Yahoo Lifestyle Calendar Studios Unveils International Film, Series at Taiwan Creative Content Fest
Taiwan’s Calendar Studios is advancing its production slate with two new projects: “Call of Lobster,” a cross-border action-comedy, and crime series “The Scammers,” both unveiled at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF).
“Call of Lobster,” helmed by “Man in Love” director Yin Chen-Hao, draws inspiration from a real-life story about a Taiwanese lobster farmer who volunteered to teach farming techniques in North Korea. The film follows a protagonist who becomes entangled in a drug case while pursuing his dream of lobster farming in North Korea, forcing him to collaborate with a South Korean agent.
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“This story was inspired by a news article in Taiwan,” says Yin. “Chen Jia-fu, a lobster farmer from Pingtung, once wrote a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, volunteering to go to North Korea to teach lobster farming techniques – and he actually succeeded in going and returning. I’ve always been deeply interested in the legendary stories of ordinary people. ‘Call of Lobsters’ wraps its narrative in comedy, blending elements of espionage, suspense, and personal growth.”
The project assembles a creative team including executive producers Jin Pai-Lunn and Cheng Wei-Hao, alongside producer Chang Ya-ting, known for coordinating large-scale international productions involving the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, who served as Taiwan production supervisor for Martin Scorsese’s “Silence.” Calendar founder Jin plans to complete casting for the Korean roles and secure funding by first half of 2025, with production set for the latter half.
“‘Call of Lobster’ will be a groundbreaking international co-production for Taiwan,” says Jin. “We look forward to bringing the spirit of Taiwan’s everyday heroes to the big screen, blending elements of comedy, adventure, action, and espionage to deliver a refreshing commercial film for Asian audiences.”
Meanwhile, “The Scammers,” directed by Golden Horse nominee Cheng Wei-Hao (“The Soul”), explores Taiwan’s fraud networks through the lens of everyday characters. The series follows a group led by a character named Jiang as they execute revenge against scammers, while harboring a decades-old secret.
“This story originated from an article I once read, which described how fraud groups in Taiwan operate with a highly systematic and tightly managed approach,” explains Cheng. “Through these ordinary characters, audience can see how they use their grit and wisdom to challenge powerful fraud syndicates. The story digs deep into the moral struggles between justice and deception, exploring the idea of ‘fighting scams with scams’ as a way to go after these criminal networks.”
The series brings together executive producer Jin, producer Lin Shih-ken (recipient of the 2023 Golden Horse Award for Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year), and writer Chang Yao-sheng, whose script for “A Sun” earned a Golden Horse nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The series aims to begin filming in the second half of 2025, with lead casting already confirmed.
“We’ve ventured into various genres, including romance, horror, suspense, and comedy, as seen in our work like ‘Marry My Dead Body,'” Jin notes. “‘The Scammers’ combines elements of revenge, heist, and crime, presenting intricate and surprising fraud tactics and schemes from the perspective of ordinary characters. The carefully crafted plots and the struggle of human nature add an addictive quality to the viewing experience.”
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