cover of episode #101 When (True) Crime Pays

#101 When (True) Crime Pays

2024/7/8
logo of podcast Middle Earth - China’s cultural industry podcast

Middle Earth - China’s cultural industry podcast

People
A
Aladin Farré
E
Eric Changan
W
Wapi
阿乙 (A Yi)
Topics
Aladin Farré: 全球范围内真实犯罪题材的播客很受欢迎,但在中国,由于文化和社会因素,这类内容的创作和传播面临挑战。中国电影市场出现了一些以犯罪为主题的成功作品,但高质量的真实犯罪电视剧相对较少。 阿乙 (A Yi): 作者介绍,分享创作经验,以及家人朋友对创作真实犯罪题材的看法。作品多以中国城乡故事为背景,关注个体身份的撕裂,以及户口制度等社会现实问题。认为近些年中国犯罪题材影视作品的主题有所变化,例如更多关注家庭暴力和网络诈骗。作品在海外市场受到欢迎,因为其题材新颖,反映了中国独特的社会现实。 Eric Changan: 内容创作者,在YouTube和Bilibili上创作关于犯罪、审讯等主题的视频,擅长肢体语言分析。认为犯罪题材在中国很受欢迎,关键在于创作方式,避免过度关注色情和暴力。分享自身创作经历和受众群体特征,以及商业模式(视频播放量、广告、咨询服务和知识付费)。认为内容创作者有责任避免过度关注色情暴力等内容,并传递积极的信息。 Wapi: 微信公众号“没药花园”的创办者和主要作者,曾是记者,后获得人类学博士学位,研究方向为中国城市空间中的犯罪与保安。分享自身创作经历和受众群体特征,以及商业模式(广告、付费阅读和书籍销售)。认为在中国创作非虚构类犯罪作品存在诸多限制,例如难以采访犯罪嫌疑人,主要依靠网络公开信息进行创作。指出媒体关注的案件选择与读者兴趣有关,内容创作者需要考虑读者的期待和案件的意义,在信息传播和避免过度利用某些话题之间取得平衡。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why is it challenging for true crime storytellers to appeal to Chinese audiences?

China is considered one of the safest countries, which makes it difficult for true crime storytellers to find relatable dark content for their audiences.

What are some recent Chinese movies that have successfully explored crime-related content?

Movies like 'The 8 Suspects,' 'No More Bets About Lonely Skamer,' and 'Article 20' have enjoyed good box office success and showcase crime-related themes.

What is the demographic of Wapi's audience?

Wapi's audience is primarily young, well-educated, and female, with a majority living in larger cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangdong province.

How does Eric Changan source his content for true crime videos?

Eric relies on publicly available court documents and police reports due to the sunshine law in the U.S., which mandates the release of case details to the public.

What is the primary challenge Wapi faces in researching and writing about true crime in China?

Wapi struggles with a lack of detailed information available for Chinese cases, making it difficult to write in-depth articles compared to international cases where more data is accessible online.

What is the main theme that A Yi focuses on in his crime stories?

A Yi often writes about the struggles of rural individuals in urban settings, particularly focusing on the impact of China's household registration system (hukou) on personal relationships and identity.

How has the publishing industry in China changed over the years, according to A Yi?

A Yi notes a significant decline in the circulation of paper books due to changing reading habits, with readers now preferring short-form content and videos over traditional books.

What are the main sources of revenue for Wapi's content creation?

Wapi's revenue comes from advertising, subscription fees for premium articles, and book sales, including film and television adaptation rights fees.

What is Eric Changan's approach to making true crime content engaging?

Eric uses reaction videos and sports announcer-style commentary to analyze interrogation tactics, body language, and criminal psychology, creating a unique contrast that resonates with his audience.

What does A Yi believe is the responsibility of content creators in the true crime genre?

A Yi believes that crime stories should reflect the characteristics of the era they are set in, offering insights into societal issues rather than just focusing on sensational or exploitative content.

Shownotes Transcript

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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 episode #95 Chinese Web Novels: The Hidden Golden Goose?)- Middle Earth episode #92 How writers, bookstore owners, and printers survive in China’s publishing industry )- Middle Earth episode #50 Xiaohongshu : Marrying content and e-commerce )- TWOC's article Can China’s Detective Novels Finally Make Crime Pay?) by Jesse Young. - A Yi (阿乙)'s short novels are on TWOC)- Wapi's media called 没药花园 (can be found on wechat, RED, Youtube, 小宇宙)- Eric Changan's bilibili account is called Eric长安万年)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! 

Chinese speaker? Follow our Bilibili account 阿拉丁_说电影)With thanks to Sean Calvo) for music support and Martin Lopez) for poster picture.

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