Arvin Chen, the American-Taiwanese director, is two months into shooting “Coolie,” one of the most ambitious independently produced TV series originating from Asia, and is currently shifting filming from the Dominican Republic to Panama (see first-look image above).
“Having directed some episodes of [Apple TV+’s] ‘Pachinko,’ which was also a period piece in three languages — albeit a completely different era — I’ve already had some training in this kind of production,” Chen told PvNew.
“Coolie” is set in 19th century Cuba, where the slave trade was outlawed, but many Chinese indentured servants were treated little better. The series stars Hong Kong actor Louise Wong (“A Guilty Conscience,” “Anita”) as a young woman who departs from southern China to marry a political exile working on a sugarcane plantation in Cuba. She eventually joins forces with servants and African slaves seeking freedom.
“We’ve had a lot of fun in the Dominican Republic re-creating things in Cuba that used to exist and seeking out sugarcane and tobacco plantations that still look like they did back in the 1860s,” said Chen. In the same way that he has learned some of the history while on the job, Chen expects viewer to pick things up by watching.
“There’s not a lot of unnecessary set up or exposition — literally, we start with the heroine stepping off a boat in Cuba — though we do also use flashbacks,” said Chen. “The central conflict is that of a woman who comes from rural China. She finds herself in the midst of a revolution and also in the middle of a love triangle involving the plantation owner and the man that she was supposed to marry.”
Chen identifies Wong as having the potential to be Hong Kong Kong’s next star to cross over into the international industry. “I knew that she’d had nominations and prizes earlier in her career and that she was cast even before I came onto the project, but she’s been amazing to work with,” said Chen. “Not only does she speak English so well, and most of her dialogue is in English, her acting skills and performance against these Latin American actors has been terrific. She’s a very, very natural actress. It’s pretty amazing to see.”
Wong is joined in the cast by Taiwanese actorJoseph Chang(“Eternal Summer,” “Girlfriend Boyfriend,” “Soul”), Colombian actor and TV personalityMauricio Henao(“La Herencia,” “Panama,” “Fake Profile”), and Cuban actorsCamila Arteche(“El acompanante,” “Sergio & Serguei,” “Juego de Mentiras”) andSian Chiong(“La Mexicana y el Guero,” “Menudo,” “Fidel’s Daughter”).
The eight-part series is the first to emerge from Cathay Film Company, a recent production venture launched by Singapore-based industry veteran Meileen Choo. Rights are being pitched at FilMart by Indra and Erlina Suharjono’s I.E. Entertainment.
