Entertainment media figures discuss esports dramas at session

Film and television workers and scholars gathered at a session in Beijing on July 30 to share views on the artistic production of esports-themed online dramas.

Centered around online drama Falling into Your Smile and esports documentary Game On, the session attempts to shed light on problems facing esports-themed online drama productions and look for ways to move forward.

Falling into Your Smile tells the story of a group of young people chasing their e-sports careers. The 31-episode online series has garnered more than 70 million views on YouTube, but has also been criticized by many internet users as disconnected from the real situation of the electronic sports industry.

Yang Xia, producer of the drama, said the show aims to reveal the ecology of China's esports industry, and more generally that of the internet era, as well as unveil problems facing this emerging industry. Yang also underscored shortcomings of the drama such as a lack of professionalism in details.

"Many online dramas are highly commercialized," noted Li Minghao, a senior editor with the China Television Arts Committee under the National Radio and Television Administration. "To ensure production efficiency, the crew shortened time needed for in-depth experience and in-depth research. It may be the reason for the problems of realism we should pay special attention to in the future," Li continued.

The documentary Game On, also produced by the NewStyle Media Group, serves as a supplement to provide a more realistic perspective on behind-the-scenes stories through the lives of four professional esports players .

Documentary producer and director Wen Jing said the documentary will analyze the development and changes of China's esports industry, and also reveal the passion and dedication of players.

Video games and esports have been on the rise as more people turn to entertainment and socializing online, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. China is the world's largest video game and esports market, with combined revenue reaching $31.5 billion in 2020, according to a new report from global accounting firm PwC.