By Pan Tao-Yu (潘韜宇) / Comprehensive Report
The splendor and sorrow of Taiwan's deep oceans have leaped onto the big screen in 8K for the first time. Shipwrecks Taiwan, the nation's first deep-sea documentary focused on the ecology of shipwrecks, held its grand premiere today (the 6th) at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. Directed by Golden Bell award-winning producer Tim Lee (李景白), the film took four years to complete. Requiring over 600 deep dives and 2,400 scuba tanks, this documentary not only pushed the limits of technology and physical endurance but also presents the magnificence and fragility of the ocean with overwhelming visual aesthetics.
Shipwrecks Taiwan was filmed in 8K at 120 frames per second, the highest specification in the industry, with a resolution four times that of 4K and nearly 8,000 horizontal pixels, making every frame breathtakingly detailed. The premiere was hosted by the Delta Electronics Foundation, which invited marine scholars, coral restoration groups, and industry partners to the grand event. The film was projected onto an 800-inch screen with 5.1 channel sound, using Delta's proprietary 8K projector with 37,000 lumens of brightness to provide an immersive viewing experience. Wiwynn and the Wiwynn Foundation are also key supporters of the film and will host additional 8K special screenings, hoping that through this documentary, more people will pay attention to Taiwan's marine environment and raise awareness for ocean conservation and sustainable development.
Director Tim Lee, who also served as the underwater cinematographer, used his lens to capture scenes of fish shoals swimming through shipwrecks and the growth of coral. He admitted that the filming process was filled with loneliness and challenges, as the environment and conditions of each dive were unpredictable, making every shot especially precious. He hopes to preserve the final images of these shipwrecks before they are eroded and destroyed, and through this imagery, remind society that the ocean's beauty and sorrow are a microcosm of human activity.
The film uses shipwrecks as a focal point to reveal how these "steel giants" become shelters for marine organisms, nurturing a colorful underwater world. In a healthy ocean ecosystem, the shipwrecks are teeming with fish and coral; an empty wreck, however, serves as a silent warning of the depletion of marine resources. Tim Lee stated that this documentary is not just an exploration of the deep sea, but also a commitment and a responsibility to the ocean.
Shipwrecks Taiwan boasts a strong production team. Lee Che-Yi (李哲藝), a 40-time Golden Melody Award nominee, was invited to serve as the music director, creating a bespoke score that evokes the mystery and majesty of the deep sea. Award-winning actor Bamboo Chen (陳竹昇) lent his voice to the narration, guiding the audience into the unknown underwater world with his deep and emotional tone. The film is co-produced by Vision Creator Production Co., Ltd. and LINE Taiwan, bringing stories hidden in the depths of the ocean to the audience and authentically capturing its splendor and sorrow.
This deep-sea documentary is not just a tribute to Taiwan's oceans but also a soul-stirring visual feast. Shipwrecks Taiwan will be released nationwide on April 25, leading audiences into the deep sea to experience the life stories of these "steel giants" and to rethink the relationship between humanity and the ocean.