Private Project

The First Place Is Mine! (EP2 of The Grocery Store of Nothing 2)

The character Jay takes exams very seriously. Whenever midterms are approaching, he always becomes irritable and unpleasant.
After the exams, although he got the highest total score, he wasn’t first place in any single subject! Frustrated, he decides to challenge his three friends—A-LE, Da-Ke, and Xiao-Ke—to a “First Place Championship.”
After an intense round of quiz battles, Jay ends up losing the competition. Disheartened, he falls into self-doubt and neglect, losing his usual energy and motivation. Fortunately, with the playful encouragement of his friends, Jay rediscovers his own strengths and regains his confidence, returning to being his tidy, cheerful self once again.

  • Chuan-Yang Li
    Director
  • Wei Dai
    Director
  • CHUAN-YANG LI
    Writer
  • FANG-CHI CHEN
    Writer
  • JING-SHUANG WU
    Writer
  • YA-YU LIN
    Writer
  • WEI DAI
    Writer
  • CHUN WEI WANG
    Writer
  • RONG-ZUO ZHUANG
    Writer
  • CASTER WANG
    Producer
  • PO HUANG
    Producer
  • I-LE
    Key Cast
    "JAY"
  • Calvin Tsou
    Key Cast
    "A-LE"
  • Elena Chen
    Key Cast
    "DA-KE"
  • Sofia Chen
    Key Cast
    "XIAO-KE"
  • Public Television Service Taiwan
    Distributor
  • Project Type:
    Short, Television, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy, Children, Family
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    47,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Taiwan
  • Country of Filming:
    Taiwan
  • Language:
    Chinese - Min Nan, Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 60th Golden Bell Awards
    Taipei
    Taiwan
    Innovative Program (Drama Category)
Distribution Information
  • Public Television Service Taiwan
    Distributor
    Country: Taiwan
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Chuan-Yang Li, Wei Dai

Born in Taichung, Li Chuan-Yang is a MFA graduate of the Department of Motion Picture at National Taiwan University of Arts while receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Radio, Television and Film, Shih Hsin University. An alumni of the Golden Horse Film Academy, he was honored as the Huashan Emerging Director of the Year. With a versatile background in various aspects of filmmaking including directing, editing, and cinematography, Li’s signature style is characterized by its nuanced realism.

Li’s directorial debut came in 2016 with the short film Coin Boy, which garnered accolades at prestigious festivals including the Hawaii International Film Festival where it clinched the Best Short Film award. The film was among the finalists in the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and received nominations in major Taiwanese awards such as the Golden Bell Awards for Best Mini-series and Best Supporting Actor. His subsequent short film, Grandma's Farting Scooter, earned a nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Bell Awards and received dual Best Actresses at the Golden Harvest Awards.

In 2019, Li directed the third season of the television series The Mirror, earning him and director-in-chief Zheng Wentang a nomination for Best Director in a Television Series at the Golden Bell Awards. In 2020, he completed the documentary A Time, which explores themes of self-discovery through the lens of starting a family and confronting mortality, produced by Taiwan Public Television Service. In 2023, he directed two seasons of Genius Chef Junior- Ghost Festival. His latest endeavor, The Grocery Store of Nothing, is a testament to his creative evolution and narrative craftsmanship.

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Director Statement

The Grocery store of nothing is a situational comedy created especially for children. Inside this little neighborhood shop, there are adventures, competitions, music, pranks, dogs, and four mischievous kids with full of personality—plus a shopkeeper who’s just as playful as they are.

The story is adapted from a novel of the same name and follows kids who spend their after-school hours in a warm and welcoming grocery store when their parents aren’t around.

“When parents can’t always be by their children’s side, how do kids learn to be with themselves?” In adapting the story for the screen, we let the four young protagonists discover the power of friendship beyond the boundaries of family.

When mom and dad aren’t home, the grocery store becomes their playground. Even the everyday ups and downs of life—like cooking oil, soy sauce, and tea—turn into moments of laughter. Together, they share joy, sadness, and growth, and I hope this series can accompany all our young viewers as they grow up too.

Although I’ve worked with children before, this was my first time taking on the challenge of a situational comedy. I wasn’t completely confident before filming began—but luckily, our four little stars were naturals in front of the camera. It turned out to be the most enjoyable directing experience I’ve ever had, and I believe audiences will be just as amazed by their performances as I was.