Taking the clickbait

Xin's other impetus for making the movie is his interest in self-media platforms and how sensational "clickbait" articles are produced purely to farm engagement and, in turn, attract advertisers.

He says that many people increasingly rely on obtaining information and staying updated through news reports from such platforms, which has already become a "trend" in itself.

After forming the idea in early 2021, he and the scriptwriters conducted extensive research and did a lot of preparation, including visiting some of these self-media companies to closely observe how public accounts on popular social platforms like WeChat are operated.

"I noticed that many of the employees at these companies are very young. The office environments are also open and free. For example, they adorn their desks according to their own characteristics and personalities, and some even raise pets in the office," he says.

"When they have editorial meetings, they are also relaxed and casual. The table is covered in snacks, and everyone drinks milk tea or coffee while discussing how to write articles that will drive engagement and create attention-grabbing headlines," adds the director.

However, Xin believes that it is the responsibility and career honor cultivated in a traditional media environment that pushes the protagonist to bravely step forward and fight for the victim.

Just like most productions, he asked the scriptwriters to write a short biography for Chen, portraying the protagonist as a graduate of a renowned university's journalism program.