Middle Earth - China's Cultural Industry Podcast

Send us a textEpisode gracefully passed over by Jiang Jiang (JJ) from the Inside the China Room  podcast show in order to have a second window of distribution ;) Enjoy !To go further- Middle Earth episode #72 Film Distribution: How to Succeed at China’s Box Office- Middle Earth episode #44 Does China still make indie films?Original messageThis week on Inside the China Room, Jiang Jiang (JJ) welcomes Annie Song (宋晓佳), a young Chinese film producer and art director of 林象文化 Jungle Vision, a Beijing-based start-up dedicated to curating independent film festivals in China.In this episode, we explore how young independent Chinese filmmakers are seizing opportunities at film festivals and contributing to the rise of new genres in China, with a particular focus on the increasing popularity of socially themed films. We also delve into the evolving dynamics between the Chinese and American film industries, as well as the successes and challenges Chinese films face in reaching international audiences. Additionally, we d

Send us a textDespite China's reputation for having difficulty selling cultural products due to local regulations and the audience's taste, some do manage to bridge the Chinese audience with international content. Where do such opportunities lie, and how has the Chinese audience evolved over the years?Featuring- Marion Bertagna: MB Projects - Founder & Director- Sun Wenxin (aka Yoyo): Global Concert OrganizerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #87 How local government & foundations sponsor culture in China- Middle Earth episode #77 Big in China: Bringing Foreign Creators Onto Chinese Platforms- Middle Earth episode #60 The Golden Age of China's Museums?- TWOC's article Can China’s Detective Novels Finally Make Crime Pay? by Jesse Young- International dancers mentioned : Rachid Ouramdane, Pina BauschMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a speci

Send us a textChina's first AAA game Black Myth: Wukong certainly caught the world's attention for its production value, commercial success, and controversies. How did the creative team pull that off, and why was this game considered the "perfect package"?Featuring- Daniel Ahmad: Niko Partners - Director of Research & Insights- Lundy Lan: Video Game Technical Artist- Jesse Young: Independent Researcher  To go further- Middle Earth trilogy about Chinese video games industry : #67 Creating Games for the West#70 China’s Indie Games#73 Chinese E-sports- Middle Earth episode #87 How local government & foundations sponsor culture in China- Middle Earth episode #79 Exploring Wuxia (think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon")- TWOC's article Monkeying Around: Chinese Gamers on the ‘Black Myth’ Phenomenon by Jesse Young & Yang Tingting- Chinese Video games mentioned : The Perceiver, Lost Soul Aside, Phantom Blade Zero, Phantom Blade: Executioners, The Grass of Genesis, Code:

Send us a textLeaving Chinese Tier 1 cities that are often the heartbeat of cultural creation and where artists can find patreons, we met two creatives that leave in remote artists communities. Leveraging cheap rent and the artistic community around them, they offer a testimony to creatives' never ending resourcefulness.Featuring- Guo Xiadong : Film Producer (in Songzhuang - near Beijing)- Ryan LaBar : Artist (in Jingdezhen - Jiangxi province)To go further- Middle Earth episode #20 Making a Metropolis: Contemporary Chinese Architecture and Urban Planning - Middle Earth episode #86 Surviving the cutthroat world of e-commerce in China, with Dr Lin Zhang author of "The Labor of Reinvention" - TWOC's article What’s Next for China’s Once-Thriving Artist Communes? by Alex Colville- TWOC's article Bringing the Porcelain Capital of the World into the 21st Century by TIna XuMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project

Send us a textAs any taxi driver in China would tell you, the country is safe on every level. But that must make "true crime" storytellers' lives difficult. Therefore, how can those entertainers of the dark world propose to Chinese audiences?Featuring- A Yi (阿乙) : Writer- Eric Changan : Content Creator- Wapi : Content Creator & WriterTo go further- Middle Earth episode #95 Chinese Web Novels: The Hidden Golden Goose?- Middle Earth episode #92 How writers, bookstore owners, and printers survive in China’s publishing industry - Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce - TWOC's article Can China’s Detective Novels Finally Make Crime Pay? by Jesse Young. - A Yi (阿乙)'s short novels are on TWOC- Wapi's media called 没药花园 (can be found on wechat, RED, Youtube, 小宇宙)- Eric Changan's bilibili account is called Eric长安万年Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting

