An actor poses with an old style scroll as the cameraman takes close-up shots. The scene was shot at Hengdian World Studios in Dongyang, East China’s Zhejiang province, which in 2023 attracted a wave of “micro-drama” filmmakers. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

A director keeps an eye on the shooting via monitors. According to iiMedia Research's 2023-2024 China Micro Short Film Market Research Report, sales reached 37.39 billion yuan in 2023, a staggering increase of 267.65% compared with the year before. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Before shooting begins, actors gather to go over their lines and have a brief rehearsal. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Actors continue to shoot a scene late into the night. Shoots can often last 20 to 30 hours without a break. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

Two actors get their makeup done, after which they will travel into the city of Dongyang, which is 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away from the studios, to shoot their scenes. Due to the limited number of scenes and the expense of renting venues, many crews choose to shoot in and around Dongyang. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

A male actor dangles suspended from wires to complete various complex mid-air action sequences that will serve as the eye-popping opening scene of the “micro-drama” in a bid to attract viewers to watch the entire series. The first few episodes are usually free, with payment required to complete the series. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

An actor fixes his makeup and hair. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

On a hill near Hengdian World Studios, a small production crew films a scene. In Hengdian, whether it is in the downtown area, wet markets, food stalls or residential areas, you can often see “micro-drama” crews filming their scenes. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

An actress is filmed lying in a hospital bed. Many actors are now turning up to work in “micro-dramas” as opportunities in regular full-length films dry up. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin

An extra takes a break after shooting a scene. Photo: Zheng Haipeng/Caixin