Send us a text China’s card and board games market size was valued at $580 million in 2018, and is projected to reach $1.6 billion by 2025. On this episode we dive into the strengths and weaknesses of China’s market, how to protect your intellectual property, and recent trends in the industry. Featuring Minlu Chen : Co-Founder & CMO of Gstone Games Hao Zhang :Founder of Labyrinth Culture Ired Zhu : marketing director at Asmodee 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! Recommendations - The Chinese game Film Centenary 电影百年 - The Chinese game Garbage Classification 分了吧! - The localized game Dobble China 嗒宝中国版 Quiz's answers - It is the game Liubo 六博 whose rules are forgotten that was found in a Chinese tomb. - Bang! is the Italian game that got copied by the popular Legends of the Three Kingdoms 三国杀 - It was the character Fang Siqi, coming from a popular novel, that was put into an erotic card game even though it is based on a true story and tells the story of a student being harassed by her teacher. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text Leading the world in the LED market, it was only natural for China to join the fun of light art (also known as luminism) that is growing around the world. Art curator and co-founder of Kaleidoscale Marcom, Drue Chiam shares her experience on how this market has developed over the years she was in China, talent procurement, how to protect your IP and, of course, how COVID-19 impacted an art form that usually happens outdoor with huge crowds. 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! Recommendation - The Festival of Lights in Lyon (France) With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text “If Mulan doesn’t work in China, we have a problem,” said Alan Horn, the co-chairman of Walt Disney Studios, to the Hollywood Reporter. Unfortunately, the film had a lot of issues: inaccurate storytelling, cultural appropriation, and political scandals, not to mention a poor showing at the box office. What were the hurdles the movie faced and how Mulan could be a lesson for film studios hoping to tell Chinese stories for international audiences? Featuring Hank Liu : Film Editor Elaine Yau : Journalist at the South China Morning Post journalist 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 Chinese animation film Ne Zha 哪吒 (2019). - The U.S. animation film Coco (2017). Answers to the quiz - Mulan fought in the Northern Wei army. - At least 12 feature films were made out of Mulan’s story. - Wēn Míngnà 溫明娜, who voiced Mulan in 1998, is the actor doing a cameo in the 2020 remake. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text China’s entertainment industry has undergone staggering changes over the past two decades. The content, the ways it's delivered, and even the stars themselves are taking shape in a manner that is unique to China and reflects a new type of user — one who has come of age in the digital era. Provincial governments partner with stars to sell goods as arbitrary as farm equipment. Kim Kardashian has collaborated with famous live streamers to sell perfume. The show dives on how the budding Chinese entertainment industry is being shaped by technology and the internet; how Chinese dramas, songs, and TV are received around the world; the power of Chinese fandom; and more. Featuring Kevin Feng : Talent Agent & Producer Allison Jiang : Cultural Writer at RADII Marian Mationg : Writer at DramaPanda 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! Sponsors Win a free month of OVID.tv, which distributes exclusive Chinese films, by sharing your favorite Middle Earth episode on social media. Send Aladin a screenshot on Twitter for a chance to win! Recommendations - Mark Chao (Zhào Yòutíng 趙又廷), a Taiwanese-Canadian actor and model. - Jackson Wang (Wáng Jiā’ěr 王嘉尔), a Hong Kong rapper, singer, and dancer. - Huáng Bó 黄渤, a Chinese actor and singer. Answers to the quiz - Ruǎn Língyù 阮玲玉 is a Chinese star who killed herself in 1936. -Saving Mr. Wu (2015) is the Chinese film based on the Chinese actor Wú Ruòfǔ’s 吴若甫 real abduction in 2004. -Jackie Chan’s son was arrested for drug use while having an out-of-wedlock daughter. - A 2018 scandal involving actress Fàn Bīngbīng’s 范冰冰 “fake” contracts from a film project were worth $1.6 million. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text Founded in 2003, Mahua FunAge (开心麻花) is a cultural company that focuses on comedy content, including plays, musicals, children’s shows, improv, online TV series, and films. As of 2020, it has produced six successful feature films and 40 plays with the support of 400 staff members. Leer Cheng, vice president of the company, joins the show to discuss its recipe for success and how the entertainment industry in China has grappled with COVID-19. 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! Recommendation - Almost a Comedy (半个喜剧, 2019). With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text Of the 3,000 film studios located in China, Xiangshan Global Studios in Ningbo is one of the most important. Felix Lou, vice managing director of its international development division, joins Aladin to discuss the origin of the studios, its business model, the talent needed to maintain the operation, and some of its current international collaborations. 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! This episode was co-produced with Hiu Man Chan, the director of the UK-China Film Collab. Recommendations - The TV series The Longest Day in Chang'an. - The upcoming TV series The Golden Hairpin. Answers to the quiz - The Shaw Brothers company was funded by the Shanghainese Tianyi Film Company after the founders escaped the 1937 Japanese invasion. - I Am Somebody is a film about extras working in Hengdian Studio, China’s biggest film studio. - There are more than 3,000 registered film studios in China. