What is director Yen's 'small room'?

A private space where she calls actors for intense, one-on-one criticism during filming.

Why did Chang Chen-chuan say he was 'shattered'?

Due to prolonged emotional pressure and harsh feedback during intense shooting scenes.

Where can I watch 'The Wedding I Owe You'?

It will be released in major theaters across Taiwan and select streaming platforms.

What is the main concern in this report?

The ethical boundary between artistic excellence and psychological harm on set.

Is this type of directing common in Taiwan's film industry?

While not rare, there's a growing shift toward mental wellness and safe environments.

Director Yen Yi-Wen's Strict Direction Revealed, Actors Expose On-Set Scolding

Published Jun 16, 2026 8:09 PM ・ Updated Jun 19, 2026 3:07 AM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: CNA (Central News Agency)

At the premiere of her new film 'The Wedding I Owe You,' director Yen Yi-Wen was exposed by cast members for her harsh directing style, including private scolding sessions and emotionally intense feedback that left actors like Chang Chen-chuan feeling 'shattered.'

By Central News Agency reporter Hung Su-chin, Taipei, June 16

Actress Susan Su revealed that director Yen Yi-Wen has a dedicated 'small room' where she calls actors in for intense critiques. Yen admitted that during filming, she told actors Chu Hsuan-yang and Pu Ho-fei, 'Look at your clumsy acting!' Chang Chen-chuan also said he was deeply affected, exclaiming, 'I'm already broken.'

Yen Yi-Wen's new drama 'The Wedding I Owe You' held its premiere today, attended by lead actors Chang Chen-chuan, Susan Su, Hsieh Ying-hsuan, Huang Ti-yang, Yao Chun-yao, Pei Tzu-chi, Pu Ho-fei, Wang Yu-hsuan, and the band Cosmos People.

Yen admitted to having a 'small room' where she pulls actors aside when they're emotionally off or not hitting their marks. She acknowledged that Chu Hsuan-yang and Pu Ho-fei were the harshest recipients of her criticism on this project.

Chu and Pu play the younger versions of Chang and Su's characters. Yen explained it was 'tough love,' saying she sometimes snapped at them, 'Look at your clumsy acting!'

Newcomer Pei Tzu-chi, who shares the same role at different life stages with Huang Ti-yang, faced eight consecutive NGs in his first scene with Chu and Yao Chun-yao, triggering Yen's fury. After calming down, she immediately sent a message: 'We love you.' Hsieh Ying-hsuan joked to Pei, 'You've been seriously PUA'd.'

Chang said he nearly broke down early in filming. Yen later sent a PUA-style message: 'I treat you like family, so I can say anything directly.' But by then, Chang was already traumatized, shouting, 'I'm already shattered.' Yao Chun-yao, often acting opposite Hsieh, was crushed by her performance and scolded by Yen: 'What are you even doing?' This left Yao with lingering trauma and dissociative symptoms: 'I stared at the ceiling, told my wife I felt dissociated, with constant buzzing in my head.'

Huang shared that Yen's favorite insult was 'It's terrible,' but actors couldn't let it shake them. 'You have to treat it as praise. It's absurd, but that's how I survived,' he said. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150616

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Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
Category: Event

Director Yen Yi-Wen's Strict Direction Revealed, Actors Expose On-Set Scolding

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