The internet drama and micro film are experiencing a golden age in the integration of internet, TV and film. On June 20, 2014, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV and Youku Tudou Group announced at the Shanghai International Film Festival that Shanghai Municipal Government would establish China Internet Drama and Micro Film Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center (hereinafter referred to as “the Center”) in China (Shanghai) Network Audio-visual Industry Base in Zizhu National Hi-tech Industrial Zone. Three projects of Youku Tudou Group settled down in the center.
China (Shanghai) Network Audio-visual Industry Base covers an area of about 146,740 square meters with a total construction area of 400,000 square meters. In 2010, the former General Administration of Radio, Film and TV approved the joint construction of China (Shanghai) Network Audio-visual Industry Base by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV and Zizhu National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. In October 2010, the then Commissioner of the Politburo of CPC Central Committee and the secretary of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee Yu zhengsheng made important instructions, requesting "speeding up the base construction". In December 2011, the then director of the former General Administration of Radio, Film and TV Cai Fuchao and the then Shanghai mayor Han Zheng attend the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between the administration and Shanghai Municipal Government.
China (Shanghai) Network Audio-visual Industry Base will provide policy support, special funds, public service platform, tax incentives and creative venture funding to the Center. Backed up by the big data platform of Youku Tudou Group, the Base will attract more original video content producers to the Center and foster creative entrepreneurship atmosphere.
Hu Jinjun, director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV noted that building China Internet Drama and Micro Film Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center is a vigorous exploration in the development mode of creative industries by the government, enterprises, capital, industries and development parks. The Center will foster new models and new enterprises in the creation, production and trade of audio-visual programs and make Shanghai the production centre of internet dramas and micro films. Relying on the surrounding universities, the Center will cultivate new training mechanisms and modes of creative talents with its development in the future.
As the leader in network audio-visual industry in China, Youku Tudou Group owns the first and second largest network audio-visual websites Youku and Tudou. Monthly user of Youku Tudou reached 400 million, covering one third of the population of China. Combining video content production, broadcast and issuing, its platform covers PC, TV, mobile terminal with film and TV, variety shows and information.
In the past five years, Youku Tudou reshaped the video content with its internet thinking and became a leader in developing multiple content forms such as micro movie, network drama, network animation and network variety show. It has created a series of quality brands and content such as “Film Director Foster Plan" and "Tudou Image Festival” etc..
The relevant companies in the ecosystem of Youku Tudou self made video content will settled down in the Center, including Licheng Culture, Youku Tudou Film and a number of new culture entertainment studio represented by Huxiang Animation.
