• 3 day ago

Tourists in China are being offered the chance to star in their own movie for $30.

Hengdian World Studios, the world's largest film and television studio, has launched a service in China that allows tourists to star in their own short film. Participation starts at approximately $30 per person.

The service launched in August. For 218 yuan ($30), tourists can film for an hour as an actor, while the option with makeup and hair styling costs 388 yuan ($58). Group packages are available for families and groups, ranging from 3,800 yuan ($565) to 12,000 yuan ($1,780).

Professional directors assist newcomers. They explain how to act out a scene, suggesting when to hold back laughter or, conversely, show the right emotion. According to one director, thanks to tourists, they are now able to film up to 20 short films a day.

Simple dramatic plots are especially popular. For example, a hero unexpectedly turns out to be much more influential than those around him thought. Some visitors are so captivated by the filming that they return again and again. One young mother ordered 17 films featuring herself in six months and compared the shoot to psychological counseling.

The new format isn't just about attracting tourists. Hengdian World Studios is trying to adapt to changes in the film industry. According to Chinese media, 95% of the 128,000 new short dramas released in the first quarter of this year were created using artificial intelligence.

One director said he only managed to film two traditional short dramas the entire year. Therefore, filming with tourists is becoming a new source of income for the studio's employees.