Middle earth - China's cultural industry podcast

Send us a textAs the Cannes festival ends, we interviewed some key player regarding how the biggest film festival in the world impacts Chinese cinema.Featuring- Cao Liuying  : Parallax Films - Sales Agent- Clément Magar : Fortissimo Films - General Manager- Qu Zhizheng : Director & CinematographerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #44 Does China still make indie films?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 or RedNote (阿拉丁说电影)The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textNostalgia isn't just a feeling—it's also a powerful selling tool. Right as China's GDP growth slows and the future feels uncertain, consumers are increasingly drawn to products and stories that evoke the past. Whether it's retro snacks or hit TV shows reviving bygone eras, some are tapping into a deep emotional connection.Featuring- Chu Dandan: - Yaling Jiang: Consultant-  Haoyue : Film ProducerTo go further- Middle Earth episode #54 What is the future of China's animation industry?- TWOC's article How to Talk About Box Office Performance Like a Pro by Aria Zhang- TWOC's article  about Zong Qinghou ; The Beverage Company That Made China's Richest Man by Tan Yunfei - Douyin Accounts about the 1980's : 阿牛小卖部 & 怀旧铺子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 or RedNote (阿拉丁说电影)The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textIn recent months, China's box office has faced significant challenges, making a recent development all the more remarkable. Recently the animated film Ne Zha 2 has skyrocketed into the global box office top 10 in just one month. With currently over 1.9 billion in revenue, the film has achieved two groundbreaking milestones:- It's the first non-English film to break into this elite category.- It's now the highest-grossing animated film worldwide, surpassing Inside Out 2, the previous record holder.Featuring- Dalton Grant Jr: Mapletoons Animation - Animation Writer & Director- Lena Li: IP Acquisitions Consultant- Hayley Zhao: TWOC - Journalist & EditorTo go further- Middle Earth episode #54 What is the future of China's animation industry?- TWOC's article How to Talk About Box Office Performance Like a Pro by Aria ZhangMiddle 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 or RedNote (阿拉丁说电影)The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textIt has been a crazy week following the non-TikTok ban and witnessing real 'positive energy' on both sides of the Pacific. How did over 1 million Americans flock to RedNote/小红书? What hurdles lie ahead for us, and are there any potential business opportunities for international content creators?Featuring- Jim Fields: Relay Video - CEO(小红书: Jim技术咨询)- Lucy Lv: Culture news reporter(IG-TT: nihaolucylv)- Wang Zichen: Policy Expert(www.pekingnology.com)To go further- Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce- TWOC's article Seeing RED: The Rise China's Hottest Trend-Setting App by Hatty Liu- TWOC's article Parallel Worlds: How A Lifestyle App Shed Light on China's Education Gap by Outside the Fifth Ring (五环外)- Dr. Candise Lin who bridged RedNote And Tiktok in 2024: @drcandiselin 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 or RedNote (阿拉丁说电影)The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textWhen the Middle Earth Podcast started years ago, it was hard to find any feminist mainstream cultural products. But recently, movies like HER STORY (好东西) and LIKE A ROLLING STONE (出走的决心), along with female stand-up comedians and influencers, have been making their way into the mainstream. How did these success stories come to be?Featuring- Xiaotong Jiang: Kudos Comedy - Founder- Jiaxi Wang: Scriptwriter & Director- Hayley Zhao: TWOC - Journalist & EditorTo go further- Middle Earth episode #92 How writers, bookstore owners, and printers survive in China's publishing industry - Middle Earth episode #46 China's TV format industry- TWOC's article Roasted and Burned by Tan Yunfei- TWOC's article “Girls Should be Brave”: A Feminist's Bumpy Journey in a Chinese Small Town by Yang Tingting- TWOC's article The Rise of Female Perspectives in China's Movie Industry by Liu JueMiddle 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With thanks Li Muyuan for additional research, and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a textHello everyone, the Middle Earth Podcast will continue as we enter 2025, but I call on all of you dear listeners as I'm great need of freelance work (or a full time position, let's dream !).In case you are in needs of a:- corpo video creator- podcast expert- researcher- film editor- freelance producer- or PR expertHere is my company presentation (Link) and we can also connect  on Linkedin (Link), it would always be great to know more of you.Wishing you all in advance happy new year, and I hope that everything YOU guys are fighting for will happen for you as well!

