Middle Earth - China’s cultural industry podcast

Apr 12 2025 115 ep. 43 mins 1.4k
Middle Earth - China’s cultural industry podcast artwork

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.

  TV & Film  Arts  Society & Culture
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#108 - The Memorablia Economy: Why Some Can’t Stop Dreaming of the 90s

Apr 12 2025 33 mins  
Send us a text 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: - Yaling Jia

#107 - Ne Zha 2's Secret Weapon(s) to Reach Global Top 10 Box-Office

Feb 28 2025 32 mins  
Send us a text 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 br

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

Jan 22 2025 59 mins  
Send us a text 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�

#105 How female-centered content is making a killing

Jan 07 2025 52 mins  
Send us a text 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

Gondor (and Aladin) Calls For Aid!

Dec 23 2024 2 mins  
Send us a text Hello everyone, the Middle Earth Podcast will continue as we enter 2025, but I call on all of you dear listeners as I’m great need of freelance work (or a full time position, let’s dream !). In case you are in needs of a: - corpo video creator - podcast expert - researcher - film editor - freelance producer - or PR expert Here is my company presentation (Link) an

(Bonus) Exploring new trends in China's film industry with independent producer Annie Song (produced by Inside the China Room)

Dec 05 2024 46 mins  
Send us a text Episode gracefully passed over by Jiang Jiang (JJ) from the Inside the China Room podcast show in order to have a second window of distribution ;) Enjoy ! To go further - Middle Earth episode #72 Film Distribution: How to Succeed at China’s Box Office - Middle Earth episode #44 Does China still make indie films? Original message This week on Inside the China Room,

#104 Importing Foreign Content & Experiences

Oct 07 2024 40 mins  
Send us a text Despite China's reputation for having difficulty selling cultural products due to local regulations and the audience's taste, some do manage to bridge the Chinese audience with international content. Where do such opportunities lie, and how has the Chinese audience evolved over the years? Featuring - Marion Bertagna: MB Projects - Founder & Director - Sun Wenxin

#103 Black Myth: Wukong - How to make 1 billion dollars with Chinese folklore?

Sep 07 2024 53 mins  
Send us a text China's first AAA game Black Myth: Wukong certainly caught the world's attention for its production value, commercial success, and controversies. How did the creative team pull that off, and why was this game considered the "perfect package"? Featuring - Daniel Ahmad: Niko Partners - Director of Research & Insights - Lundy Lan: Video Game Technical Artist - Jesse

#102 Remote Creatives

Aug 07 2024 50 mins  
Send us a text Leaving Chinese Tier 1 cities that are often the heartbeat of cultural creation and where artists can find patreons, we met two creatives that leave in remote artists communities. Leveraging cheap rent and the artistic community around them, they offer a testimony to creatives' never ending resourcefulness. Featuring - Guo Xiadong : Film Producer (in Songzhuang - nea

#101 When (True) Crime Pays

Jul 07 2024 50 mins  
Send us a text As any taxi driver in China would tell you, the country is safe on every level. But that must make "true crime" storytellers' lives difficult. Therefore, how can those entertainers of the dark world propose to Chinese audiences? Featuring - A Yi (阿乙) : Writer - Eric Changan : Content Creator - Wapi : Content Creator & Writer To go further - Middle Earth episo