Inside the Daily Life of a Live Streaming Star in China | Op-Docs
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- Опубликовано: 28 апр 2021
- Over the past year, as Covid-19 has severely limited our ability to interact with the world beyond our front door, livestreams have helped transport us to places we couldn’t visit, people we couldn’t see and events we couldn’t attend. In China, live streaming services command an audience of nearly 560 million, with streamers broadcasting to devoted followers who tune in every night. Successful live streamers can earn thousands of dollars each month in direct donations from fans, and those at the very top earn millions from brand sponsorships and major contracts.
In the short documentary above, we enter two agencies that scout promising newcomers and mold them into high-earning stars. But what’s it like working for a company that engineers every aspect of your life - and then requires you to livestream it all day?
- by David Borenstein (www.david-borenstein.com/)
Read more: nyti.ms/3073OoA
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The way she joked about her not having a day off was kind of psychotic
The sad thing is, this is actually common. You just kind of have to get used to it and smile along lol
People joke to cope with their problems... happens all the time. Even in college where you have to grind and grind, you just gotta joke to cope.
In their culture this is completely normal. Working yourself to death is actually common.
@blue I believe OP meant that she was making a joke out of something actually serious.
She stopped streaming in 2019.
It’s so odd how the internet allows so many people to connect to each other from all over the world but everyone is still so lonely.
I bet this was shot from 2015. Why they still use iphone 6?
@@jojo7323 maybe 2017? just look at the ppt.
Quantity is not quality 🤷♂️
Even without internet, there are people who feel lonely in crowd.
That’s usually how it works sadly. No amount of contact over the internet can replace face to face human connection. We need it to be happy and heathy!
This is so well done. I honestly felt bad for everyone. For her, because she's clearly being exploited and possibly falling into depression, and for the guys, because imagine being so lonely the only 'true' connection you have is with a stranger online. It's very sad to watch but also very eye-opening.
The "Men", using that term very loosely, have more Money than Sense. They deserve to lose their funds, since they already lost their Balls.
Ikr, literally made me cry... I wish for her to pursue her music passion in a better way and for all the guys to find real relationships. They all deserve to be loved and happy
That's the dark side of social media and internet. It's driving us apart. Mark my words "every action has equal and opposite reaction", no matter what technology we come up with it will always be equally negative effects somewhere either in some big aspect or scattered in many micro negative branches.
So nasty.
dead true
the way she went "did you think I would give you a day off?" and then laughed gives me chills.
China !
God is money
crazy that some people still think china is communist when they've embraced predatory capitalism even more strongly than the US and Europe
but i though the west loved capitalism
@@Centre14 and also values and manners.
China? Not so much
@@eden5260 observe how the western food and drinks industry exploits the deep rooted culture and lack of education in developing countries to trade lives for profit, and tell me they still adhere to 'values and manners'. don't be stupid.
She said she didn't care about anything as long as she makes music but at the end she looked so broken.
@Joeng Sui she's broken because she doesn't enjoy what she is doing. It's obvious dude.
the lady in the first video . does any body here know her name . i think i got struck by cupid
@Jojo Tarro you can see it if people doesn't care about something. One way or another that girl will surely try to get away from that job.
She may have liked it in the beginning, but then she got swallowed by some agency. I heard that livestreamers get snapped up by agencies when they get a big enough audience, and they can't say no, because those agencies can sabotage their careers. They end up having to give up a huge chunk of their income to the agency and essentially get exploited and sucked dry until they lose popularity or break down and can't work anymore.
@@anthyavila9726 the manager calling her immediately to scold her for not doing what was expected of her really made me sad. She was tired & wanted a light-hearted stream but instead of empathy, she was threatened.
My very lonely uncle gets obsessive over women on the internet. It’s to the point where he refuses to date women in real life because they don’t meet his beauty standards and they’re not submissive enough. There’s something dehumanizing about voyeuristic intimacy.
I think its so sad how men on the internet are successful because of their talent when women's reputation is based on how they look and make their viewers feel...
I am a psychology student at the moment. I think this is going to be something interesting for people to research.
@@nalia2859 I think you missed the point. it's not about being successful. it's about not being able to receive the dreams they both want to achieve. Ideal love and Ideal jobs. Its a money making loops.
Mannnn, I've recently noticed on instagram. Every girls profile have links in their Bio supposedly to take you 6th dimension.
