Fri, Feb 15, 2019
China has only 55% internet penetration, but almost every person online is using a smartphone, therefore a lot of phone-optimized content is created every day. As of this month of recording, October 2018, Bytedance, the Chinese company owning news aggregator Toutiao and short video app Douyin/Tik-tok, is now THE most valuable startup in the world. So how do they make a living by creating online content,and how big is the competition?
Tue, Feb 26, 2019
This is the second part of a two-part series about how the internet changed the way to consume and create content. Last time, the panel comprised people who earn a living by creating only on the Chinese internet, but today we meet the other side of the fence, the more "capitalistic" one: those who make, sell, or deal with advertisements.
Tue, Mar 5, 2019
Anthony Kuhn, who works at NPR, has been working on how China is using its soft power, and that's actually one of the main reasons the Middle Earth podcast started: to investigate how politics and culture can be linked. The culture of a country doesn't come out of thin air. Rather, there is a political and business side to it.
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Tue, Mar 12, 2019
Until the 1990s, Hollywood movies were making the vast majority of their revenue in English-speaking countries. Nowadays, these countries comprise only half the market. The main reason for the change is the appearance of new markets, including the most important one of all: China. What problems do foreign film professionals and their teams face while vying to tap into the Chinese market? How do cultural disparities and regulations fit into the equation? What is the current lay of the land in the Chinese film industry from the perspective of a director or a producer?
Tue, Mar 19, 2019
China's video-game industry is a hugely popular business in a nation where over half the population regularly plays. In 2015, the size of the video-game market in China officially surpassed that of the U.S., making the Chinese video-game industry the biggest and most profitable in the world.
Thu, Apr 4, 2019
When prodded to think about documentaries at all, most people imagine features films that are shown in festivals and cinemas. What this picture misses is the fact that the majority of documentary filmmakers make their living producing documentaries for television. Does this mean that documentary filmmakers in China are all but guaranteed to make money in the country, with its billion-strong audience?
Tue, Apr 16, 2019
In case traveling to the nearest Chinese temple may be a bit inconvenient, modern-day Chinese astrologers still have you covered - inevitably, there's an app for that. Today, astrologer Wen Jun explains how she works, the kinds of clients who seek her out, the differences between Chinese and Western astrology, and other aspects of fortune-telling in the modern age.
Fri, Aug 23, 2019
Making a feature film can be a long and painful process - especially when you're shooting an indie film in below-freezing conditions 16 hours per day for 14 days. But that is exactly what the creative team behind "The Last Sunrise" was able to do, and along the way, they generated useful insight into China's science-fiction movie scene and the realities of filmmaking in China on a shoestring budget.
Tue, May 7, 2019
Virtual reality (VR) is a new medium that many a technology guru has predicted will revolutionize cinema-or would, if it weren't for the pesky problem (among others) that VR interface still requires the viewer to wear what essentially amounts to a "head box." Nevertheless, VR markets around the world are slowly but surely expanding. Many of the major film festivals (Sundance, Venice, and Cannes, to name a few) now feature a special VR section. Overall the industry is indeed growing-especially in China. For context, here are some key figures: The value of China's VR market in 2016 was around USD $500 million (mainly hardware). The value of China's film market in 2016 war around USD $6.9 billion. The value of China's film market in 2020 is projected to be USD $10 billion. The value of China's VR market in 2020 is projected to be USD $6.5 billion (half in hardware, and the rest split between games, films, enterprise applications, theme parks, etc.).
Wed, May 22, 2019
Before the Beijing Olympics, foreign media groups seeking to sell or co-produce science-themed media content in China had a difficult time finding partners. Paul Lewis, an independent producer and former president of Discovery Channel Canada, was nevertheless able to co-produce two science programs in partnership with Chinese state media outlets: "Daily Planet Goes to China" and "Factory Made/Made in China". Today, Paul discusses how rapidly the Chinese media landscape has evolved, and the implications for science-themed content.
