To welcome the 60th Golden Bell Awards in Taiwan, the Bureau of Audiovisual and Popular Music Industry under the Ministry of Culture will host the “Golden Bell 60/60 Exhibition” at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei from now until October 19. This exhibition aims to review the 60-year history of Taiwan’s film and television industry.
The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China held a press conference today (October 6) stating that the exhibition focuses on the development of Taiwan’s media industry, telling the story of 60 years through key events and classic film and television works, showcasing the cultural value embodied by the Golden Bell Awards as a landmark award.
The exhibition opened today with the presence of Culture Minister Li Yuan, Chairwoman of the Golden Bell Awards Jury Committee Tian Liyun, veteran actress Chen Shufang, who received the Special Contribution Award this year, and television set designer Ye Huilong, among others, witnessing and embracing the glorious moment of Golden Bell 60.
Minister Li Yuan mentioned that this year, both recipients of the Special Contribution Award, despite Ye Huilong retiring for 15 years, have continued to renew contracts with TV stations, “without raising prices and continuing to work,” bringing decades of collective memories to Taiwan for a lifetime.
Li Yuan remarked that this year not only marks Golden Bell 60 but also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. He emphasized that Taiwan has become a “community of life” over these 80 years. He highlighted the recent efforts of many volunteers post the Hualien earthquake, illustrating the significant power of television and broadcasting in rallying such massive support for clearing debris and rebuilding the affected areas.
Minister Li Yuan expressed his belief that despite some turmoil in Taiwanese society and the prevalence of misinformation, the broadcast of daily traffic reports in the morning still opens a hopeful day for everyone. He noted that dramas on television continue to heal our hearts, emphasizing the role of television and broadcasting in maintaining social stability and providing a channel for accurate information.
During her speech, Gao Minghui, the general manager of Sanli TV, the organizing unit, emphasized the importance of carrying forward the glory and creativity under the theme “Next Second, the Future” of the 60th Golden Bell Awards. She thanked the channels and industry pioneers who provided exhibits for their support, highlighting the importance of inheriting and passing on traditions to create another 60 years of glory together.
The “Golden Bell 60/60 Exhibition” is divided into four main thematic areas, presenting the trajectory of Taiwan’s broadcast and television industry development over 60 years from different perspectives. It has been crafted as an immersive expanse akin to an “entertainment world,” allowing audiences to interact and experience from behind the scenes to the front, fully immersing in the splendid moments and trajectory of Golden Bell 60.
In the first area, “THE MOMENT about those generational matters: witnessing the first times of Golden Bell and the era,” the focus is on the important starting points and breakthroughs in Taiwan’s radio and television history, showcasing beloved exhibits like the “Pei Mei Recipe,” the radio special issue “Love Qinghong Deng,” and precious artifacts from past Golden Bell Awards, revealing the beginnings and trials of each generation.
Moving to the second area, “THE MEMORY about those national matters: revisiting the programs we chased together,” it leads viewers back to the era of chasing national programs and dramas, featuring original props like the headpiece from “Justice Bao” and scenes reminiscent of “Rose Night,” iconic settings from “Fruit Ice Cream,” and clips from the once sensational “Taiwan Tornado,” allowing audiences to see that film and television works are not just entertainment but shared memories across generations.
The third area, “THE GLORY about those honored matters: the shining stage of applause and tears,” allows visitors to experience award-winning moments firsthand, take photos with replica Golden Bell trophies, and view exhibits such as physical masks from “The Imitator” and cross-generational figure dialogues.
In the fourth area, “THE UNSEEN about those unseen matters: the backstage hands behind program births,” showcases replica scenes from classic variety shows and a shipbuilding segment from “Enjoying Taiwan with Jiaqing Jun,” revealing the efforts and dedication of the production teams in the creation process and acknowledging the unsung heroes behind the camera.
Remembering the hardships of early television dramas, veteran actress Chen Shufang recalled the challenges of memorizing lines and shared an anecdote about a dramatic rescue during a live broadcast when the male lead forgot his lines, demonstrating the collective effort and quick thinking required in such situations.
Chen Shufang reminisced about acting alongside Takeshi Kaneshiro in the TV series “Grassland Heroes,” praising his dedication to acting even as a student at the time. Drawing from her own experience, she encouraged young actors to persevere through challenges, emphasizing that audiences can always feel the sincerity and effort put into performances.
Expressing her commitment to continue acting, Chen Shufang wished for the younger generation to shine in Taiwan’s entertainment industry. Despite acting for 60 years, she humorously remarked that the only accolades missing from her career were the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards at the Golden Bell Awards, vowing to achieve those to complete her fulfilling career.
At 80 years old and still maintaining an annual contract with Taiwan Television, set designer Ye Huilong reflected on his career, starting as an apprentice at 13 and remaining steadfast in his position to this day. He noted the meticulous attention to detail required in creating props and sets, especially considering space limitations and recycling materials in a practical manner.
While showcasing the large ship prop from “Enjoying Taiwan with Jiaqing Jun” at the exhibition, Ye Huilong recalled the satisfaction of completing such challenging builds in collaboration with colleagues. He expressed his hope for young people to enter the industry and inherit the craftsmanship to ensure its continuity and development.
The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China announced that a series of activities for the 60th Golden Bell Awards will commence with the “Golden Bell 60/60 Exhibition.” Starting tomorrow until the 10th, there will be nightly “2025 National Day Presidential Palace Architectural Light Show” performances in front of the Presidential Palace from 7 pm to 9:30 pm every half hour. The awards ceremonies for radio, program, and drama categories of this year’s Golden Bell Awards will be held on October 11, 17, and 18, inviting the public to reminisce and embrace the excitement of “Golden Bell 60.” For more information, please visit the official “Golden Bell 60” website and Facebook page.