They are laying down their fate of becoming cheap
The joke is the women he has projected onto as submissive are likely playing a role and NOT really like this. Saying what creepy stuff he likes to get his money and views. He's created a fantasy that no one can live up to and likely HE isn't even good enough to deserve. Most men are wise enough to understand fantasy online (manipulated with branding, storyline etc) tho and appreciate regular women.
I love how it ended with "tired." really encapsulates the whole vibe of this situation - like it's just a perpetual hamster wheel of work and making more and more money with no end in sight. also the whole video was filmed mostly at night and in dark environments which gave it an eerie, depressing feel that matched the tone of the subject matter.
During the video Jin tells how she does not mind becoming a streamer instead of a singer as long as she can still keep on making music. At the end of the video when she goes online and tells her followers she is tired and does not want to sing, and gets called out by her mgt for doing so, you can see how the passion she once had is no longer there as she says "tired" and closes her eyes. Poor kid.
To be honest, the livestream company gives me the vibe of a brothel.
but without veneral disease
Take a wild guess
I agree with this 100%! Seemed to me like a digital prostitution.
Not really, the industry is highly regulated and you don't want to risk it breaking the law.
What percentage does the company take? 80% or 20%
Its just so sad, for both the streamers and the people watching that feel they have a real relationship. I dont know who's lonelier
I had the same reaction; nothing seems authentic.
It's sad that they live in a world where their followers expect them to be the same person online and off, many streamers complains that their life streaming is nothing like their private lives, they have to have 2 personalities, and its tearing apart their mental health.
you mean like twitch streamers? what's the difference?
One is willing to spend, and one is willing to provide a service. What problems do you have with this?
You should also realize you're being manipulated by the grey filters, low saturations, and using the echoes of the livestreams as the only sound effects.
This is done so you can follow their anti-China narrative.
When has NYT done anything relating to twitch streams, which often has a much more toxic content than this.
Maybe for streamers that are pushed to not have any contact with chat unless its for money your delusional
Whew this was like watching a short film. Beautifully shot, with a sense of dread in so little minutes. The last shot of Jin’s manager scolding her and her brows furrowed, then she tries to perk up but can’t smile.
The last scene encapsulates the episode really well. Feels so dystopian.
No one looks at her like a person. They view her as a money-making machine and a figment of their imagination... that's gotta tire anyone out.
I worked in China for around 5 years. It's how they do business people are literally money making machines. You don't wanna call in sick for work even if you've never missed work over 2 years and always showed up on time. You'll have a problem if you genuinely are sick and call in the vast majorities of business don't treat their employees or business partners like people.
Just like working for a company.
Isn’t that just called being a celebrity?
its so sad. it made me feel so uncomfortable and sad for this woman while watching this. it isnt fair.
@@DavidJohnson-dp4vv I bet you were an "English teacher" lol. Aka some mayo with zero skills in his own country and has to rely on his skin color to get a job "teaching" kindergarteners English
the fake books scared me lmao, this is all so dystopian and eerie
Even in the US, those fake books are available for sale. Some people buy them for decoration.
True
@@perfectstudents8361 reading your comment hurt. hahahah Books are meant to be read. Not serve as decorations 🥺
fake books can use to hide a weapon. you are right to be scare.
That's what the video filter + music wants you to feel..you took the hint.
Watching this really breaks my heart. 😢 I don’t watch live streamers very much but seeing their unique personalities, their points of view, the cute and funny moments with their friends on discord, and how they exhibit a sense of sincerity with their viewers makes me feel a comforting sense of connection I can’t fully describe. Seeing this being made into an industry where these young women are exploited and made to manufacture these personalities rather than being allowed to grow and be themselves is downright disturbing and saddening to me.
this is literally lifeless .....good documentary...feel bad for these people. I feel them. Watching this made me feel like a machine
She doesn't seem tired. She seems like someone who is slowly absorbing that she's sold her soul.
That's what money does. The problem is so few realise it.
China is a tough country. So many with so little. And in communism. Way harder than most. But you forgot this is happening everywhere, especially in social media, regard.less of where they are. To focus on this alone while ignoring what is happening to everyone around you, maybe even yourself, is evading the real problem: money/banking/finance. Please do not say we need it. Again, you would be evading the point and not understanding what I am saying fully. i'm writing this to open your eyes a little wider: it isn't jsut her selling their soul.
How is this selling your soul but sitting in a cubicle for 45 years doing 9 to 5 making money for a billionaire is what people suppose to do?
