Middle Earth - China’s cultural industry podcast
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.
Middle Earth - China’s cultural industry podcast
#112 - The rise of Fangyan (local dialect)'s content
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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!
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The World of Chinese Magazine
A magazine about Chinese society, culture, history, arts, language, and more.