Send us a textAfter 224 guests, 4,439 minutes of content and 1 pandemic we are shamelessly celebrating Midde Earth – China’s cultural industry Podcast 100th episode! In order to make it big I have summoned all my supportive friends living in Beijing and we are today at Chill Bar for a live event to have quick introspection about the show, and so much more.Featuring- Aladin Farré : Content Producer & Middle Earth Podcast Founder- Sara Huang  :  Scriptwriter and Translator - Sam Davies :  TWOC - Managing Editor As we reach 100 episodes I would like to thanks, in chronological order Steve Seidenberg, Li Muyuan, Brenden Gonsalves, Sean Calvo, Alex Colville, Hatty Liu, Dragos Cacio, all the team at TWOC, today’s guests and previous guests.It was a public event that could have been made possible without Wendy Xu, Hu Qifei, Wang Siqi and Roman KierstChinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Zhang Jiayu for poster picture.The World of Chinese MagazineA mag

Send us a textAs AI is creeping into our lives and our work, no industries are left out of it and certainly not China's cultural industry. But do using AI tools to create content is an easy path and what are the ethical issues attached to such practices?Featuring- Fan : AI Startup - CTO- Erik Luo : Technical AI artist- Liang Chouwa : Documentary DirectorTo go further- Middle Earth episode #93 Invisible Summit: One Blind Person's Journey to 8,848 Meters - Middle Earth episode #84 Are NFTs welcome in China? (Part 3 - Chinese art collectors) - TWOC's article What Booming AI Revival Services Mean for China’s Relationship to Death by Shao Yefan- TWOC's article ChatGPT Gold Rush: How AI Business (and Crime) Is Taking Shape in China by Wang Jiawei- Liang Chouwa's documentary : My A.I. Lover | NYT Op-DocsQuiz's answer (no spoil !)- link to answer 1- link to answer 2Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, l

Send us a textBefore Covid, WWE and UFC were key to push the envelope of MMA in China, now, independent promotion companies like Middle Kingdom Wrestling are left to pick up the momentum. Featuring- Adrian Gomez: Middle Kingdom Wrestling - FounderTo go further- Middle Earth episode  #65 China’s winter sports market : How to get 300 million snow enthusiasts?- Middle Earth episode #51 Pop Mart : How to Make an Addictive Toy (featuring Jiang Yaling)With thanks to Yang Yaling of Following the yuan for co-producing the episode and Middle Kingdom Wrestling for poster’s picture.Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary, or are looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textWith a forecast revenue of 370 billion USD in 2024 market size, roughly three times the size of the US market and Europe, China's apparel market  is home to up and coming fashion brands as well as big brands buying up international competitors. What can insiders share from that industry? Featuring- Li Boyan: Fashion Photographer- Lucrezia Seu: Plush Consulting - Founder- CK Zhang : 张本赛含之 SAIANZI - FounderTo go further- Middle Earth episode #93 Invisible Summit: One Blind Person’s Journey to 8,848 Meters- Middle Earth episode #24 Dealing with the diaspora: Catering to Chinese clients abroad- Talking Shop, article by Emily Conrad for The World of Chinese Magazine- Turning the Tide, article by He Yingzi- Vintage Values, article by Hatty LiuMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影Wit

