20 LIFE | Film Thursday, August 23, 2018 DAILY EDITION SERIAL THRILLERS With their lavish productions, set in exotic locations, online Chinese drama serials are seeing a shift toward storylines that encourage empowerment, Xu Fan reports.

enerating nearly 14 billion “clicks” in From left: , Ken Jeong, , around 50 days, the and Constance Wu participate in the Build Speaker Series to fantasy series Leg­ discuss the film Crazy Rich Asians on Aug 14 in New York. AP Gend of Fuyao has become the most viewed online drama of the summer — the most com­ petitive season for reaching young audiences. Crazy Rich Asians Adapted from the hit novel of the same title, the series, co­headlined by Chinese gets mixed response mainland actress Mi and actor , — The craze its population are Malay, Indi­ debuted on streaming plat­ for Crazy Rich Asians is hit­ an or Eurasians, with many form Video on June ting Asia, with a premiere in migrant workers from sur­ 18, and was also aired on Zhe­ Singapore followed by open­ rounding countries like Bang­ jiang TV from June 18 to Aug ings in several neighboring ladesh or the Philippines. 13. countries later this week. “There’s this whole notion of Set in a fictional world that Much of the over­the­top the movie being a triumph for is divided into five kingdoms, romantic comedy is set in this representation, which is very the 66­episode story follows wealthy city­state. As the stars problematic. The only Indians the adventures of the titular streamed past flashing lights and Malays you see are ser­ protagonist, Meng Fuyao, a down the red carpet Tuesday vants,” says Nicholas Yong, a low­ranking servant girl evening, local fans and tour­ Singaporean journalist and brought up in a martial arts ists swarmed around them author who saw the movie clan. taking photos and asking for before its Singapore premiere. As she attempts to figure selfies. Even though its glamorous out why she possesses myste­ The movie is expected to depiction of Singapore could rious yet hard­to­control draw enthusiastic crowds give its tourism a boost, it was powers, the protagonist across Asia after its box­office not entirely welcomed. embarks on a journey across Actress and Taiwan actor Ethan Juan star in the fantasy series, Legend of Fuyao, the most viewed online drama with nearly 14 bonanza in the United States. “To us, Crazy Rich should the five kingdoms upon billion “clicks” in around 50 days this summer. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Directed by John M. Chu, the not just be about the opulence which she uncovers a thrilling film was adapted from Singa­ and luxury showcased in the conspiracy and falls in love porean author Kevin Kwan’s film, but Singapore’s actual with the most powerful rul­ increased their forays into best­selling novel of the same richness in terms of our diver­ er’s crown prince, Zhangsun drama serial production since name. Starring veteran actress sity,” says Singapore Tourism Wuji. 2014. Michelle Yeoh, British­Malay­ Board’s spokesperson Lynette Thanks to the star power A number of top faces, from sian former BBC host Henry Pang. of the actress who plays Fuy­ We’ve infused , the first Chi­ Golding and American sitcom As is true anywhere, in Sing­ ao — Yang is followed by 88 nese director to take home a star Constance Wu, the film apore, the super­rich with million fans on modern values Golden Bear at the Berlin tells the story of an American their extravagant lifestyles are and is known for her roles in International Film Festival, to economics professor who a tiny, privileged minority. a string of hit fantasy serials into the characters iconic Hong Kong star Andy meets her super­wealthy boy­ Many in Asia looked for­ — Legend of Fuyao has Lau Tak­wah, have joined friend’s family in Singapore. It ward to seeing some familiar sparked much online debate, to make them serials tailored for the online is the first major studio release faces. generating over 17 million market. with a predominantly Asian In Manila, the Philippines, posts on the micro­blogging easier to identify The decisionmakers, cast since The Joy Luck Club in an audience of mostly movie platform. backed by leading internet 1993. writers, critics and bloggers The series has also been and resonate with companies, say they plan to The movie is drawing a and some celebrity guests welcomed in overseas mar­ expand their investment in mixed reaction. Admirers of were thrilled and applauded kets, exemplifying the rising contemporary broadcasting to a wider range the film say that as the first when two Filipinos in the film, international interest in Chi­ audiences.” of genres to increase their majority Asian­cast film in Kris Aquino and Nico Santos, nese drama productions. Yang Xiaopei, vice­president of Linmon Pictures, alongside Han audience base. over two decades to be appeared