NEW Chinese TV series “Hi Producer” has captured the attention of Chinese audience members with its special perspective on traditional Chinese arts. Focusing on the production of a TV program that showcases the beauty and diversity of China’s intangible cultural heritage, “Hi Producer,” starring more than 50 celebrities, explores various aspects of traditional crafts, such as folk music, opera, shadow plays, paper cutting and kesi, a UNESCO-listed traditional silk tapestry weaving technique. To best represent these heritage items, the production team worked with experts and heritage practitioners who shared their insights and skills. The 35-episode drama is based on the real cultural relics from the Suzhou Museum in Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province and features many historical sites and intangible cultural heritage museums in Suzhou. Suzhou is home to many forms of intangible cultural heritage items, such as Kunqu opera, silk weaving, embroidery, paper cutting, lantern making and many more. These cultural treasures showcase the history, creativity and vitality of East China. Considered one of the highest achievements of Chinese culture and art, Suzhou gardens are especially renowned for their exquisite design, elegant buildings and harmonious integration of natural and artificial elements. “My first impression of Suzhou gardens is that they are light and elegant. They are like traditional Chinese watercolor paintings. They have a poetic and picturesque feeling of lightness and moisture, which helps establish the unique artistic style of this drama,” said the show’s art director Luan Hexin. “We gained massive support from the local museums in Suzhou during our filming.” Just as science fiction has become one of the most popular film and TV drama genres in China, Chinese film and TV dramas are also utilizing intangible cultural heritage to grab the audience’s attention. For example, with the popularity of the TV series “A Dream of Splendor,” chabaixi, a type of traditional tea making that has been embraced by a small group of enthusiasts, has become a hot topic. In a similar way, the animated film “I Am What I Am” puts the traditional lion dance under the spotlight, igniting the public’s love for traditional dance culture. Meanwhile, “Hi Producer” also shows the dilemmas inheritors face as they struggle to pass on their skills. “This inheritance is beautifully shot,” wrote one viewer in a review of the show. “That is what we want to show to the audience: the inheritance of the traditional Chinese aesthetics,” noted Luan.(Global Times) | 