of the main characters of the story. The role of Yin-May was played by Lin Ke Hsin, a local University student, who worked perfectly with Creighton as the co-star. The original cast actress for Yin-May was forced to step away from the role by her father, not because of the content, but because he didn’t want her staying out at night. So Lin Ke Hsin was asked to step into the role, and production carried on. Sean Lin, another Kaohsiung local, was an obvious choice to play one of the local characters, and can be seen stealing the scene as a blue truck passenger who is talking with the two stars.

Production design

Matt Finlin credits several directors with inspiration, such as Sofia Coppola, Jean-Luc Goddard, and Wes Anderson. Much of the set design was designed, and created by him, and most of the artistic elements of the film are credited to Finlin as well.

Release

May 31 2008 (Asia)
Oct 10 2008 (North America)

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.theglassboxmovie.com Official website]
* [http://www.cinemathequewaterloo.org/theglassbox North American Screening Info]
* [http://www.xpatmag.com/ Xpat Magazine Taiwan - Glass Box Review]
* [http://news.therecord.com/arts/article/425607 Kitchener/Waterloo Record Newspaper Article]
* [http://www.echoweekly.com/viewstory.php?storyid=7434 Echo Weekly Newspaper Article]
* [http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/arts_and_entertainment/article/146563 Cambridge Times Newspaper Article]