Middle Earth - China’s cultural industry podcast

The World of Chinese

Your source of insight into China's culture industry: Hear from people creating and producing content in the world's second biggest cultural market. Hosted by Aladin Farré, and presented by The World of Chinese magazine.

  1. 2d ago

    #112 - The rise of Fangyan (local dialect)'s content

    Send us Fan Mail Recently, a Chinese film DEAR YOU (給阿嬤的情書 - 2026) broke the country box office. This historical / family / period drama was shot on a mere 14 million yuan budget ($2 million), and yet made over 1.8 billion yuan ($265 millions). But what’s interesting about that story is that it’s not so much about the money itself, or that the director was quite unknown ; it is that this story that spam from the end of 1940s to today is primary spoken in Teochew dialect.  And those types of movies, alongside side any kind of cultural content for the matter, has a hard time finding its place in Chinese cultural consumption as there is a strong emphasis on using Putonghua. Yet, things are brewing. Featuring - LAM Can-zhao : Filmmaker - Yaling JIANG : Consultant - Sam Debell : Sea of Wood Records - Co-founder To go further - Middle Earth episode #102 Remote Creatives - TWOC's series Fangyan Friday - TWOC's article Speaking Up: Can Social Media Save China’s Dialects? by Chu Siyi - TWOC's article Dongbei Survival Guide by Ginger Huang - Yaling JIANG's recommendation :  卖凉茶只狗 (A corgi who sells herbal tea)  Giger Hu了 (Thighs are numb) 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.

    #112 - The rise of Fangyan (local dialect)'s content

  2. 12/24/2025

    #111 - Are filmmakers still going to have a job? The latest on Chinese A.I. filmmaking's leapfrog advance

    Send us Fan Mail 18 months ago, we released our episode #99 examining how AI was being used in films, documentaries, and advertising. At the time, most of the more compelling AI-driven work was confined to short-form content. But Chinese content creator and storyteller are doing leapfrog on that area. As AI tools advance rapidly, they are increasingly taking on more complex roles in filmmaking, including generating entire features and even documentaries. But as reliance on the technology grows, the industry is still grappling with unresolved ethical questions around consent and copyright. Featuring - CHEN Zhuo (Pax) : FizzDragon - Founder & CEO - Tina JIA : Wing Sight - Founder & President - FAN Lixin : Emmy Award Documentary & AI Filmmaker To go further - Middle Earth episode #99 How AI is disrupting China’s cultural industry - TWOC's article Smart Earth: How AI Is Rewriting Rural China by Yang Tingting - TWOC's article ChatGPT Gold Rush: How AI Business (and Crime) Is Taking Shape in China by Wang Jiawei - Wing Sight's documentary series on iQIYI: Prominent Figures in Chinese History (华夏风云人物) (7x22') - Wing Sight's official website | Wing Sight's Instagram | Wing Sight's Weibo  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 Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. Poster credit:  Design by Wang Siqi; elements from Doubao AI The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

    #111 - Are filmmakers still going to have a job? The latest on Chinese A.I. filmmaking's leapfrog advance

  3. 10/08/2025

    #110 How Chinese cities are reinventing themselves after the urban boom

    Send us Fan Mail China's building boom can now be declared over. Yet what awaits for the 940 million city dwellers living in Chinese cities?   Featuring - Éric LE KHANH : architect  - LIU Jue (LJ) : managing editor at TWOC - Jingqiu ZHANG: IARA - Co-founder & Architect To go further - Middle Earth episode #108 - The Memorabilia Economy: Why Some Can’t Stop Dreaming of the 90s - Middle Earth episode #102 Remote Creatives - TWOC's article Welcome to Liu York: Going with the Flow in China’s Chillest River City by Wang Lin (王琳) - TWOC's article How Residential Renovation Became China’s New Urban Battleground by Tan Yunfei (谭云飞) & Liu Jue (刘珏) - Éric LE KHANH 's work on the remains of Jin Zhongdu City (Jin dynasty - 12th century) at Tianjin University. - Éric LE KHANH 's work on the Sino-French "Chengdu Eco-Quartier" - Jinqiu ZHANG team's work in Chen Jiapu Village (陈家埔村). - News report on CGTN about France-China Wuhan Eco-City. 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 Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more. Poster credit : Wirestock on Freepik.com The World of Chinese MagazineA magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

    #110 How Chinese cities are reinventing themselves after the urban boom

  4. 05/24/2025

    #109 How Chinese stories are going to the Cannes Festival

    Send us Fan Mail As 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 & Cinematographer To 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.

    #109 How Chinese stories are going to the Cannes Festival

  5. 04/08/2025

    #108 - The Memorabilia Economy: Why Some Can’t Stop Dreaming of the 90s

    Send us Fan Mail Nostalgia 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: TWOC - former editor-in-chief - Yaling Jiang: Consultant - Haoyue : Film Producer To 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.

  6. 02/28/2025

    #107 - Ne Zha 2's Secret Weapon(s) to Reach Global Top 5 Box-Office

    Send us Fan Mail In 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 & Editor To 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 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.

    #107 - Ne Zha 2's Secret Weapon(s) to Reach Global Top 5 Box-Office

  7. 01/22/2025

    #106 Why RedNote (小红书) ripped success out of the "TikTok refugees" (Live Podcast Rec. on RedNote)

    Send us Fan Mail It 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.

    #106 Why RedNote (小红书) ripped success out of the "TikTok refugees" (Live Podcast Rec. on RedNote)

  8. 01/08/2025

    #105 How female-centered content is making a killing

    Send us Fan Mail When 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 & Editor To 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 Jue 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 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.

    #105 How female-centered content is making a killing
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Your source of insight into China's culture industry: Hear from people creating and producing content in the world's second biggest cultural market. Hosted by Aladin Farré, and presented by The World of Chinese magazine.

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