The film Pierce, which was nominated for the New Talent Award, screened at HKAFF. Director Nelicia Low, and the two lead actors Tsao Yu-ning and Liu Hsiu-fu, met the audience at the cinema.

When asked how she cast Tsao Yu-ning and Liu Hsiu-fu as the brothers, director Liu Hui-ling said that she knew immediately upon seeing Liu Hsiu-fu that he was the right choice for playing the innocent younger brother. However, casting the mysterious older brother was quite challenging; she met many Taiwanese male stars but could not find the ideal candidate until she met Tsao Yu-ning. The director noted that all the actors she met asked her about the motivations behind the older brother’s violent behavior, except for Tsao Yu-ning, which showed his deep understanding of the character. After arranging for Tsao and Liu to audition together, she asked Liu for his thoughts, and he expressed, “I really cannot figure out what the brother is thinking,” which further confirmed her decision.

The two leads portray fencers. Although Tsao Yu-ning is a former baseball player, he mentioned that playing a fencer was more challenging than he had imagined. Fencing requires not only physical ability but also the skill to read one’s opponent; every thrust must be carefully considered. This sport embodies the characters' acuity and strategy, allowing for a nuanced expression of their complex inner lives.

In depicting the brothers' relationship, the film frequently employs close-up shots. The director explained that she and the cinematographer studied and experimented with different methods, in order to visually present the complexity of emotions shared between the brothers. She believes that close-ups allow the characters to express their emotions more directly and honestly. During filming, she even had Tsao Yu-ning and Liu Hsiu-fu stand next to the camera, so that when they were filming a close-up, they could still see the other person, adding tension to the scene.