Homemade web dramas are heading towards the "big" era, and the satellite TV drama model is being refreshed

With the global popularity of online dramas such as "House of Cards" and "Orange Is the New Black" produced by Netflix, online self-made dramas have gradually become known to audiences. This trend of self-made dramas has swept from the Western Hemisphere to the Eastern Hemisphere.

2014 is considered the "first year of self-production" in which video websites concentrated their efforts on the field of self-production. Compared with traditional TV series and imported dramas, domestic self-production dramas are often labeled as "rough" and "low-cost". However, as various video websites began to invest large amounts of funds and resources in self-production dramas, self-production dramas such as "Fleeting Time" and "The Darker Side" were produced and were sought after by a large number of viewers. Self-production dramas on the Internet have entered the "big era" by competing with satellite TV dramas.

Let’s take the Sohu self-produced drama “Fleeting Time” which just achieved a good result of 400 million views as an example, and strike while the iron is hot to tell how the satellite TV drama model has been refreshed by self-produced web dramas.

Refreshing series production

Currently, 4K TV has become the mainstream product in the color TV industry, but the 4K content that matches it is still very scarce. Except for some movies, it is difficult for users to watch real high-definition TV series at home. Sohu Video took the lead in using advanced 4K shooting technology in the shooting of "Fleeting Time", making the TV series reach the shooting level of movies for the first time. It is the first time that 4K technology has been used in the shooting of domestic TV series. The technical advantages presented by online self-made dramas have prompted satellite TV dramas to move towards high definition.

The use of 4K technology for filming shows that video websites have begun to invest heavily in self-made content. It is reported that Sohu Video has invested 1 million yuan per episode in the program "Fleeting Time". Unlike traditional TV series that spend money on hiring stars, this series uses newcomers and the production cost of 1 million yuan per episode is concentrated on the production process, which far exceeds the investment of satellite TV dramas in production.

In this regard, Zhang Chaoyang, CEO of Sohu Group, said that traditional TV dramas put most of the investment into actors, while online dramas have relatively low costs, with most of the money spent on scriptwriting, filming, etc. Pure market economy has intervened in the content, and under the fierce competition, scriptwriting will get better and better.

The huge investment in the series has become the first step for video websites' self-produced dramas to move towards the "big era", pushing the production of domestic TV dramas to a new height.

Refresh broadcast mode

The biggest difference between online self-made dramas and traditional self-made dramas is that they adopt a weekly broadcast model. Many people think that the weekly broadcast model may not be suitable for Chinese audiences' viewing habits, but judging from the nationwide craze for chasing dramas triggered by the Korean drama "My Love from the Star", Chinese audiences are not against chasing dramas, but the plot must be worth their while.

Due to decades of viewing habits, the one-shot production model and the TV broadcasting method, it is difficult for Chinese TV dramas to achieve a good combination of audience interaction and the direction of the series. The rise of weekly dramas on Chinese video websites has made it possible for "public opinion to determine the plot."

Zhang Chaoyang said, "Young audiences no longer naturally believe that TV dramas should be broadcast every day and all the time. That is the viewing habit of the elderly. Young people are more eager for participation, communication and interaction. Therefore, for them, the weekly broadcast model like "Fleeting Time" is not difficult to accept. They are also more willing to express their opinions on the story and look forward to their demands being realized. The trial of "Fleeting Time" is more in line with the voice of netizens and the voice of the times."

It is reported that the online self-made drama "Fleeting Time", which adopts the 16-episode weekly broadcast mode and each episode is 45 minutes long, has surpassed the popular satellite TV dramas such as "Gu Jian Qi Tan", "Divorce Lawyers" and "Ten Years of Love" in the same period with high ratings. This shows the audience's affirmation and support for the weekly broadcast mode of TV dramas.

Refresh the star-making speed

In the era of online self-made dramas, a large number of new entertainment stars such as Dapeng, Shasha, and Kong Lianshun were created and quickly became popular. The speed at which online self-made dramas created stars has amazed the industry.

There is an interesting phenomenon that I would like to share with readers here. I was invited to attend the premiere of "Fleeting Time" on June 18. At the entrance of the China Film Archive, where the event was held, there were only a dozen fans of "second-generation star" Yang Jue and some loyal readers of the original author Jiu Ye Hui. At that time, except for the "biggest star" Yang Jue, Sohu resolutely chose to use new stars for the rest of the actors in the whole drama.

At that time, the author was waiting in the hall with the leading actors Bai Jingting, "Brother Huohua" and others. Several older boys stood aside shyly. There were no fans chasing them, and no reporters interviewing them. They were "left out" in the corner.

But at the celebration ceremony of "Fleeting Time" held by Sohu Video on September 28, one can't help but sigh that these young actors are no longer the same as they were in the past. The Meng Mingwei Concert Hall of Tsinghua University was surrounded by fans, and the entire event was packed, causing Tsinghua University to dispatch a large number of security guards to maintain order. When Bai Jingting and Du Weihan appeared on stage, fans screamed in surprise. In just over two months, these newcomers have become popular young actors in the entertainment industry thanks to "Fleeting Time".

Until the end of the event, a large number of fans were reluctant to leave, just to witness the true face of their idols. This phenomenon makes one have to admire the star-making ability of online self-made dramas.

Zhang Chaoyang believes that the TV dramas of various satellite TV stations are more concerned with inviting big-name stars, which has led to the prevalence of shoddy long dramas, while video websites are more willing to spend money on script adaptation, scene carving, etc. They are also very willing to give newcomers opportunities to cultivate more performing stars like Sasha Dapeng.

The popularity of online self-made dramas is the greatest affirmation given by the audience to the self-made road of video websites. It has improved the shooting level of TV dramas, innovated the broadcasting mode, and opened up the consumption mode of TV drama content. These are all things that satellite TV dramas, which are currently in a period of transformation, should learn and draw lessons from. The situation where self-made online dramas compete with satellite TV dramas will promote the future of domestic film and television dramas to multiple themes and super productions.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.