Summary of Key Points
Xiang Zuo has been struggling in the film industry for many years without achieving significant success; his works have even been mocked by netizens as comical. This year, however, he made a comeback with the short series "Hidden Identity: Rise in Tianjin," which saw both critical acclaim and massive viewership—reaching over 100 million views in 24 hours and a total of over 2 billion views. He also received public recognition from his father, Xiang Huaqiang, a seasoned figure in the Hong Kong film industry. Not only did he raise the bar for action scenes in short series with genuine martial arts performances, but he also approached the business side of production seriously, including live streaming to sell products and investing in other short series, with plans to explore new content formats such as combining martial arts with abstract themes in an attempt to replicate his successful model.
I. Frustration in the Film Industry: Years of Effort with No Success
Xiang Zuo doesn't lack resources, but his previous attempts in films have been fraught with challenges:
- His first serious film, "The Legend of Fengshen," failed to meet expectations.
- The short series he produced and starred in, "Treasure Land in Front of the Door," which he put the most effort into (with numerous action scenes), was instead parodied by netizens as a comedy (with gestures like touching the nose and slapping being turned into memes). It took him two weeks to come to terms with this reality, and he joked about his persistent struggle without success.
These experiences taught him about the ups and downs that his parents had mentioned and helped him adopt a more lighthearted attitude: since he was being made fun of, he decided to join in the fun.
II. The Comeback with Short Series: Genuine Martial Arts Performances Bring Recognition
This year's "Hidden Identity" has truly turned things around for Xiang Zuo:
- Impressive Numbers: The series reached over 100 million views in 24 hours, with a peak of 67 million concurrent viewers, and a total of over 2 billion views.
- Breaking the Limits of Action Scenes in Short Series: He was the first actor to use authentic martial arts in a short series, incorporating film-level action shots (such as continuous long takes), which impressed audiences, who said the series felt like a full-length movie.
- Critical Praise from His Father: Xiang Huaqiang praised his acting skills, stating that they surpassed those of Hong Kong films. This recognition was more significant to Xiang Zuo than the sheer viewership, as it meant he was finally acknowledged by someone who matters to him.
Xiang Zuo also revealed that the second installment, "Hidden Identity 2," is about to be released, with improvements in both action and narrative, including a rare 5-minute long take.
III. Short Series Are No Casual Undertakings: They Require More Skill
Xiang Zuo takes his short series very seriously:
- Intense Shooting Process: The production period for short series is much shorter (only 9 days for "Hidden Identity 2"), leaving little room for trial and error, so action scenes must be carefully planned and filmed on the spot.
- Injury Despite the Odds: During the shooting of the second installment, he got injured but continued to complete the entire episode, saying, "Since no one is making high-quality action short series, I want to make it happen."
- No Discounting Their Importance: He emphasizes that short series are not inferior to films; the total volume of short series now equals that of both films and TV dramas, and talented actors are valued wherever they go (for example, Ye Xuan's "The Young Mistress in Northeast China" inspired him greatly).
IV. Beyond Acting: Xiang Zuo's Business Acumen in Short Series
Xiang Zuo is not just an actor; he also approaches short series from a business perspective:
- IP Integration with Live Streaming and Product Sales: He uses TikTok to discuss the scripts and promote products, seeing this as a mutually beneficial cycle. "As long as you have viewership, don't miss out on opportunities—as long as the products are genuine, there's no problem."
- Active Investment: For the "Hidden Identity" series, he invested through a combination of salary and dividends, with the goal of scaling this model to other projects if successful.
- Future Innovations: His team is working on scripts that combine martial arts with abstract themes. Since netizens had previously turned "Treasure Land in Front of the Door" into an abstract meme, he decided to embrace this direction, saying, "We'll try both pure abstraction and pure action."
Conclusion
Xiang Zuo found his place in the short series industry at the age of 40, a sector that is just beginning to thrive. His story is not only about personal success but also reflects the transformation of the short series industry from being poorly made to becoming more refined. More and more celebrities are entering the field, and talent is the key; it's no longer a space for underwhelming content, but rather a new opportunity for growth.