Shopee Canada Official Website Shopee Canada Shopee Canada official website

Taiwan's rising star Vivian Sung recently won the Rising Star Asia Award at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) for her new film "The Way Home," becoming the first Taiwanese actress to receive this honor. In her acceptance speech, she publicly discussed for the first time the challenges of navigating Hollywood and her personal journey, garnering attention from the industry.

1. Award-winning film and breakthrough role

"The Way Home" tells the story of a Chinese-American woman searching for her roots in the United States. Vivian Sung plays the lead role, "Ling," and was required to perform entirely in English, challenging herself with numerous emotionally charged scenes.

Judges commented: "Her nuanced performance broke through cultural barriers, allowing global audiences to see the diverse possibilities of Asian actors."

2. Revealing Her Hollywood Journey for the First Time

🎬 Audition Dilemma: The "Coverage" of Asian Actors

Vivian Song admitted that she faced stereotypes when she first arrived in Hollywood: "90% of the offers were for the 'quiet Asian girl' or the 'kung fu supporting role.' Some even asked me if I could act more like Crazy Rich Asians."

She rejected stereotypes and actively pursued complex roles: "I told my agent I'd rather have no roles than repeat a stereotyped performance."

💪 The Dual Challenges of Language and Culture

English Pressure: To achieve the "American accent" required by the crew, she read the news daily, hired a dialogue coach, and even collapsed at the audition due to excessive pressure.

Loneliness: "For the first six months in Los Angeles, I had no friends and could only watch old movies to get through the nights of homesickness."

🌟 Turning Point: Meeting a Director Who Mented Her Talent

Independent producer and director Jessica Lin (Lin Shuyu) saw her potential and tailored the script for "The Way Home," helping her break out of the commercial film mold.

3. The Path from Taiwan to the International Stage

Beginning in Taiwan: She rose to prominence with "Waiting for Someone" (2014) and later gained international fame with "My Girlhood" (2015).

Stepping out of her comfort zone: In 2019, she went to the United States to study acting and built her network from scratch.

Future Plans: She will continue to pursue independent filmmaking while developing a self-produced project based on Taiwan's immigration history.

4. Industry and Online Response

International Media Attention: Variety called her "a symbol of the new generation of Asian acting power."

Taiwanese netizens expressed their support: "I'm so proud to see the Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress (Note: Vivian Sung was nominated for a Golden Horse Award for her role in "Take Me to the Moon") stand on the international stage!"

Friends and friends: Ariel Lin, Ko Chen-tung, and others posted messages of congratulations, and director Chen Yushan even said, "Hollywood is waiting for you to win an Oscar!"

5. Conclusion: A New Beginning to Break Boundaries

Vivian Sung's award is not only a personal breakthrough; it also reflects the difficult path Asian actors face in the international film industry. A quote from an interview perhaps sums up her journey:

"Only you can break the box others put you in—even if it means taking a long detour."