S1E35: Micro-drama boom: In this town, Chinese youths chase their showbiz dreams

Aug 1, 2024

13:04

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Hengdian, in Zhejiang province, is booming as the location set for two-thirds of China’s period dramas.

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times chats with ST’s global correspondents about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises.

They come with stars in their eyes, hoping to become the next Fan Bingbing or Jackson Yee. In Hengdian, they put their names down and hope to be picked - to deliver a line, to stand next to an actor, or even just to be a face in the crowd in one scene.

Hengdian is touted as China’s Hollywood, and with good reason - it was here that high-budget dramas and films such as Story of Yanxi Palace and Curse of the Golden Flower were shot.

But it has gained renewed attention in recent years, as Chinese audiences get hooked on micro-dramas - low-budget productions shot in vertical format to be viewed on smartphones.

In this episode, ST’s foreign editor Li Xueying chats with correspondent Goh Yan Han on the dreams that Hengdian represents to Chinese youths.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:17 Different dynasties, same dream

4:51 Crazy plots in two minutes

6:23 Lower barriers to entry

11:01 Youths’ determination and drive