Hengdian: Transforming into a “Vertical Shop” for Online Movies and Mini-Series

Zhejiang Hengdian: Changing Face 100 Years after the Birth of Director Xie Jin

China News Service, Jinhua, November 21 (By Dong Yixin)

November 21, 2023 marks the centenary of director Xie Jin’s birth. Hengdian, Zhejiang, known for its filming base for the movie “The Opium War” and the development of the film and television industry, is undergoing a significant transformation. In an era where people can consume videos anytime and anywhere, Hengdian has evolved into a hub for online films and micro-dramas, effectively becoming a “vertical shop”.

“Several years ago, I visited Hengdian with my mother for a film shoot, and now I find myself playing a role in a drama,” shared Hong Kong actor Zhang Haolian in an interview with China News Service. He recently completed filming for the online movie “The Nether Bride” in Hengdian. Despite not being a traditional “blockbuster”, the experience provided him with an opportunity to hone his acting skills and gain valuable experience.

Online films and micro-dramas have paved the way for new actors to gain visibility and make their mark, catering to the audience’s fragmented entertainment and cultural needs. Leveraging its industrial chain advantages such as rich real-life centers and a comprehensive array of props, Hengdian has become a favored location for large-scale production crews, while also embracing the surge in micro-drama production.

Wu Sanjun, a production director with over 8 years of experience in Hengdian, revealed that he has been actively engaging with short drama teams since 2022. “Lightweight content is advantageous for investors, crews, and actors. The low cost of trial and error and ease of experimentation have lured several popular actors into filming online dramas and short dramas,” he stated.

Earlier in November, the inaugural Hangzhou Micro-Short Drama Conference took place in Linping District, Hangzhou. The conference featured activities such as an industry development forum, micro-short drama industry development initiative symposium, a youth sub-forum, an IP traveling show sub-forum, and mini-program sub-forum. The event drew participation from prominent film and television companies, leading network platforms, major platforms, and mini-program companies. The discussions centered on various aspects such as “Five-in-One to aid the micro-short drama industry’s development path,” “Fostering the growth of the micro-short drama industry,” “Two-way development of micro-short drama content ecology and young talents,” and “Internet Literature IP Video Project Roadshow” among others.

Notably, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television has publicized its intent to accelerate the formulation of “Detailed Rules for Creating, Producing, and Reviewing the Content of Online Micro-Short Dramas,” alongside efforts to promote the integration of micro-short drama apps and “mini-programs” for daily organizational management.

In the foreseeable future, the creation, production, investment, tax payment, and release of online micro-short dramas will be subject to the same mature and scientific management as traditional films and TV series, contributing to a more diverse, scientific, and standardized landscape for the industry.

Original title: Zhejiang Hengdian turns into a “vertical shop” and is busy filming online movies and mini-series

China News Service, Jinhua, November 21 (Dong Yixin) November 21, 2023 is the centenary of the birth of director Xie Jin. Hengdian, Zhejiang, which built a filming base for the movie “The Opium War” and started the development of the film and television industry, is now a little different – in an era where people can “watch videos” almost anytime and anywhere, has become the site of many online films, the “birthplace” of micro-short dramas, transformed into a “vertical shop”.

“Many years ago, I came to Hengdian to go with my mother to film, and now I have become a character in the drama.” Hong Kong actor Zhang Haolian said in an interview with China News Service that the online movie “The Nether Bride” He had previously completed starring in Hengdian, although the drama is not a “blockbuster” in the traditional meaning, but it is also an opportunity to sharpen your acting skills and gain experience.

As he said, online films and micro-dramas have allowed more new actors to enter the public eye and make their mark, and have also met the audience’s fragmented entertainment and cultural needs. Hengdian benefits from its industrial chain advantages such as rich real-life centers and complete required props. Although it is favored by large-scale production crews, it also “considers” the boom of the micro-short drama industry.

Wu Sanjun, the production director who has been working in Hengdian for more than 8 years, once revealed to reporters that he will start contacting short drama teams frequently starting in 2022. “‘Light’ is good for investors, crews, and actors. The cost of trial and error is low, and it is easy to ‘get out of the loop.’ There are a number of popular actors who started filming online dramas or short dramas.” He said.

In early November, the first Hangzhou Micro-Short Drama Conference was held in Linping District, Hangzhou. The conference also set up an industry development forum, a micro-short drama industry development initiative symposium, a youth sub-forum, an IP traveling show sub-forum, and mini program sub-forum activities, inviting film and television companies, leading network platforms, major platforms and mini-program companies in the field Young talents attended the conference, focusing on “‘Five-in-One” to help the development path of the micro-short drama industry”, “Discussion on the development of the micro-short drama industry”, “Two-way development of micro-short drama content ecology and young talents” and “Internet Literature IP Video Project Roadshow” “In-depth research in the field of “Trying to refine from the smallest details to achieve perfection – aggregating small programs to build a solid ecological foundation on for the micro-short drama industry”.

Previously, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television also publicly stated that it would speed up the process of drawing up the “Detailed Rules for Creating, Producing and Reviewing the Content of Online Micro-Short Dramas” and studying measures to promoting online inclusion. micro-short drama apps and “little programs” to daily organizational management.

In the near future, the creation, production, investment, tax payment, and release of online micro-short dramas will face the same mature and scientific management as traditional films and TV series, and will lead to a more diverse, scientific series and standard. mild phase” He is getting better.

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