Send us a textPotentially succeeding where Quibi failed, several Chinese apps (DramaBox, Reelshort) alongside others (Pocket FM, Good Novel) are pushing for 1-minute episodes of micro-series. Often depicted as being of trashy quality, they do seem to attract some eyeballs. Yet, what are the creative conditions to produce such Fifty Shades-esque stories, and is the market where we think it is?Featuring- Jack Li: Scriptwriter- Anaïs Clément : Actress and Theatre Maker - Yang Tingting: TWOC - JournalistTo go further- Middle Earth episode #59 China micro-series’s boom- Middle Earth episode #08 How to Make a Movie in 14 Days- High Stakes in Short Takes: China’s Booming Micro-Drama Business, article by Yang Tingting- the international micro-series "The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband"- the chinese micro-series 《我在八零年代当后妈》Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent,

Send us a textStarted as a grassroots movement in the early Chinese internet, web novels slowly became a powerhouse of China’s cultural industry by producing powerful IPs. How did this industry came to be?Featuring- Tage : Author - Wei Xiaoma : IP Licensing Manager- Yang Zeyi : Technology Reporter To go further- Middle Earth episode #92 How writers, bookstore owners, and printers survive in China’s publishing industry- Middle Earth episode #69 The Seducing Power of IPs- Middle Earth episode #90 Women in China’s Cultural Industries- Middle Earth episode #79 Exploring Wuxia (think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") - Bitter No More: How Young Chinese Became Obsessed With TCM, article by Shao Yefan- China is reinventing the way the world reads, article by Yang ZeyiMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili acc

Send us a textWith a 800 billion yuan market size and 1/5 of the doctor’s workforce, TCM is a force to be reckoned with in China. How did the field keeps reinventing itself and why does Chinese youth gets more attracted by it?Featuring- Martin Eriksson : TCM doctor - ShaoYefan (邵叶凡) : TWOC - freelancer- Wu Yanmin : Ori-Bio - Co-founderTo go further- Middle Earth episode #82 Understanding China’s national park & scenic areas - Bitter No More: How Young Chinese Became Obsessed With TCM, article by Shao YefanMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Ren Jiayin for production assistant, Wu Daozhi for fact-checking, Kian2018 for picture illustration and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textNew documentary Invisible Summit 《看不见的顶峰》tells the epic story of how Zhang Hong became the first blind Asian person to climb the world’s tallest mountain. On this podcast, director Fan Lixin (LAST TRAIN HOME) discusses how he filmed Zhang’s extraordinary journey and what he learned during the making of the movie. Featuring- Fan Lixin (范立欣): Documentary Director- Liu Yuan (刘元): ProducerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #78 Revving Up China’s New Biker Culture - Middle Earth episode #72 Film Distribution: How to Succeed at China’s Box Office How to support the film?- Tell your friends living in China to buy a ticket for the week-end of the 27th of October- Find the film on 猫眼 app and click on 想看- And if you know an international TV commissioner that could be interested by the film, let's be in touch ;)Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next film or look for a specific talent, please get

Send us a textChina’s book market is the second largest in the world, with people reading around 6 billion books a year. But how easy is it for small publishers, bookstores, and writers to get a piece of this pie? And how are digital alternatives to physical books impacting writers and small businesses and writers? Featuring- Chen Qiufan (陈楸帆): Writer & Futurist- Liu Jue: TWOC – Managing editor- Li Suwan (李苏皖): Maziren Bookstore (码字人书店) - OwnerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #95 Chinese Web Novels: The Hidden Golden Goose? - Middle Earth episode #91 How to Publish a Magazine for 100 Issues- Middle Earth episode #25 How to publish a book in China- "The Dark Room Problem" short story written by Chen Qiufan (陈楸帆) and published by The World of Chinese Magazine- How China’s Small-Town Bookstores Innovate to Survive, article by by The World of Chinese Magazine- Bookish Dreams: The fantasy of owning an independent bookstore lingers for China’s idealists, article by by The World of Chinese MagazineM