@@xiaolongbaoenthusiaist457 both are, but one is deemed 'better' than the other, unfortunately.
@@xiaolongbaoenthusiaist457 If you work for a company you probably help them sell something or provide a service. They make money, they pay you money for helping them make money. In the livestream industry, these girls ARE the product and to keep a steady stream of money rolling in they need to continuously con more suckers into spending the money they make at their actual job. They pretend to know thousands of people online just to get more and more money out of them without ever meeting them in real life, look up parasocial relationships. People aren't "supposed" to work in a cubicle for 45 years, but making that choice seems logical and more stable/secure than putting on a load of makeup and pretending to be someone you're not in front of a camera for 18 hours a day
@@maybeaspider3456 entertainment is a service. and in my opinion, a much more honest and redeemable one compared to selling products that poison people slowly, destroy forests and ecosystems, or fill oceans and landfills with useless disposable plastic crap
The lighting absolutely makes everything. The coldness of it, just, sends a chill up your spine.
Yea I wonder what the real life color temperature looks like. Every room can’t have cold white light all the time
I don't think that's how the real-life color temperature looks like. It is probably a filter to match the theme or exaggerate it.
to me it feels like techno-orientalist propaganda
Sweatshop :(
probs post render
12:12 this part feels like you're watching some black mirror scenes waiting to unravel epic moments after
She probably doesn't even know that her company sent hot sauce to this guy. And he cherishes it like a treasure... so sad :(
That last shot of Jin. The look in her eyes. Just wow, I hope she finds true happiness.
yup
@SAIF KAMAL everyone is struggling in their own way
@SAIF KAMAL nah you’re the only stupid one here. there’s kids starving in Africa but by your logic we should ignore them because there’s people dealing with harder times 🤡🤡
@SAIF KAMAL she might be, but even with a lot of money her mental health doesn't seen good
@SAIF KAMAL what safe space, your sentence is confusing and from what ive seen you are the only ignorant person here
it's interesting how neither party, the viewer nor the streamer, are happy about what they do. It's a transaction. And a means to an end. I like how it was shot in this dark and eerie atmosphere as it drives the point home so well.
that simp seems to think otherwise
Only her agency is happy
Fake happiness for fake happiness
He seemed pretty happy to me, sadly.
@@Halo_Hxneythats not fake happiness, the dude is having fun, and I wish for a.i women robots to be created faster so that way more than 50% of men would choose robots over women and never even interact with them, glorious future.
This was really well shot and edited, my respect to the director of photography and camera team here. Such a common story being told yet almost never revealed because by the time a streamer ends up like this one, they simply just fall off the radar and disappear. We almost never get to see the aftermath. I truly hope this whole video wasn't staged and best of luck to the streamer in the video.
Idk if it's because the topic and people in it are so interesting, but the way this doc is shot is like a feature film. Really well done.
the stalking this leads to is terrifying, especially if they're streaming in public
I guess lots of streamers do that, but the difference is at least they’re not actually alone when they do it
@Black Deir a lot of streamers have been attacked in public while streaming. They were stalked. One girl was chased through Tokyo Mainsquare and she was traumatised. Luckily the police managed to catch the dude not to mention if they are in public and someone recognises them they will try to make suggestive comments and other very inappropriate behaviour so please educate yourself
😬😬😬 freaking scary
The fact that Jin he was scolded for showing her real self to her fans is sooo disturbing.
Just one little bit of honesty is punished
Just goes to show that this agency doesn't know what they're talking about. Let the girl be sad on Camera and the guys will likely throw money at her like crazy. They're even too small minded to efficiently exploit her... She's probably under some crazy strict contract, too.
Ironincally, at least in the west, having a breakdown on camera really brings in the donations as people rush to comfort their favorite streamer. Maybe the culture is different in China.
@@gravityissues5210 The culture operates like ancient China. Recent celebs are getting canceled for pictures resurfacing from years ago.
@@gravityissues5210 it's Asian culture. Looking weak means you're not strong enough to handle anything. In the UK, where I grew up, it's like if you're weak people reward you because they feel bad. It's totally the opposite in Asia. They punish you because you should be 'better'.
The last scene is just shot so well, I’m speechless.
Absolutely disgusting how that talent manager laughed while telling how Jin isn't get holidays for the "holiday" season. And how Jin got a call being reprimanded after she showed up on Livestream not looking the best. And why in the world did the livestreaming entrepreneur think this would be a good idea is beyond me.