Tue, May 28, 2019
China has found success in exporting domestic technology and consumer goods. However, its culture exportation has not achieved the same success. The language barrier may be an issue, yet South Korean and Japanese films and music have managed to overcome it and found success in exporting cultural products like video games, anime, and movies. So what gives? Today the guests discuss the recent successes and failures of China's culture going abroad. This conversation was recorded during a panel at the WISE Festival 2019 at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing.
Tue, Jun 4, 2019
The stark cultural differences between China and the West are frequently identified as key barriers in productive professional exchanges. However, the mechanisms by which people can actually improve their cultural understanding - or "cultural literacy" - are less clear. How can professionals in China and the West bridge gaps in understanding, ensuring that business can sail smoothly?
Tue, Jun 18, 2019
Clubs and live performances featuring international music started taking off in China in the 1980s. Initially, the scene was very focused on foreign diplomats, journalists, and students who rented out restaurants and other spaces on the weekends. Gradually, as policies governing public radio broadcasts underwent reforms that allowed the performance of international music, a broader audience had access to the genre. Fast-forward to the present day: There is no shortage of music festivals, clubs, and other venues in China that feature performances by artists from around the world - to the extent that, if current trends continue, electronic music will be the most popular genre on Chinese radio airwaves by the early 2020s. In this live recording of the Middle Earth Podcast at the 2019 WISE festival, a few industry insiders discuss the current trends in this lively line of work.
Mon, Jul 8, 2019
Voices from China's large but marginalized LGBTQ and feminist communities are increasingly making themselves heard in contemporary culture. In particular, artists and activists from these groups are creating content around the idea of "nontraditional love," which is resonating strongly even with mainstream Chinese audiences. So how have the stories of creators from historically silenced and censored groups found footholds in contemporary culture?
Tue, Jul 16, 2019
Live art is one of the few mediums that hasn't been radically transformed by the digital age. No screen is yet able to capture the magic of in-person performance, be it a comedy show, theater, or even Peking opera. The live performance scene is particularly vibrant in contemporary Beijing, where comedy and theater offerings are as diverse as they are popular. Today Aladin interviews some of Beijing's emerging live performers to discuss what happens on the stage - and behind the scenes.
Tue, Jul 30, 2019
Podcasting is rapidly becoming the next boom industry in China, with approximately 80 million daily downloads of podcasts and a projected audience of 486 million total. When it comes to putting a number on the industry, however, things get less clear. Some estimate that China's podcast industry is worth upward of $7 billion, citing a report by China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television. However, this figure is likely somewhat off the mark - the $7 billion figure refers only to "pay for knowledge" programming, that is, educational shows that consumers pay for directly. A more comprehensive number that takes into account free content or podcasts supported by advertisements remains elusive. By comparison, podcasters based in the U.S. made an estimated $314 million in 2017, a number that is projected to double by 2020. Meanwhile, the U.S. "pay for knowledge" industry is estimated to have earned $12 billion in 2016, according to our peer podcast also available on the Sinica Network, TechBuzz China by Pandaily.
Wed, Aug 21, 2019
Aladin sits down over a pint with Sun Yao, the proprietor of his favorite local cultural venue-cum-cafe, to talk about the business end of the cultural industry in China. Like the owners of many niche bars and cafes across China, Sun seeks to turn a profit at his hutong establishment, Camera Stylo, by screening films, hosting live events, and otherwise trying to make art pay. A film buff and dedicated entrepreneur, Sun shares his four years of experience running a small business in the hutongs of Beijing trying to bring films and cultural conversations to his diverse clientele. In spite of a rough early start - some of which he spent sleeping in the cafe itself - Sun has managed to ensure Camera Stylo has been able to survive and thrive in a challenging environment.
Tue, Sep 3, 2019
Children's entertainment is a growing industry in China, with many opportunities for flexible and innovative creators to produce marketable content. Prospects are particularly bright for those working at the intersection of children's entertainment and education, which has long been an important source of revenue in a country where 93 percent of families pay out-of-pocket for tuition and related fees, according to a 2017 HSBC study. Today we discuss the economics of children's entertainment in China, and how creators can engage in this corner of the market.