Send us a textNot sure if you could stand my broken Chinese, but I started a new show regarding China's latest box office called 票房指南 as a part of an ongoing effort to become a true 网红...The Middle Earth Podcast will return next week.LinksSubscribe to 票房指南 on podcast app 小宇宙 : LinkSubscribe to 票房指南 on social media Bilibili : Link原本担心这会是一部古装特效烂片，看过后却成为今年暑期的一大惊喜。 但是，《封神第一部》还有哪些地方可以改进？号称30亿预算的封神三部曲能实现盈利吗？涉及到的电影： 《阿修罗》2018年《指环王》2001-2003年《蜘蛛巢城》1957年《七武士》1954年

Send us a textIt's not every day that a magazine publishes its 100th issue—but Middle Earth's distributor, The World of Chinese, has reached this important milestone after 17 years of publication. We want to look at how an English-language magazine based in Beijing sustains itself and evolves into a multimedia platform (including podcasts) for human-centered stories from China.Featuring - Hatty Liu: TWOC - Former managing editor 2019-2023- Liu Jue: TWOC - co-managing editor- Doug Hughes: International education expertBuy your ticket for The World of Chinese's 100th issue event in Beijing on the 31th of August : https://yoopay.cn/event/89241330 Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chine

Send us a textWomen perform up to 50 percent of the jobs in China's cultural industries, but are they getting equal opportunities and compensation as men? In this episode, guests from the world of film, TV, visual arts, and journalism discuss the barriers female leaders and employees still face in their industries, and the benefits of more gender diversity in the workplace.Featuring - Li Muyuan : Gushi FM - Producer- Hatty Liu :  Journalist & Former TWOC Managing Editor - Luka Yang : Visual Artist & FilmmakerTo Go Further- "Women’s Work" article by The World of Chinese Magazine- "Getting Rights Wrong" article by The World of Chinese Magazine- "Hidden Harassment" article by The World of Chinese MagazineMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré.  If you have a China-themed cultural project, like shooting your next documentary or looking for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影Wit

Send us a textToday I plug in a new show that I'm working on where we interviewed Georges Berne, a true master in the art of lighting design who worked on the Mona Lisa. Today, he reflects on his long career and shares his thoughts on his work.Winland Art PodcastArchitecture is solidified art, and art is the soul of architecture. Created by the Carte Blanche art team from in Beijing, Winland Art Podcast show focuses on the global art stage. In our show we discuss the challenges faced by those working in the art field with a focus on hot issues in the art world such as cross-cultural creation and China’s current art world scene.The Carte Blanche space was founded in 2019 and is located at Winland IFC, 7 Finance Street, Beijing.Subscribe to the Winland Art Podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or at : https://podcast.winlandcorp.comTo know moreWebsite: https://winlandcenter.com/en/here WeChat Account: 英蓝集团 WinlandInstagram: @WinlandCorpThe World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, cu

Send us a textA billion internet users means a lot of followers for some content creators in China. But with ad revenue dropping China’s economy is slowing down, are tips and patrons a viable alternative for creators? Featuring- Lulu | 璐璐 : LHH Speak Easy ( 璐璐的英文小酒馆 ) - Founder- Luigi Liu :  BtoZ-Movie - Founder To go further- "Career Fans" article by The World of Chinese Magazine - Middle Earth episode #87 How local government & foundations sponsor culture in China - Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce - Middle Earth episode #29 Online KOL marketing in ChinaMiddle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and mo

Send us a textCulture is expensive, and China makes no exception to that. Without the support of public and private entities, many artists could not create anything or be overly commercial. After getting through the regulations hurdle, what kind of art are supported by the big companies and local governments? Featuring- Yilin Chen : Winland Group - Art Project Director - Elie Rosenberg : Impromptu - Co-Founder - He Xin : former real estate consultantTo go further- "Dream Factory" article by The World of Chinese Magazine - Middle Earth episode #36 Transforming a Chinese movie studio- Middle Earth episode #60 The Golden Age of China's Museums?- Middle Earth episode #82 Understanding China’s national park & scenic areas  Middle Earth is made by China Compass Productions and hosted by Aladin Farré. If you have a China-themed cultural project like shooting your next documentary or look for a specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to