I feel so bad for her. It's really very exploitative. And then the talent manager had the gall to joke about not giving her any breaks in the coming months.
Maybe she was joking in a way to cope and you can tell she was being sympathetic because she told her to get some rest.. so yeah.
It's her choise in the end, you know..
@@ayleene100 not if shes locked into a contract with this company, and theyre definitelyyyyy not paying her nearly as much as she should be making for it to be worth it
@@cutsbydrew But she is the one who accept the contract, who sign it, no one did it for her, so is fully her choise.
@@ayleene100 its no longer her choice if she was taken advantage of witha. contract that is designed to prey on young women and turn them into money making cattle for what’s essentially a post apocalyptic virtual brothel
This is really weird for me. They were trained to be a top tier live streamer. Usually, people just live stream whenever they want and do not need any training but just experience. They are like the Idol Training in Korea.
that's east asia for you
@@Uchihasasuk5 East Asia is really bound with perfectionism.
@@user-xe2sf8wn9g true
Was thinking the same thing
Yes. China need some democracy. Bring in the oil liberators
"Go bigger or go home" is so dystopia-like.
by the end of it I had my eyes glued to the screen, then when her manager called at the last shot, it was really heart wrenching.
Not everyone's ready to hear this, but, this is literally the K-pop industry
💯💯💯💯💯
Agree, Japanese idol industry even worse.
True. It's a good thing that idols are becoming more honest nowadays, though. Probably because the industry has been around for a while
not just idol. if you see someone market themselves on social media, sell merch and open patreon or some kind of subscription, theyre basically the same. we are all consumer no matter how we feel superior over other genres of entertainment.
@@drewella3219 You're right, to a certain extent. We are all consumer of each other's products. But the Industry that we're highlighting here is taking this form of consumerism into another level of fanaticism.
The colour grading is so haunting. Props to the team who put this together!
when all stop donating to her - she will crawl from everyones screens
Matrix
or you mean daunting?
It's done on purpose, the same thing happens in other countries but if they used this color pallete it would look too obvious what they are trying to do.
that how new york times like to demonize other countries
insightful, thought-provoking, and touching, thank you for the work that gives me a deep view of the world of some streamers. This short film really makes me think about how relationships in today's social work. I still find myself struggling every day to connect with people around me, it seems that social media truly redefine the definitions of relationships.
Really interested in what kind of cut the streaming company takes from her USD 30-45k in donations each month. If she gets to keep even 10% of that figure, that's actually quite a decent wage for China.
She deserves more than 10% though
@@banshee1133 Yeah, for sure only 10% would be a really unfairly low cut. It wouldn't surprise me though if that is what she's getting, due to how scummy and exploitative these agencies can be in general.
It was said that in the beginning she's gotten minimum wage of $120.
It wouldn't surprise me much if it maybe tripled since then. We are talking china after all.
@@kABUSE1 $120 is a live broadcast, right? It is impossible to be exposed to the media with such a low salary, and people from the industrial and commercial bureau and the labor service bureau will be fined more than 100 times.😆Because I am a civil servant of the industrial and commercial bureau, I like such company very much, and I will get some kickbacks when I am fined ~🥹
That last shot is absolutely heartbreaking wtff
Ikr, especially when they asked her if she was tired and she closed her eyes
the first lady in the video. she got my attention she's so beautiful i want to date her
@@hedgehog1684 u really missed the point lol
@@sean-pl3us what's her name for general research
@@hedgehog1684 just no
No one looks happy, and everyone looks lonely. Technology and virtual reality can never replace true human companionship.
What can they do when country have about 100 million more men than women?
Of course no one looks happy. This is a WSJ video on China, it’s against the company culture to show happy people in China.
Adriana if we have to tell you again please stop thinking to much and posting it on the internet….your live steam starts in Tminus 12mins and we need you in character to bring us in that sweet cash! Lol
This could be a Black Mirror episode.
Why is everyone against virtual relationships ugh. It's also a good way for good rapport before meeting in person. U shouldn't judge what makes people comfortable, maybe virtual relationships are helpful in some ways. It's genuine in its own way.
"It's my heart that feels tired"
I-
I hope she doesn't have to do this anymore one day
I think this is the first short I've watched that literally turns sadness into a spectacle of itself. As in, I do feel sad for all the characters but somehow I am now even more interested.
Jin He is gorgeous but looks so tired. Her talent manager has no compassion for her exhaustion and only sees profit.
its called grinding till you make it.