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text Raz Gal-Or is the founder of the Foreigner Research Institute (wāigǔorén yánjiū xíehuì 歪果仁研究协会), a successful online platform that promotes foreigners creating content in China. Now known as Y-Platform, it has garnered a following of 80 million through 30 channels and influencers. In March 2020, Raz’s company raised $5 million from Sina Weibo and the online gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. What you’ll hear is the audio from a presentation organized by the nonprofit BeHive, which aims to support development opportunities and careers for students and young professionals. 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 Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text As content and movie creation continues to surge inside China, the need for more film industry professionals is now more pressing than ever. One role that lies at the center of creativity and technicality lies the score composer - the individual responsible for creation of music to accompany a film. On the podcast this week, film composers Liu Ye and Sean Calvo explain the work they do in the field, the issues they face, and how traditional Chinese music is utilized within the production process 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! Thank you to 247tickets for offering vouchers to guests. Like the podcasts at SupChina? Help us out by taking this brief survey. Recommendations - The soundtrack to Hero (2002), by Tan Dun. - The soundtrack to White Vengeance (2011), by Henry Lai. Quiz's answers - Cong Su, a Chinese composer, who won an Oscar for best music score for The Last Emperor (1987). - The sound of the fighting scene comes from Kung Fu Hustle (2004). - The oldest Chinese instrument is believed to be the wind instrument Xun. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text In 2014, the Chinese government released a policy document — now referred to as Number 46 — that outlined China’s plan to create the biggest sports industry in the world, with the target of $700 billion in annual revenue by 2025. We discuss the country’s national policies on sports and the business and collaborative opportunities in this industry. Featuring Jonty Dixon : Sports Editor at Xinhua News Wenjing Soong : Sports Consultant & Agent Michael Sun : Chairman and CEO of SlamBall Asia 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 hockey team Kunlun Red Star, based in Beijing. - The young football team of Zhidan County in Shaanxi. Follow it on WeChat: 志丹县足球协会. Answers to the quiz - Ping-Pong diplomacy is what began the warming of relations between the People’s Republic of China and the USA. - The furthest China’s national soccer team has gone is the group stages in the 2002 World Cup. - Li Xiaoshuang is the Chinese Olympian who won six medals in only one Olympic session. Like the podcasts at SupChina? Help us out by taking this brief survey. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text Once Chinese companies rise to the top of the domestic market, another challenge emerges: publicly listing on one of the major U.S. stock exchanges. Among the more recent listings, there is Bilibili and iQIYI for video, and Lizhi and Tencent Music for audio. In that episode guests explain the requirements of going public in the United States, the knowledge gap between Chinese companies and Western investors, and how going public can influence content creation and distribution. Featuring Ross Warner : Vice President of The Piacente Group Elliott Zaagman : co-host of the China Tech Investor 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! Recommendations -Rich Dad Poor Dad and The Intelligent Investor, self-help books on investments. - The China Hustle, a 2017 documentary about how small Chinese companies were hyped up and sold by American investment banks to U.S.-based investors. - The Motley Fool Podcasts, a series of podcasts about investing. Like the podcasts at SupChina? Help us out by taking this brief survey. Quiz's answers - 152 Chinese companies are listed on the major U.S. stock exchanges. - Beijing Jingxi Culture and Tourism (北京京西文化旅游股份有限公司), the company that produced Wolf Warrior 2, is the company that was queried by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange after fraud allegations. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text Intellectual property protection on copyrights is seen as being nearly nonexistent in China, but does that argument really hold water? What are the general positions of the Chinese government on international protection in the television and film industries? Featuring Mathew Alderson : Partner, Harris Bricken Li Jianbin : Copyright & Distribution Specialist Frank Yang : Senior associate, Marks & Clerk 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 Romanoffs (2018), a TV series -1917 (2019), an India-Spain-U.K.-U.S. epic war film - China Law Blog Quiz's answers - King of Peking (京城之王 2017) is the Chinese-U.S. comedy about a family illegally copying films on DVDs. - Michael Jordan is the sportsman who came out victorious in a trademark case in China's Supreme Court against Chinese company Qiaodan Sports. - The film Cars (2006) was copied by The Autobots (汽车人总动员 2015). Like the podcasts at SupChina? Help us out by taking this brief survey. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.

Send us a text John Dietz of BangBang Pictures has worked on over 30 movies in China, ranging from blockbuster films to micro-budget independent projects. He has seen the domestic visual effects (VFX) industry grow tremendously since moving to China in 2009, and works as a third party who handles top-to-bottom implementation of VFX for film projects. He shares a few tricks of the trade, including how he finds success working with international teams, and provides details about the logistics of some of the projects that he has worked on. 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 -Animal World (动物世界 2019), a Chinese action-adventure film. - Lost in Russia (囧妈 2020), a Chinese comedy that can be seen for free on Douyin. Like the podcasts at SupChina? Help us out by taking this brief survey. With thanks to Brenden Gonsalves for graphic design & Sean Calvo for music support.