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 discuss how innovative promotional strategies, such as short video platforms, are revolutionizing the way films connect with viewers.Annie Song holds a BA in Film Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and brings over eight years of experience to the film industry. She was recently honored with the Most Promising Filmmaker award at the 29th Busan International Film Festival, cementing her reputation as a rising star in the field.RecommendationMovies: 好东西 Her Story by director 邵艺辉 Shao Yihui, set to release on November 22, 2024Other Chinese films Annie Song and Jiang Jiang discussed in this episode:宇宙探索编辑部 Journey to the West (2023)流浪地球 The Wandering Earth (2020)逆行人生 Upstream (2024)我不是药神 Dying to Survive (2018)爱情神话 B for Busy (2021)英雄 Hero (2002）卧虎藏龙 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)影 Shadow (2019)满江红 River Red (2023)The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

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 specific talent, please get in touch! Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks Li Muyuan for research, and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

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: To Jin Yong,Where Winds Meet, Zenless Zone Zero & Honor of Kings: WorldMiddle 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With thanks Li Muyuan for research, and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

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, 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With thanks Ren Jiayin for production, and Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Send us a Text Message.As 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 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With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Martin Lopez for poster picture.

Send us a Text Message.After 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.

As 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) - 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, 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With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Erik Luo for poster picture.The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Before 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 Yang 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

With 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With thanks to Ren Jiayin for production assistant, Sean Calvo for music support and Lucrezia Seu for poster picture.Don't miss out on our live event in Beijing! 18th of AprilBook your ticket : https://yoopay.cn/event/49445260For six years, the Middle Earth Podcast has been a favorite among creatives working in and with China to learn the latest news about the world's second-largest cultural market. As we reach 100 episodes with over 220 guests, it's time to take a look back at the show and the industry it covers with a live audience, followed by a Q&A and our infamous quiz.

Potentially 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 Maro: 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, 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 Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Started 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 account 阿拉丁_说电影With thanks to Ren Jiayin for production assistant, Li Muyuan for voice over and Sean Calvo for music support.

With 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! 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 Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Soon hitting Chinese cinemas, INVISIBLE SUMMIT (看不见的顶峰) tells the story of Zhang Hong, a blind masseur that fought against destiny and climbed Mt. Everest. Tune in to listen how director Fan Lixin (LAST TRAIN HOME) managed to film until the end this story bigger than life.   Featuring- Fan Lixin (范立欣): Documentary  Director- Liu Yuan (刘元) : Producer To 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 in touch! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. 

China'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- Su Wan (苏皖): Maziren Bookstore (码字人书店) - OwnerTo go further- "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 Magazine- Middle Earth episode #25 How to publish a book in China- Middle Earth episode #91 How to Publish a Magazine for 100 IssuesMiddle 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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.  The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Not 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

It'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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.

Women 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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Today 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.To know moreWebsite: https://winlandcenter.com/en/here WeChat Account: 英蓝集团 WinlandInstagram: @WinlandCorp

A 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- Loulou | 璐璐 : LHH Speak Easy (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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. 

Culture 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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support, Eleven Labs for the AI voice and Leeluv for the poster picture. 

For a decade or more, rural Chinese have been setting up online stores in their homes, hoping to make a living through e-commerce rather than factory work or farming. But any easy money there was in online selling is beginning to dry up. Village neighbors have been pitted against each other in competition for customers, unscrupulous merchants copy products and images from competitors with impunity, while rural residents also struggle to keep up with evolving trends like livestreaming. For over 10 years Dr Lin Zhang followed several of these rural entrepreneurs and their families, culminating in her latest book The Labor of Reinvention - Entrepreneurship in the New Chinese Digital Economy.Featuring- Dr Lin Zhang : University of New Hampshire Professor, author of The Labor of Reinvention - Entrepreneurship in the New Chinese Digital EconomyWin a copy of the book !- Share your favorite Middle Earth Podcast episode on any social media with the #MiddleEarthPodcast to enter the lottery.  Three lucky winners will receive a hard copy. Free shipping in China and the USA.Where to buy the book -  The Labor of Reinvention, published by Columbia University Presshttps://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-labor-of-reinvention/9780231551298 To go further- Middle Earth episode #01 How to be internet famous in China (Part 1 of "China's internet and creation") - Middle Earth episode #29 Online KOL marketing in China 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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. 