in their roles during In recent years, television Zhijie, senior vice­president of Tencent’s Penguin Pictures, Yang Xiaopei, Legend of Han Zhijie, senior vice­ released by a major Holly­ an advance screening Monday dramas set in ancient China promote Legend of Fuyao at a event. Fuyao’s chief producer president of Tencent’s Pen­ wood studio it upends Holly­ night, says Ruth Navarra­ have become a popular genre guin Pictures, says the wood’s usual stereotypes of Mayo, an editor of the lifestyle for foreign audiences, with company has kept storing Asian characters. Critics say it section of the newspaper Phil­ their exquisitely­tailored cos­ studio Linmon Pictures, told and resonate with contempo­ industry — thanks to the various new serials in genres misses a chance to showcase ippine Daily Inquirer. tumes, detailed sets and exot­ reporters at a news confer­ rary audiences,” adds Yang. unprecedented growth of tailored to particular groups the city’s ethnic diversity. Santos plays a fashion ic locations — from ancient ence in Beijing on Aug 15 that Interestingly, online nov­ Chinese internet users which of viewers, such as campus The $30 million Warner designer. Aquino, a popular royal palaces to dramatic nat­ she read the novel around els and screen productions have surpassed 800 million — thrillers and financial crime Bros film has grossed more actress and daughter of late ural landscapes — capturing four years ago and immedi­ revolving around the theme a bunch of A­listers who pre­ stories. than $35 million since its Aug pro­democracy champions in the imagination. ately felt a connection with of gender empowerment viously only worked in film “For instance, The Trading 15 world debut in the Philippines, plays a mem­ Simultaneously released on the protagonist. have become a trendy genre have switched their focus to Floor has just five episodes, and came out tops with its ber of Malay royalty. global streaming services, “Fuyao is not shy to express favored by millions of the smaller screen, with many but is very innovative in terms release in US theaters over the A former American colony, such as YouTube, Viki and her feelings, both love and domestic viewers, especially of them choosing these kinds of its theme and storyline. It is weekend. the Philippines has a highly Dramafever, on the same day hatred. She is very brave and women. of feminism­themed tales. well received and we plan to “This (movie) is something Westernized culture and Hol­ as its release on the Chinese independent as she attempts Taking shape from the 2011 The latest series in the gen­ explore more of these genres,” very personal to people, and it lywood movies are a local mainland, the drama has also to fulfill her dangerous mis­ hit series Empresses in the re includes Ruyi’s Royal Love he says. feels like a bigger movement entertainment staple. Audien­ aired in Malaysia and Singa­ sion,” explains Yang. Palace, also known as The in the Palace, which stars Starring award­winning than just the movie itself,” says ces would welcome more films pore. More countries, includ­ Even though the story is set Legend of Zhen Huan, the , one of China’s actor, , and Taiwan Chu, the director. with Asian themes and char­ ing Vietnam, Thailand, in an era when women in Chi­ genre has seen a flood of such leading stars and a winner of actor, Chang Hsiao­chuan, The film has drawn criti­ acters, Navarro­Mayo says. Cambodia and South Korea, na were considered inferior to tales, including the Jing Tian­ the best actress award at both The Trading Floor, produced cism for its inaccurate portray­ “We want to see Asian will make local language­ men, Fuyao sets out to sub­ led The Glory of Tang Dynas­ the Hong Kong Film Awards by Lau, is a Wall Street­in­ al of Singapore’s ethnic actors on Asian topics,” Navar­ dubbed versions, according to vert the historical view that ty, Yang Mi­led Eternal Love and the Taipei Golden Horse spired series revolving diversity, with some calling it a ro­Mayo says. “We’re hungry an online report by the Peo­ women were not as capable as and Princess Agents. Film Festival. around a tale of financial misrepresentation of the and ready for this type of film.” ple’s Daily. their male counterparts. With the slowdown in Chi­ These changes in the film fraud. country’s minority races. Even Yang Xiaopei, the drama’s “We’ve infused modern val­ na’s film industry from mid­ and TV industries also owe a though a majority of its resi­ Associated Press­Agence chief producer and vice­presi­ ues into the characters to 2016 to mid­2017 and the lot to the cash­rich internet Contact the writer at dents are Chinese, a quarter of France­Presse dent of the Shanghai­based make them easier to identify expansion of the drama series giants, which have steadily [email protected]

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