Tue, Sep 17, 2019
Lured by a potentially large and lucrative market, major theater productions are increasingly making the jump from the bright lights of Broadway or the West End to the less familiar but no less lively avenues by the Bund or the Second Ring Road. Yet, according to Gaultier Létourneau-Ross, director of operations at a Canadian company that assists foreign theater troupes seeking to perform in China, much remains to be worked out in terms of effectively producing these types of international productions - from marketing and filling seats to staging and censorship.
Sat, Oct 19, 2019
The pace of urbanization in contemporary China is nothing short of dizzying. Seventy years ago, at the time of the establishment of the People's Republic of China, 80% of the population were farmers based in rural areas. Now, over 60% of all Chinese citizens live in cities of various sizes, and it is projected that by 2030, the number of urban dwellers will exceed 1 billion. As one would expect, the challenges that these dynamics pose to Chinese architects and urban planners are staggering. So how do these beleaguered builders design a modern city in China from scratch in the face of so many changing variables? How do they create cities that strike a balance between modern and traditional aesthetics? And what kinds of obstacles can they expect to face throughout this process?
Fri, Oct 25, 2019
Ruby Chen, one of the founding members of the Hong Kong-based China Next (CNEX), tells the story of their nonprofit, which is aimed at promoting and producing Chinese documentaries. She describes her work in identifying and cultivating promising Chinese documentary filmmakers, the challenges and advantages these filmmakers are faced with, and how younger artists are taking novel approaches to creating and sharing their films with the help of new technology and ideas in the 21st century.
Tue, Nov 5, 2019
What is it like to work as a storyteller in the Chinese film and TV industry? What is the relationship between producers and scriptwriters? How can one write a story that will resonate with Chinese audiences, and what is the market looking for? This podcast, recorded live at the The SLab in Beijing, explores these questions and the trials and tribulations of writing for the big screen.
Tue, Nov 26, 2019
Song Wen, founder of the FIRST International Film Festival, discusses the history of one of China's most promising festivals for the visual arts. Once in danger of being shut down by the authorities in Beijing, the festival has found a new home in China's west - the provincial capital of Qinghai Province, Xining. This year, hundreds of films were screened to more than 30,000 audience members, and 19 budding directors emerged from a highly selective process to pitch their films to China's film industry elites. Today, Song Wen explains how the festival has evolved from a minor student event to one of the most important cultural events in China's still-maturing film industry.
Fri, Dec 20, 2019
This week on Middle Earth, Aladin and his guests take a look at the film production industry in Europe. Li Boyan and William Wang, both industry professionals working and living in France, help provide some insight. They reflect on what they've experienced over their years shooting and producing film projects and advertisements, describe what it's like working as middlemen for Chinese clients who come to France (a majority of which they are able to procure through WeChat), and share their thoughts on collaborating across cultures in Europe as young professionals from China.
Tue, Jan 7, 2020
Professor Federico Castigliano is the author of Flâneur: The Art of Wandering the Streets of Paris, which was published in English and Chinese by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2018. Today he talks about the process of writing and publishing a book in China and how it compares with the process in Europe and the U.S.
Tue, Jan 21, 2020
How do the Chinese government and companies engage with the public in Africa? Nillah Nyakoa (journalist at China Radio International), Eric Olander (managing editor of The China Africa Project), and Maria Repnikova (assistant professor of global communications) join host Aladin Farré to explore the different ways China sells, and fails to sell, its story to an entire continent.
Tue, Feb 11, 2020
Dalian Wanda Group, led by billionaire Wáng Jiànlín, invested heavily in China's movie industry over the past decade. In 2014, at the cost of $8 billion, Wanda Studios Qingdao was founded. This move was aimed at establishing a dynamic supply chain that would be able to facilitate the creation of entire films, from production to distribution. After debt issues forced Wanda to sell its majority stake in the venture to Sunac, another Chinese property developer, the studios were rebranded as Oriental Movie Metropolis. Gary Kho, the former chief technical officer and chief marketing officer of Wanda Studios Qingdao, worked for the studios throughout their construction. In this interview, he describes how the facilities were built, identifies some of the challenges that the film industry faces domestically, and expounds on his work in bridging divides between China's film and TV industry and those abroad.
