Stories of Change

The Challenge

Taiwan is a society dominated by public opinion, and each 'urban renewal' project on average takes more than 15 years. Local governments need to hold meetings and consult with residents for a prolonged period of time. The biggest challenge of reconstruction is not just the physical rebuilding of the city but the rebuilding of people's hearts. The situation calls for respect and understanding.

The New Taipei City Government (NTCG) is implementing two major reconstruction projects – Wenzaizun and Wugu Garbage Mountain. These projects cover a vast area and involve millions of residents who live in old and dilapidated urban spaces. Many residents have been looking forward to the reconstruction for a long time, but when facing relocation, their hearts are still filled with reluctance and doubt. How can we help this city progress and reduce the anxiety that accompanies change?

The Solution

Based on these two insights, the video incorporates real interviews and dramatizes two youth stories. We invited Golden Award Director Chin-Yen Yee and young, talented actors Huai-Yun Zhan and Chin-Yu Pan to apply dynamic style to evoke people's inner longing for the future.

EP.1  Yesterday And Tomorrow

Insight: The swing between past and tomorrow 

Story: Facing the upcoming relocation, the childhood sweethearts who grew up together started a conversation about yesterday and tomorrow. The boy, always looking back, symbolizes yesterday; the girl, always looking forward, symbolizes tomorrow. Through the girl's hand-drawn book, we preserve the collective memory of the land forever. Tomorrow will always be able to carry the memories of yesterday as they move forward into the future.

EP.2  The Beginning of After

Insight: Impossible to change

Story: A father and son, living a life of self-deception. Neither of them can face up to reality or believe that they have the power to change their situation, until they both pick one thing to start with. We adapted the real stories to reflects the plight of the Wugu Garbage Mountain.

We hope The Stories of Change series can comfort and encourage residents, make them move forward and pursue better future.

The Results

Dispensing with traditional propaganda, after the film series went online, we set a new record for the number of positive discussions in government ads.

• 3,000,000 views within a week, 110k likes, and 24% increase in NTCG’s Governance Satisfaction.
• Rebuilding a city involves not only tangible buildings but also intangible emotions.
• To make people change, we need a special kind of courage, called LOVE.

Today, Wugu Garbage Mountain has become a beautiful park, and Wenzaizun's Illegal iron factories have been torn down. Most residents restart their new life in an almost peaceful way throughout the process.