On October 12, Hengdian World Studios announced that its micro-short drama “I Am a Character in the Qingming Scroll,” co-produced with Hengdian Film and Television Production Co., has been selected for the fourth batch of recommended programs in the National Radio and Television Administration’s “Travel with Micro-Short Dramas” initiative.
This drama draws inspiration from the immersive experience project “Reviving the Famous Painting” at the Qingming Scroll Scenic Area in Hengdian, which launched during the Qingming Festival in 2023. Using cinematic techniques, the project brings to life iconic scenes from the famous painting, featuring hundreds of NPCs dressed in traditional Song Dynasty attire, portraying the vibrant street life of the Song era. Visitors can stroll through the scene, experiencing a moment of time travel and closely engaging with this revived aspect of Song cultural heritage.
“I Am a Character in the Qingming Scroll” creatively connects the unique features of the immersive experience with its storyline, utilizing special effects to enhance the theme of the painting’s revival. It uniquely combines the elements of an “immersive play environment” with a short drama format.
Set to premiere soon, the series consists of 40 episodes, each lasting around 1.5 minutes. The story follows actor Wang Sa while filming in Hengdian when the sky reveals the Qingming Scroll, and a fortune teller named Lu Qing emerges from the painting. Together, they navigate one crisis after another, seeking to rescue innocent civilians who are being persecuted by treacherous officials in an alternate time and space.
The series offers a distinctive perspective on the flourishing Song Dynasty from a millennium ago, featuring interactions between the main character and various figures like merchants and officials from the painting. The narrative not only delves into historical culture but also infuses modern humor. Many exciting stories unfold from the clash between tradition and modernity, allowing viewers to both experience the customs of the Song Dynasty visually and provoke thought and exploration of historical culture.
The filming location, the Qingming Scroll Scenic Area in Hengdian, is one of the studio’s classic attractions. It combines tourism, leisure, and film production, built based on the work of Northern Song painter Zhang Zeduan’s “Qingming Shanghe Tu.” The site features over 120 replica Song-style buildings, recreating the vibrant scenes and folk customs of the Northern Song capital, Bianliang.
To date, this scenic area has hosted numerous film and television productions, including popular period dramas like “Dream of Dreams,” “Mo Dao Zu Shi,” “The Story of Minglan,” “The Long Night,” and “Celebrating the New Year 2.”
