Summary of the Key Points
This conversation revolves around the theme that "there are no long or short dramas, only good or bad dramas," discussing the current state of the film and television industry, where long dramas are declining due to declining quality and funding shortages, while short dramas have surged onto the billion-dollar market with their intense plots and low entry barriers, but they also face issues with artificial traffic generation. The actor ecosystem has been impacted, with mid-level and lower-tier actors shifting to short dramas, and AI further squeezes their living space. AI is a double-edged sword, as it both liberates productivity and raises concerns about pre-made content. The success of "Niulai" reflects the audience's desire for something genuine and not mediocre. The ultimate conclusion is that the industry needs to return to professional respect and sincere creation to overcome these challenges.
The Debate Between Long and Short Dramas: It's Not About Length, but About Quality and Misalignment of Needs
The decline in long dramas is not because audiences no longer want to watch them; rather, there is a lack of quality and funding. Guest Tan Fei explains that the production of long dramas has decreased due to these factors, yet audience demand still exists—people prefer to go to the cinema to watch a "genuine bad movie" like "Niulai" rather than a mediocre long drama. Although short dramas have 600 million users and represent a billion-dollar market, Li Yunbo points out that this success is an illusion of traffic generation, as much of the traffic is pushed to users by platforms rather than being actively sought after. Short dramas attract attention with straightforward plot twists (such as revenge or dominant characters) because these themes are familiar to the audience and do not require buildup, whereas long dramas need a complex background and character relationships.
In short, long dramas lack good content, and while short dramas are popular, they often have less substance. What audiences really pay for is content that touches them, regardless of length.
The Dilemma of Actors: Mid-Level Actors Faced with Competition from Short Dramas and AI
The living space for long drama actors is shrinking: top actors can still work on long dramas and movies, but mid-level actors, with fewer opportunities in long dramas, are forced to take on short dramas (Li Yunbo says, "You have to find work"). Shooting short dramas is exhausting for actors; for example, Sun Ning mentions that during filming, actors cannot move freely, and there is no time for fine-tuning their performances. The production cycle for short dramas is extremely short (90 minutes in 5 days), leaving teams with little time to rest.
Even worse is the impact of AI: Tan Fei states that 90% of AI-generated short dramas do not use real actors, and even extras can be replaced by AI. Li Yunbo adds that AI can mimic appearances, but on larger screens, the illusion may be broken. The core advantage of actors is their humanity; Sun Ning emphasizes that "100 actors can interpret the same character in 100 different ways, something AI cannot replicate."
The Dual Role of AI: A Creative Tool or a Threat to the Industry?
AI is not a menace, but we must be wary of its potential to create pre-made content. Li Yunbo, an AI industry expert, sees the benefits of AI in freeing up creative resources, allowing directors to produce genre films at low cost and professionals to explore more creative possibilities. However, the downside is that AI goes against the aesthetics of cinema, which captures authentic performances and moments in time and space. AI-generated content lacks the "human touch" that real actors bring, such as subtle flaws and imperfections.
AI can replace mediocre content and actors; it can write scripts better than ordinary short drama writers and create virtual actors that can replace extras. However, aesthetics ultimately depend on humans, and Li Yunbo believes that humans will still make the final decisions about which AI-generated content to use. In the future, AI may develop its own niche, but current technology has not yet addressed the issue of adding human essence to AI-generated content.
The Success of "Niulai": Audiences Prefer Authenticity Over Perfection
The success of "Niulai," a "genuine bad movie," is not accidental. It reflects the market's desire for something unique and not mediocre. Tan Fei says that young people reject formulaic, pre-made content and are willing to pay for something that is genuinely made with effort, even if it's a bad movie. This shows that the market values uniqueness and sincerity over perfection.
The Way Forward for the Industry: Respect for Professionalism and Sincere Creation
The consensus among the guests is that whether it's long or short dramas, quality is the key. You Lei summarizes that there's no need to cater to market trends or create anxiety. By maintaining respect for professionalism (such as carefully crafting scripts and portraying characters in long dramas) and for the creative process (avoiding superficiality and AI-generated content), the industry can thrive.
Sun Ning believes that those who persevere are truly remarkable, and Tan Fei calls for giving actors space to express themselves. The essence of the film and television industry lies in human elements: emotions, creativity, and sincerity, which AI and algorithms can never fully replace.
In conclusion: Long and short dramas are just forms, and AI is just a tool. What truly attracts audiences are works with soul and sincerity.