Doze Niu (Chinese: 鈕承澤; pinyin: Niǔ Chéngzé; Wade–Giles: Niu Ch'eng-tse; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Liú Sêng-te̍k, also known as Niu Chen-zer;[1] born June 22, 1966) is a Taiwanese actor, film director, show host, screenwriter, and producer. As a film director, he is best known for the Taiwanese film Monga.

Doze Niu
Niu in 2014
Born
Niu Chen-zer

(1966-06-22) June 22, 1966 (age 58)
Taipei, Taiwan
Alma materNational Taiwan College of Performing Arts
Occupation(s)Film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, show host
Parent(s)Niu Hua
Zhang Qingqin

Early life

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Niu was born in Taipei, Taiwan on June 22, 1966. He grew up in the military dependents' village in Gongguan, Taipei. His father's family is from the Manchu Niohuru clan and his mother's family has military background. His grandfather was a general, so he would often accompany him to visit Chiang Kai-shek. When he was 12, his father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and became bed-ridden for 25 years until his death.[2]

His love for Hong Kong cinema may have influenced his later works.

Career

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Niu started his acting at the age of 9. He was 17 when he was nominated for his first Golden Horse Award in 1983 for Growing Up.[2]

These early successes did not help his career as he grew older. At the age of 19, Niu could not find any roles in films, so he started hanging out with his so-called "corner brothers" and improved his Taiwanese tremendously.[3] By speaking fluent Taiwanese, he was able to get along with the Taiwanese people even though his family originated from Beijing.

Niu is the founder of the production company Red Bean Production Co, which was created in August 2002.[4] He participated in all three movies that he directed but vowed to not appear in any more movies so that he can focus entirely on directing.[5]

Niu was originally slated to direct the 2018 film Pao Ma, which has been abandoned since 2021, when Niu was sentenced to prison in Hualien County for 4 years.

Controversies

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Carrier intrusion

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In June 2013, he brought Chinese cinematographer Cao Yu into the Navy base in Zhuoying under a false name. The incident was revealed by their photo together on an aircraft carrier. These actions violated certain laws of the Ministry of National Defense.[6][7] The Navy command investigated it as possible intrusion, which can carry a five-year sentence. On July 16, 2013, Niu admitted his wrongdoing in the court in Kaoshiong and paid NT$200,000 for bail. He told the media that he didn't know he broke the law.[8]

Sexual assault allegations

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On 5 December 2018, a female crew member on the set of Pao Ma filed a police report accusing Niu of sexually assaulting her the previous month.[9][1] He was subsequently questioned by police officers of the Da'an Precinct and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office,[10][11] and was indicted in January 2019.[12][13][14] Niu was formally charged with rape in February 2019. An appeal to the Taiwan High Court was heard in April 2020, and he was sentenced to four years imprisonment. The High Court ruling was upheld as the Supreme Court rejected Niu's appeal in September 2021.[15]

Features

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What on Earth Have I Done Wrong?!

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What on Earth Have I Done Wrong is the first dramatic film that Niu directed. He was also the main actor. Although the movie is not an autobiography, there are a lot of resemblances between him and the character. The character in the movie is also a director attempting to gather enough money to produce a mockumentary film. The film was initially about the politics in Taiwan; however, Niu took a completely different turn with the film and focused the film on the character. A lot of media commented that this film is a half-biography or a documentary. The film was nominated for the best picture award at the Golden Horse Film Festival and it won the FIPRESCI Prize.[16]

Monga

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Monga is a gangster movie that takes place in the Wanhua District of Taipei and has a cast of mainly young actors like Mark Chao and Ethan Juan. Niu also participated in the movie as the head of the gang from the Chinese mainland. The movie was a box office success, grossing more than US$1.8 million in Taiwan.[17]

The film was selected as the Taiwanese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards.[18]

Filmography

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Film

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Year English title Original title Role Notes
1975 A Misty Love 小雨絲絲
1979 Love Be Forever 我們永遠在一起
Gone with Honor 香火
1980 The Story of Daniel Kelly 丹尼爾的故事
1982 Portrait of a Fanatic 苦戀 Ling Chenguang (teen)
1983 Growing Up 小畢的故事 Bi Chujia (teen)
March On to the Troops 小畢從軍去 spin-off sequel to Growing Up
The Boys from Fengkuei 風櫃來的人 Ah Ching
Sex Education 國中十四章 Tung Ah-lung
1984 Ann Ann 安安
1985 Beautiful Men of the Tang Dynasty 唐朝綺麗男 Cui Junnan
The Sight of Father's Back 背影
The Youth in the Mud 泥巴中的少年
The Young Ba Jia Jiang 少年八家將
1986 The Kinmen Bombs 八二三炮戰 Trumpet
1987 Yes, Sir! 報告班長
Pretty Girl 芳草碧連天
Ah Zhe's Brothers 阿哲的兄弟
The Game They Called Sex 黃色故事
Listen to Me 我有話要說
1989 Banana Paradise 香蕉天堂 Weng Men-shuan
1990 Young Soldier 少爺當大兵
1996 Accidental Legend 飛天 Lame Uncle
1997 Island of Greed 黑金 Ni Chien-kuo
Rainy Dog 極道黒社会 Sunday
1998 The Personals 徵婚啓事 himself
1999 March of Happiness 天馬茶房 Xiao Bao
Red Rain 驚天動地
2000 A Chance to Die 想死趁現在
Hidden Whisper 小百無禁忌 Xiao Bai's boyfriend
Xiaoguang 曉光 Ma Xiaoguang TV film, also director and producer
2001 Millennium Mambo 千禧曼波 Doze
2007 What on Earth Have I Done Wrong?! 情非得已之生存之道 himself also director, co-producer and co-writer
2010 Monga 艋舺 Grey Wolf also director, co-producer and co-writer
2011 Kora 轉山 cyclist pal
2012 Love Mr. Lu also director, co-producer and co-writer
2014 Paradise in Service 軍中樂園 Does not appear director, co-producer and co-writer
2017 Fist & Faith 青禾男高 Does not appear producer

