China's micro-dramas a screen saver for film world

When he was growing up, Galim Gaisin wanted to be an actor — a dream he has today realized not on large cinema screens, but in short serial dramas played out on smartphones.

After featuring in a commercial for earphones four years ago, the career of the 27-year-old Canadian, who lives in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has taken off.

Most of his success can be attributed to the China-birthed cultural phenomenon of micro-dramas, the short 1- to 2-minute films made for vertical viewing on social media devices.

Of Canadian-Russian heritage, Gaisin studied cinematography at a top university in Moscow, but failed to get a foothold in the industry there.

In 2018, he first came to China as an exchange student and decided to move to China the next year. The earphone commercial and a number of roles in movies and TV shows helped him reconnect with the film industry.

However, it was Gaisin's involvement over the past two years in micro-dramas — some of which have reached beyond the Chinese market — that has solidified his career.

In early October, at O.M Studio's production base in Shanghai, Gaisin filmed a new micro-drama aimed at the North American market. The male lead in that production, Gaisin estimated the total number of micro-dramas he has done so far is around 30 — including Chinese and English ones.

"The Chinese micro-drama market is developing so rapidly and growing so big, and the whole production process is much more developed. It is quite an experience to film short dramas in China. It is much more like a real movie set, where there is a huge crew and everybody knows what they are doing," said Gaisin, describing the Shanghai film crew as a precise and efficient "machine".

He said he enjoys the freedom of filming micro-dramas, which is different from movies and TV series. There is less pressure on the actors who have more leeway to be creative. "It is much more loose in a good way," Gaisin said.

"Directors of short dramas are more open to new ideas. They give actors the space to bring some personal characteristics to the role, which I think is important for actors to improve themselves.

"Sometimes I feel short dramas embrace your inner child, as you can forget it's work and feel it's more like a game," he added with a smile.

Gaisin is not the only overseas performer starring in micro-dramas. Ashlynn Judy flew from Los Angeles, California, to Shanghai for the filming, marking her first trip to China.

Although she has a degree in film studies, back home she was not able to get enough opportunities in the industry and had to work as a waitress.

She got her first role in short dramas in April, and more roles followed. About three months ago, she quit her waitressing job and started doing short dramas full-time.

"I never thought I'd get to come to Shanghai and it's amazing. Getting to act and work on set full-time has been so wonderful and what I've wanted to do for so long. It's definitely a plus to get to visit a new city and experience new cultures and meet the people," she said excitedly.

"It's been a life-changing experience for me — busy, fun and really great," she added.