As China becomes more assertive on the global stage with its diplomacy and state media, “patriotic KOLs” have appeared on domestic Chinese social media platforms, influencing the political opinions of their millions of fans. But how do KOLs craft their message to be successful, and who's paying their bills?Featuring- Fang Kecheng : The Chinese University of Hong Kong - Assistant Professor- Miro Li : Double V. Consulting - Founder To go further- Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce- Nikkei Asia's article : China's online nationalist army- 孤烟暮蝉 (Guyanmuchan ) on Weibo- 心医林霖 (xīnyīlínlín) on Bilibili- 周小平 (Zhou Xiaoping), WeChat ID : 平局- 占豪 (Zhan Hao), WeChat ID : 占豪- 北美留学生观察, WeChat ID : 北美留学生观察 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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, episode's picture by maono闪克 and Sean Calvo for music support.  The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

NFTS are legal to be bought in China, but reselling them is an all other matters. Yet a local scene of buyers and artists keeps growing, while some lost a great amount of money as they were hoping for a quick return on investment. How does the scene keep growing while local regulations are put into place?Featuring - Ellwood Chen : Digital Artist & Pills Labs Founder - Rory Mencin : Curator & Art Critic- Reva : Crypto artistTo go further with Chinese art collectors - Middle Earth episode #80 Contemporary art in Greater China- Middle Earth episode #77 Antiques: China first cultural industryMiddle 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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, and Sean Calvo for music support.  The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

While China struggles to export its cultural abroad, neighbors like Korea and Japan seem immune to this problem. Apart from local regulations in art, what are the issues creators from China face when trying to take their cultural products abroad, and what are some products that actually became hits? Featuring - Li Jianbin: Beijing Inmost Media - Senior BD Director- Alex Taggart: Outdustry - Head of International - Vivian Ying: Film International SalesTo go further- Middle Earth episode #67 Creating Games for the West- Middle Earth episode #26 China's soft power in Africa 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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, Wendy Wei for illustration and Sean Calvo for music support. 

In 2021, there were 2 billion visits to China's outdoor tourism sites, such as nature reserves and natural scenic areas. How is this part of the tourism industry coping with a growing demand for outdoor experiences, and did that influence the creation of the country's national park system? Featuring - Justin Culkin : A Trails - Business Development Director- Rose Niu 牛红卫 : Paulson Institute - Chief Conservation Officer - Yefren Nye : TWOC contributor & innovative Green Development Program communications specialist To go further - The Trails and Tribulations of China's Outdoors Boom article by Yefren Nye - Right to Roam article by Yefren Nye - The Myth of the Chinese Wilderness by Tina Xu (徐盈盈) - #55 Why is red tourism trending beyond the golden generation? By the Middle Earth Podcast - #60 The Golden Age of China's Museums? By the Middle Earth Podcast  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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support. 

As the year 2023 starts, we review our top 3 stories from 2022 and make a few predictions for trends in China's culture industries in 2023. Featuring - Aladin Farré : Founder of Middle Earth Podcast - Hatty Liu : Managing editor at TWOC - Jesse Appel, Sara Huang, Yang Yu, & Jingtong ZhuTo go further- our podcast top 3 stories of the year #79 Exploring Wuxia #67 Creating Games for the West #64 Gambling in China : How Covid-19 helped the industry grow - Peter Chan's interview about his movie LEAP (2020)- The article Land of Milk and Honey: The Story of China's Most Profitable Milk Tea Brand by TWOC- The article Boom, Bluff, Bust by TWOC- Wuxia novels published on TWOC:  Restaurant of The Thousand Arms, Martial Tea and Night Moves, by author Hu Yuesheng (胡月生).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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support.  The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Greater China is now the biggest art-market in the world, but thousands of galleries in the middle kingdom have closed up, while many artists are struggling to make a living. How are gallery curators, artists, and tech companies keeping up with this ultra-competitive art market? Featuring - Ashley Qin – YITIAO Art Director- Lin Zi – SANTO HALL Gallery curator - Sima Yuan – Artist To go further- The article Photo Shop: Art in the Age of the Influencer by TWOC- The article Zhao Xiaoli Blurs the Line Between Online Influencer and Artist by TWOC- Middle Earth episode 60 The Golden Age of China's Museums?- Artists Wang Xingwei & Jia AiliMiddle 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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support.  The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Wuxia, martial arts stories about heroes and outlaws, used to be one of the most popular genres of literature in the Chinese-speaking world. After countless novels, films and video games, how are the people creating China's “knight errant” stories modernizing the genre? Featuring - Gigi Chang: wuxia translator - Lai Jingping: Wuxiaworld founder and CEO - Felix Lou: former vice-managing director of Xiangshan Film Studio & Skywood Founder To go further- Wuxia novels published on TWOC:  Restaurant of The Thousand Arms, Martial Tea and Night Moves, by author Hu Yuesheng (胡月生).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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance and Sean Calvo for music support. 

