#51 Pop Mart : How to Make an Addictive Toy

Send us a text If you are on this side of the Great Wall, you might have seen their shops and vending machines in malls: Pop Mart. This public company worth 11 billion USD sells “mystery” toy boxes containing a single cute figurine from a potential set of several characters. Buyers do not know which figurine they have bought until they open the box. The company is widely successful in China and has even led other companies to copy their marketing methods. Joining Middle Earth Podcast are creative director Juan Tan, Pop Mart's representative Amaia Perea, and business journalist Jiang Yaling, who will talk about how Pop Mart became so successful, the process of creating their IP, and the dark sides of the mystery box craze. 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. The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, and more. Support the pod by buying a copy ;) Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

41分钟
9
3年前

#49 China's New Year box office bonanza

Send us a text Last year, as COVID-19 cases spiked around the world, many thought cinemas would die. China’s box office sales from the past few months tell a different story. The country’s film market broke several world records in 2021, selling roughly $1.2 billion in tickets. Although theaters in the U.S., which are the primary competitors of theaters in China, have been closed, more and more Chinese people continue to head to the movies. One of the secret weapons is the production of a “Chinese New Year film” for the whole family. Where do those films come from, and what is their winning recipe? Featuring Ye Qing | 叶青 : Culture Reporter at CGTN Cheng Rui : Producer at Wanda Studios 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! Recommendations - The 1997 movie The Dream Factory (甲方乙方 jiǎfāng yǐfāng). - The 2002 movie Fat Choi Spirit (呖咕呖咕新年财 lìgū lìgū xīnnián cái). Answers to the quiz: - Detective Chinatown 2 made only 0.4% of its box office sales outside of China. - The 1981 movie In-Laws (喜盈门 xǐ yíngmén) sold 469 million tickets. - The 2008 movie If You Are the One (非诚勿扰 fēichéng wùrǎo) shares the same name as the Jiangsu TV dating show. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

44分钟
4
4年前

#44 Does China still make indie films?

Send us a text Long gone are the days when Chinese film directors could shoot their films and win awards abroad without complications back home. But even with stricter regulations regarding the shooting and distribution of films in China, some have not stopped creating unique stories for the big screen. Today's guests share their insights into the current scene of low-budget films and art-house movies coming from China. Featuring Cao Liuying : Co-Founder of Midnight Blur Films Karin Chien : Film Producer & Distributor at dGenerate Films Jenny Wu : Indie Filmmaker & Curator 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! Recommendations - An Elephant Sitting Still 大象席地而坐 (2017) - Blind Massage 推拿 (2014) - Outcry and Whisper 呐喊与低语 (2020) Quiz's answer - According to China Daily, only 1.5% of screen time is given to indie films in their first screening week. - The China Independent Film Festival was shut down permanently in 2020 after 14 iterations. - The film director who goes by the surname Ceng (who used to be a farmer and a migrant worker) was arrested on the evening of his film premiere in 2016. He was not arrested for the content of the film, but because he was part of a gang fight in Chongqing in 2000 and had eluded the police for 16 years. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support. The World of Chinese Magazine A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.

56分钟
22
4年前
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