- Chinese Name: 王小棣
- Born: Aug. 15, 1953
- Birthplace: Taipei City (Northern Taiwan)
- Do You Know That…?
- As an adolescent, Wang was considered a problem student who never paid much attention to school. However, she had a math teacher who did not give up on her. Wang decided to change during her junior year in high school, and successfully entered the Department of Theater Arts at the Chinese Culture University.
As an influential screenwriter and director based in Taiwan, Wang Shau-di conveys her deep concerns relating to contemporary society through her audiovisual works.
Wang's ability to interpret the lives of people without romanticizing or embellishing reality has made her the winner of several awards. She has been recognized for Best Original Screenplay by the Golden Horse Awards for "Strawman (稻草人)” in 1987 and the Best Television Series by the Golden Bell Awards for "Banquet (赴宴)” in 2004.
From cinema to TV
After graduating from the Chinese Culture University, Wang received a M.A. in Theater from the Trinity University at Texas, and later attended the University of San Francisco to study film.
Wang returned to Taiwan in 1979, established Ming Xin Film & TV Production Co. Ltd (民心影視公司), and worked as a screenwriter for "Strawman” and "Banana Paradise (香蕉天堂)” alongside noted director Wang Toon (王童).
Since 1984, Wang's company produced such TV series as "A Happy Family (全家福),” "Every Family is Happy (佳家福),” and "Mother Hen Leads Ducklings (母雞帶小鴨).” These series explored filial relations between family members with a positive approach, which influenced the development of television programs in Taiwan.
In 1992, Wang established Rice Film International Co. Ltd (稻田電影工作室) to focus on producing feature films. In 1997, Rice Film produced "Grandma and Her Ghosts (魔法阿媽),” an animation integrating elements of folklore, supernatural, life, and death. The animated feature thick with Taiwanese cultural colors set a milestone for Taiwan's animation field.
Rice Film also produced TV series and features for the Public Television Service, depicting the stories of unprivileged groups and ordinary citizens. "Boys Can Fly (刺蝟男孩)” reflects the issues of juvenile delinquency and passive education in Taiwan; while "Big Hospital, Small Doctors (大醫院小醫師)” vividly illustrates the harsh working environment of hospitals and the affected lives of doctors.
Wang has noted that instead of making series or films about her personal experiences, her works take inspiration from Taiwanese society and people from every walk of life. She believes that as a filmmaker, it is necessary to interact with society, and through producing TV series and films, Wang is able to raise public awareness of issues that society as a whole will need to address.