iQiyi recently released trailers and posters for a slew of upcoming shows that will either air exclusively on the site as web dramas and/or on television networks next year. Which shows are you looking forward to most?
Historical spy drama The Wind Blows From Longxi – Chen Kun, Bai Yu
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Life Is A Long Quiet River 心居 stars Hai Qing as Feng Xiaoqin, a strong-willed countryside woman who married into the well-off Gu family a decade ago. She persuades her husband Gu Lei to borrow money from his twin sister Gu Qingyu (Tong Yao) to buy a house, yet is politely rejected by the latter.
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Season 4 of I Am An Actor features Zhang Ziyi, Yu Zheng and director Derek Tsang (Soul Mate, Better Days) as the main judges, and actors Zhang Songwen (The Bad Kids), Hao Lei (Sheep Without A Shepherd) and Li Chengru (who is known for being too honest on Tencent’s acting show) as the coaches. To be honest, I’m more interested in the drama and constructive criticism that will be coming from the judge’s corner. Out of the 33 contestants, I’ll be watching out for the talented Liu Duanduan (Joy of Life) and Li Meng (The Bad Kids).
The variety show premieres tonight.
It’s not even halfway through 2020 but I’m 95% certain I’ve already found my favourite drama of the year. The Bad Kids is directed by Xin Shuang, and revolves around three kids who blackmail a murderer (Qin Hao).
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Previously translated as The Hidden Corner / Cat’s Cradle, The Bad Kids takes over the mystery thriller baton from Kidnapping Game, and stars Qin Hao as a long-suffering son-in-law whose crimes are caught on camera by three kids.
The 12 episode miniseries will be available with Eng subs on the iQiyi app.
The first episode of Real Actor 演技派 is all about the fundamentals of acting, and runs through the auditions and evaluations of 30 up-and-coming actors in just over 2 hours. The scenarios Zhang Songwen gives the actors does a great job of revealing their strengths and weaknesses as they are forced to perform on the spot.
Francis Ng doesn’t mince his words but his honest opinions are definitely a breath of fresh air. Yu Zheng will probably have more to do in future episodes, as the final twelve actors will be competing for roles in his variety show-drama Royal Kitchen in the Qing Dynasty 紫禁城里的小食光.
Tencent’s upcoming big-budget acting variety show Attention, Actors 演员请就位 (lit.) has hired directors Li Shaohong (Palace of Desires, Dream of Red Mansions 2010), Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine, Legend of the Demon Cat), Guo Jingming (Tiny Times, L.O.R.D) and Zhao Wei (So Young) as judges who will assemble their own team from a group of 58 actors.
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Streaming giant iQiyi has bought the adaption rights to two more novels written by Zi Jinchen, the screenwriter and original author of critically acclaimed thriller Burning Ice 无证之罪. Both web dramas have already started filming, and will have twelve 60 minute episodes.
The Hidden Corner / The Bad Kids 隐秘的角落 is already in production, and stars Qin Hao, Wang Jingchun and Zhang Songwen.
Continue readingA long-suffering live-in son-in-law (Qin Hao) hatches up an elaborate murder plot to kill his cheating wife and her family after she demands a divorce. His actions are recorded by three children playing nearby, yet he soon discovers that he was actually set up by the three young children. Consequently, he begins to work out how and why a thirteen-year-old boy is able to twist the truth to his advantage.
Liu Yifei posing for The Return of the Condor Heroes
Posters, stills, photoshoots, and random photos that caught my eye this week.