Television

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Year English title Chinese title Role Notes
1987 After the Game 遊戲之後
1989 Awakening 甦醒
1992 No Regrets This Life 今生無悔 Zhou Xiangui
1993 Justice Pao 包青天 Pang Yu
1994 The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants 七俠五義 Li Yuhou
1996 Taiwan Paranormal Events 臺灣靈異事件 unrelated characters
1997 Tiger's Tenderness 老虎的溫柔
Love Is Payable 儂本多情 Da Mi
Ordinary Men and Women 凡夫俗女
Sex Scandal Crisis 桃色危機
The Strange Cases of Lord Shi 施公奇案 Zhou Tong
1998 The Kingdom and the Beauty 江山美人 Liu Shengxue
Track 軌跡
Dahan 大寒
Once 曾經
1999 Taiwan's Liao Tianding 台灣廖添丁 Asano
Hua Mulan 花木蘭 Zhang Xi
2000 Sunny Piggy 春光燦爛豬八戒 Ao Shun
2001 Story of a Stone 石頭的故事
Toast Boy's Kiss 吐司男之吻 Li Xiong also director
2004 Say Yes Enterprise 求婚事務所 Li Yilong also director
From Africa, Coming Back 安室愛美惠 sitcom
2007 My Lucky Star 放羊的星星 bar owner
Wayward Kenting 我在墾丁×天氣晴 Chu Yiyang also director and co-producer

Music videos

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Niu directed music videos for Richie Ren Xian-QI's "wu ni jiu wu wo" and Jasmine Leong's "di san zhe".

Awards and nominations

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  • Growing Up (小畢的故事) 1983 Golden Horse Film Festival best supporting actor nomination
  • 1984 China Art Film Performance Award Medal
  • After the game (遊戲之後) 1987 Golden Bell Award best actor nomination
  • Awakening (甦醒) 1989 Golden Bell Award best actor nomination
  • Banana Paradise (香蕉天堂) 1989 Golden Horse Film Festival best actor nomination
  • Fei Tian (飛天) 1996 Golden Horse Film Festival best supporting actor nomination
  • Xiaoguang (曉光) 2000 Golden Bell Award best actor nomination
  • What on Earth have I done wrong?! (情非得已之生存之道) 2007 Golden Horse Film Festival FIPRESCI Prize
  • Wayward Kenting (我在墾丁*天氣晴) 2008 Golden Bell Award drama director award nomination[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (3 February 2019). "'Monga' Director Doze Niu Charged With Forced Sex". Variety. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b FW 鈕承澤被一句話扭轉人生, retrieved July 19, 2010
  3. ^ 這不是《艋舺》影評(鈕承澤專訪及我的四崁仔), retrieved July 19, 2010
  4. ^ a b 鈕承澤, retrieved July 22, 2010
  5. ^ 豆導再度自導自演〈艋舺》一角 鈕:下次要避免, archived from the original on October 9, 2011, retrieved May 28, 2010
  6. ^ "國防部政治作戰局-首頁-保防安全教育-全民保防". gpwd.mnd.gov.tw. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  7. ^ "大陸地區專業人士來臺從事專業活動許可辦法-全國法規資料庫入口網站". law.moj.gov.tw. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  8. ^ "帶陸攝影師登艦 鈕承澤20萬交保". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 16 July 2013. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  9. ^ "鈕承澤遭爆強吻張鈞甯!逼女星「全裸拍床戲」5小時 - Yahoo奇摩新聞". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  10. ^ Liu, Chien-pang; Hsiao, Po-wen; Hsu, Elizabeth (7 December 2018). "Film director Doze Niu accused of sexually assaulting worker". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  11. ^ Wang, Yang-yu; Kao, Evelyn (10 December 2018). "Taiwanese film director on bail over sexual assault". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  12. ^ Pan, Jason (2 February 2019). "Director Doze Niu faces charge of sexual assault". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  13. ^ Hsiao, Po-wen; Chung, Yu-chen (1 February 2019). "Taiwanese film director indicted for sexual assault". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 February 2019. Alternative URL
  14. ^ "Taiwan director convicted for crew member sex assault - CNA". Archived from the original on 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  15. ^ Hsiao, Po-wen; Kao, Evelyn (29 September 2021). "Supreme Court upholds film director's 4-year sentence for rape". Central News Agency. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  16. ^ ﹝導演專訪﹞【情非得已之生存之道】導演鈕承澤, retrieved July 19, 2010
  17. ^ 'Monga' beats 'Avatar' on first-day gross, retrieved July 30, 2010
  18. ^ "Taiwan film "Monga" to compete for Oscar". Channelnewsasia. Archived from the original on 2010-08-29. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
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