‘Born for the Spotlight’ Trailer Peels Back the Curtain on Cruel and Intense Facets of Showbiz
Born for the Spotlight unveils its main trailer and key art, highlighting the inner struggles of actresses behind the glitz and glamor of showbiz, along with themes of romance, friendship, aspiration and self-love faced by women across different generations.
Leading actresses Chou Fan and Hsueh Ya-chih, played by Cheryl Yang (Light the Night) and Hsieh Ying-xuan (Wave Makers) respectively, have an inevitable reunion when director Li Tzu-chi (Hsueh Shih-ling), Hsueh’s husband, unexpectedly casts Chou in the lead role in his upcoming movie. Their friendship, once strong, was shattered years ago by a conflict at Hsueh and Li’s wedding. Speaking about their complex love-hate relationship, Yang candidly remarks, "Simply put, they care too much for each other.” Hsieh adds that their friendship is fraught with too many unresolved issues and blind spots, exacerbated by the intense pressures women face in the showbiz industry. Born for the Spotlight also features rising actors Chloe Lin and Zhan Huai-yun, both of whom are recipients of Taipei Film Festival’s Supernova accolade recognizing newcomer talent. Lin plays Emma Shih — a budding actress who dreams of becoming a big star — while Zhan stars as Gangster — a young hotel concierge whose friendship with Chou blossoms into mutual attraction.
Reflecting on her experience on set starring alongside veteran actresses, Lin shares, "I was deeply inspired by the performances of these big sisters. It was exhilarating working with them, and I could feel the love they each had for their characters.” Director Yen Yi-Wen also admitted that casting Lin in such a major role, after only seeing her in one short film, felt like a gamble. However, after completing the first scene, she was reassured by Lin's determination and passion for acting.
Zhan confessed that acting with a skilled actress like Yang made him nervous, but the trust and guidance from his co-star gave him the courage to fully embody his role. "I’m very happy and grateful to Yang for giving me so much support," he adds.
Written and directed by Yen Yi-wen (The Making of an Ordinary Woman) and produced by Olive Ting (Oh No! Here Comes Trouble), Born for the Spotlight is a refreshing drama series that peels back the curtain on the cutthroat world of showbiz, where ambition, desires, friendship and love collide. It is also the only Chinese-language series selected for the On Screen section of the 29th Busan International Film Festival, where it hosted its world premiere. Born for the Spotlight is streaming on November 7, only on Netflix.
Watch the main trailer HERE, and download the latest unit stills and main key art of Born for the Spotlight.