Streaming videos draw top talents

Master's Micro Film project, hosted by Chinese streaming website Youku, features Chinese hit filmmakers' productions tailor-made for online audiences, such as No No Sleep by Tsai Ming-liang (above) and Insomniac Diary by Huang Jianxin. Photo provided to China Daily

One of the site's most-viewed short films, Old Boy－a nostalgic take on the shared memories of China's post-1980 generation－was adapted into a full-length feature film last year.

It marked Youku's first movie attempt.

The streaming site has also revealed plans to this year adapt another of its popular online miniseries, Joy Show, into a full-length feature produced by Huang.

The Master's Micro Film project will be upgraded in October in collaboration with the Busan International Film Festival, Youku's movie and TV center's literature supervisor Zhang Dong says.

The project will incorporate four young directors to be mentored by masters. Youku will choose the best to direct a full-length feature film.

"I hope young directors will try their best to demonstrate what they're good at in their creations so their potential could be seen," Huang says.

"This also means they shouldn't be afraid to expose their weak points at the same time. In a word, don't be mediocre."

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