Wed, Feb 26, 2020
China's culture and entertainment industry is bracing for serious challenges amid the COVID-19 epidemic. This particularly applies to the film and tourism sectors, which are facing significant headwinds. Yet while people remain quarantined at home, short-video apps and the gaming sector are seeing massive traffic spikes.
Tue, Mar 10, 2020
Key opinion leaders, or KOLs, have a strong connection to Chinese internet users and are now highly sought after to sell products to huge audiences on ecommerce websites and streaming platforms. We dive into the reasons why this growing industry works so well in China and how, eventually, live streamers may end up consuming the same brands that hired them in the first place.
Tue, Mar 24, 2020
For years, Chinese producers only had eyes for the "Hollywood model." That is, big-budget projects and, hopefully, even bigger returns. After volatile times for the Chinese film industry, and events like the Fan Bingbing tax evasion scandal, producers realized that other business models can exist. We explore how this industry with Bridging the Dragon. This association has connected European and Chinese filmmakers since 2014, with the support of various Western film funds, production companies, and festivals (such as the FIRST International Film Festival)
Wed, Apr 22, 2020
John Dietz of BangBang Pictures has worked on over 30 movies in China, ranging from blockbuster films to micro-budget independent projects. He has seen the domestic visual effects (VFX) industry grow tremendously since moving to China in 2009, and works as a third party who handles top-to-bottom implementation of VFX for film projects. He shares a few tricks of the trade, including how he finds success working with international teams, and provides details about the logistics of some of the projects that he has worked on.
Thu, May 14, 2020
Once Chinese companies rise to the top of the domestic market, another challenge emerges: publicly listing on one of the major U.S. stock exchanges. Among the more recent listings, there is Bilibili and iQIYI for video, and Lizhi and Tencent Music for audio. In that episode guests explain the requirements of going public in the United States, the knowledge gap between Chinese companies and Western investors, and how going public can influence content creation and distribution.
Wed, Jun 3, 2020
In 2014, the Chinese government released a policy document - now referred to as Number 46 - that outlined China's plan to create the biggest sports industry in the world, with the target of $700 billion in annual revenue by 2025. We discuss the country's national policies on sports and the business and collaborative opportunities in this industry.
Wed, Jun 17, 2020
As content and movie creation continues to surge inside China, the need for more film industry professionals is now more pressing than ever. One role that lies at the center of creativity and technicality lies the score composer - the individual responsible for creation of music to accompany a film. On the podcast this week, film composers Liu Ye and Sean Calvo explain the work they do in the field, the issues they face, and how traditional Chinese music is utilized within the production process in China.
Fri, Jun 5, 2020
Raz Gal-Or is the founder of the Foreigner Research Institute, a successful online platform that promotes foreigners creating content in China. Now known as Y-Platform, it has garnered a following of 80 million through 30 channels and influencers. In March 2020, Raz's company raised $5 million from Sina Weibo and the online gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co.
Tue, Jul 7, 2020
Of the 3,000 film studios located in China, Xiangshan Global Studios in Ningbo is one of the most important. Felix Lou, vice managing director of its international development division, joins Aladin to discuss the origin of the studios, its business model, the talent needed to maintain the operation, and some of its current international collaborations.
Thu, Jul 30, 2020
Founded in 2003, Mahua FunAge is a cultural company that focuses on comedy content, including plays, musicals, children's shows, improv, online TV series, and films. As of 2020, it has produced six successful feature films and 40 plays with the support of 400 staff members. Leer Cheng, vice president of the company, joins the show to discuss its recipe for success and how the entertainment industry in China has grappled with COVID-19.
