In 1998, the newly established Public Television System sought scripts for its Life Story drama series. PTS placed no restrictions on the subject matter, other than stipulating that it relate to "a river's flow."
但談起自己首執導演筒拍片，阿堂的經歷依舊「神奇」。1998 年，剛成立的公共電視台「人生劇展」系列徵求劇本，主題不拘，只要與「河流」的意象有關即可。