Quiet on set. How AI transformed China’s microdrama scene
Hengdian, China — Everything seemed to be business as usual as filming got underway on a dimly lit set in a basement in Hengdian, a town nicknamed “China’s Hollywood” for its sprawling complex of film studios. Cameramen raced around hectically setting up lights and checking shots as choreographers ran through fight sequences and a prop team … The post Quiet on set. How AI transformed China’s…
Hengdian, also known as "China's Hollywood," is a sprawling film studio complex nestled in a rural area of eastern China's Zhejiang province. The town was experiencing a boom in the microdrama industry, with production flourishing in Hengdian and other hubs. However, the industry is now witnessing a drastic shift due to the advent of AI-video generation tools.
These tools have taken over the microdrama scene, producing popular vertical shows at a fraction of the cost, causing a decline in live-action productions across the country. According to Chinese state media, out of the 120,000 microdramas released in the first three months of the year, 95 percent were generated by AI. The industry's transformation has had a significant impact on the livelihoods of many creatives, wiping out jobs and creating new ones.
These AI-generated microdramas have become a visible example of China's rapid AI transformation and its potential to disrupt movie-making industries worldwide.
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