Wed, Aug 19, 2020
Hollywood's studios are increasingly wary of provoking China's government by making films that contain "sensitive" content. Some films have even self-censored portions of their own films intended for the global market, in fear of retribution. On today's show the conversation dives into the origins of how and when Beijing's cultural policy began to impact Hollywood decision making in film production. The trio also provide concrete examples of how the studios negotiated a share of the growing Chinese film market and what actions the industry needs to take on that issue.
Wed, Aug 26, 2020
China's entertainment industry has undergone staggering changes over the past two decades. The content, the ways it's delivered, and even the stars themselves are taking shape in a manner that is unique to China and reflects a new type of user - one who has come of age in the digital era. Provincial governments partner with stars to sell goods as arbitrary as farm equipment. Kim Kardashian has collaborated with famous live streamers to sell perfume. The show dives on how the budding Chinese entertainment industry is being shaped by technology and the internet; how Chinese dramas, songs, and TV are received around the world; the power of Chinese fandom; and more.
Tue, Sep 22, 2020
"If Mulan doesn't work in China, we have a problem," said Alan Horn, the co-chairman of Walt Disney Studios, to the Hollywood Reporter. Unfortunately, the film had a lot of issues: inaccurate storytelling, cultural appropriation, and political scandals, not to mention a poor showing at the box office. What were the hurdles the movie faced and how Mulan could be a lesson for film studios hoping to tell Chinese stories for international audiences?
Tue, Sep 29, 2020
Leading the world in the LED market, it was only natural for China to join the fun of light art (also known as luminism) that is growing around the world. Art curator and co-founder of Kaleidoscale Marcom, Drue Chiam shares her experience on how this market has developed over the years she was in China, talent procurement, how to protect your IP and, of course, how COVID-19 impacted an art form that usually happens outdoor with huge crowds.
Tue, Oct 27, 2020
Meet Justin Sweeting, Hong Kong's ultimate party organizer. Over the last decade, he has elevated Hong Kong's music scene as a co-founder of the Clockenflap music and arts festival. Clockenflap has come a long way from its humble beginnings back in 2008 to become the city's biggest festival, with over 30,000 participants per day during peak hours. Justin explains how Hong Kong, his hometown, became a hub for music and examines the rise of Asia as a market in the music industry.
Tue, Nov 10, 2020
Long gone are the days when Chinese film directors could shoot their films and win awards abroad without complications back home. But even with stricter regulations regarding the shooting and distribution of films in China, some have not stopped creating unique stories for the big screen. Today's guests share their insights into the current scene of low-budget films and art-house movies coming from China.
Tue, Dec 1, 2020
Zhang Shiwen, the head of entertainment and a partner at the law firm Huiye in Shanghai, talks about her latest book, Guidance and Compliance: The Way to China's Entertainment Market. She delve into her research on intellectual property protection in China's film, music, and television industries, and they also discuss a few case studies from her own work in China.
Wed, Dec 30, 2020
As much as everyone would love to claim that they enjoy "highly refined" art and movies, many people enjoy the guilty pleasure of watching reality shows featuring celebrities making a fool of themselves. China has a lot of these shows, and they drive an infinite number of online debates and memes. These cultural products are a vibrant part of China's entertainment industry and also help push the sale of VIP memberships on a variety of internet platforms. Today's guests give an insider's view of the industry, and explain the latest trends as well as who you should pitch your project to.
Wed, Feb 3, 2021
A few years ago, the stand-up comedy scene in China was largely considered to be alternative culture, with few venues for comedians and patrons. This stands in stark contrast to today, with over 100 comedy clubs nationwide, even outside of major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Format shows like Roast. (tùcáo dàhuì) have pushed stand-up into the mainstream.
Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Last year, as COVID-19 cases spiked around the world, many thought cinemas would die. China's box office sales from the past few months tell a different story. The country's film market broke several world records in 2021, selling roughly $1.2 billion in tickets. Although theaters in the U.S., which are the primary competitors of theaters in China, have been closed, more and more Chinese people continue to head to the movies. One of the secret weapons is the production of a "Chinese New Year film" for the whole family. Where do those films come from, and what is their winning recipe?