After being ostracized for years, motorbike culture is slowly building momentum among Chinese youths. Between 2016 and 2019, the number of bike sales doubled, and since the pandemic especially, a lot of entrepreneurs are jumping on new business opportunities provided by people craving the open road. Featuring Steven Tsui :  BG Performance - CEO Zhang Shuren : Pansaki North Station - FounderLi Huaqi : Student & EntrepreneurMiddle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground. 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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Forrest Speyer for the translation. The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

With over 1 billion internet users, China's online video and music platforms are the place to be for every creator trying to grow their audience. What does it take for international talent to make it in this cutthroat market? Featuring Tinko Georgiev: Kanjian - VP of Int'l Business Raffi Kamalian: Collab Asia - Head of Greater 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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.  The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

Dear listeners, just a quick announcement after more than two years in China, I'm going to take my chance to travel across Asia this October. So in case you are at the upcoming Busan Film Festival, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and want to meet-up, don't hesitate to contact me! My Twitter (@Aladin_F)My LinkedIn (Aladin Farré) Have a nice day, Aladin

Thanks to its rich history, China's has plenty of artifacts that are being sold and exposed in museums. And there is a market for it, a huge one, where some pieces can be sold for several thousand yuan. How did that market evolve, and what are the dark corners of this industry? Featuring Isaac Duffy : Collector Sun Jiahui : Freelance writer Zhang Bo : Architect & Collector 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! With thanks to Wen Jiayin for production assistance, Stephan Lambadaris for the voice-over & Sean Calvo for music support.

After being underground for decades, the Chinese rap scene got a sudden boost in 2017 thanks to the reality show The Rap of China on the online streaming platform IQiyi. How has the scene evolved since then, and what lies ahead?  Featuring Dojo Shaolin: Producer & Dj JFever :  Hip pop artist Stanley Yang : Zhong TV – Founder 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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. 

C-Dramas have certainly changed over the years as the competitions grew fierce for eyeballs. Why did such changes happen, and what's the future for Chinese TV series industry? Featuring Sara Huang : Scriptwriter Jia Liu : TV Producer Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

With 400 million fans watching over 5000 professional team competing over many games, China's e-sports industry is one of the most vivid area of China's cultural industry. How come this industry keeps growing, and what are the recent issues that e-sports players and companies had to face?  Featuring - Josh Lee: Perfect World Esports & tournaments director - Zeng Wensen : Riot China Action Genre Publishing Lead - Lucy Zhu : BSC Esports Lecturer & Module Leader Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support.The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

China has become the biggest film's market in the world after Covid-19, with 82,000 screens, so distributing a movie in Chinese cinemas seems like it would be an easy task. But with dozens of films coming out each week, what are the tricks for film distributors to find their audience?  Featuring - Cai Yuchen : UEP Media film distributor - Fan Lixin : Director & InHope Pictures cofounder Middle Earth is distributed by The World of Chinese (www.theworldofchinese.com). Every two months, both in print and online, the team at TWOC takes a contemporary issue in Chinese society and culture and looks behind the headlines to share how it affects people on the ground.  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! With thanks to Sean Calvo for music support and Chu Siyi for live translation. The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.