@Yuxin Lin she literally laughed at her being exhausted and said she can’t take off for 3 months so deal with it
Which sums up the business model of that company/the industry.
sadly, that's probably also what makes her a good talent manager. wring as much out of the talent as possible and then dispose and find a new one.
@@pianoonparade I agree she’s efficient and probably makes a ton off of the streamers’ talents. It’s just unethical in my opinion. I think it devalues the streamer themselves and potentially leaves lasting scars on their mental health.
How can her manager or whatever laugh while saying I'm not giving you any free time and that you'll be this tired every day 🤦♀️
You know what, even though she will be being so tired for a long time, but they both have an acknowdgement that they can make money through this, which is desperate and heartbroken, but it is still much better than making 600 dollars a month while still being tired.
I feel sad for her, even for her manager (I won't see she live a happy life by pushing this girl).
I thought it was a sarcastic friendly laugh, you can see the girl also smiling. I don't know about others but a lot of people tend to laugh to cope with problems, I and people around me also joke about hard things we are about to face. Like when my friends and I laugh about how hard an upcoming exam is and worry about whether we studied enough or not so we just laugh about it as an outlet due to the nervousness.
i was thinking that since the manager has to follow her schedule too that she was trying to say that they'll both be tired. sucks either way tho
to me it sounded like a demonic laugh..
It’s sad that we don’t see her interact or have any communication with anyone outside of the live-streaming, whether it’s her agent or fans. That’s the part I find so isolating
The last minute of the video was just heartbreaking to see. Really Hope she finds her happiness some day.
I’m Chinese and this is truly heartbreaking yet beautifully done. I kind of knew that streamers don’t lead a particularly happy life, and in general, only lonely people are interested in such videos or livestreams. I didn’t expect it to be this emotionally disheartening though. Well done, NYT.
Hey man, I’m here in America. I’m interested, how’s life in china? I’ve always held a interest in East Asian countries, their history, and their current state.
@@jackji7020 bruh?
@@jackji7020 China isn't East Asian? 😂😂
@@aryavirsangwan6837 nothing much different from other countries i think,but certainly people are less comfortable than western countries in terms of the work, and by the way, the so called social credit system is fake.
@@nosimpsii9258 Fake? Really? I have Chinese friends that said that system is real.
Am I the only one getting Black Mirror vibes?
Was thinking exact same thing
The social credit system and the massive surveillance… lol China is a poster child of dystopian society
@@daniellai7712 So true. That country is perfect dystopia-fiction material.
A group of people who have never been to our country
Say that we are dystopia-fiction
Keep making rumors. We don't care
@@user-cz5qp8yt8g It's because it really seems like it to outsiders like us. We couldn't imagine living like this.
I can’t imagine the pressure, stressed they have . They must be depressed.
I feel sad for them.
Social Media is the worst invention of our times.
What a small bit of masterpiece this film was. You can feel it, the last scene, the deadness in her eyes. It's heartbreaking. This is gonna stick with me for sure. It's depressing because you wish you could do something to help, but even money can't help this. She's eroding inside and there's no charity for that. There's nothing you can do to help. You can just be a better person to those around you or you are able to influence and wish the best for everybody else in the world. It's a deeply disheartening, polarising and cold world.
or we all fell for an great act
@@RckDtar act of what ?
@@RckDtar If this wasn't a problem there wouldn't be a documentary. I think you're just being negative.
We don't need to help her. She chose that way and can go another path at any time. Besides it's not guaranteed to be the real situation without certain evidences or cross-confirmations just as Letsuo said. People tend to easily believe what they see on youtube without questioning.
@@winsersery I do question everything but even if it is exaggerated or fake, you can’t act so tired without ever experiencing it either beforehand or at the moment, I still want to give her a hug and make her realise how toxic this is
Her soul is slowly leaving her body. She needs to get out of that business
Agreed. She isn’t even trying to hide the misery in her eyes. She needs help, yet all the “adults” in her life are exploitative & greedy. Sad.
I know this main girl Jin He through a singing competition in 2018. I showed her this video and she told me that this was filmed back in 2017. She's actually very successful now. She's being invited as a guest artist to a lot of major events in China and doing photo shoots for major brands like Clinique
@@joannalok9833 thank god
This speaks volumes, about the entertainment industry, about isolation and technology.
Such a shallow world we live in…
It’s time for Jin He to go solo. At this point her fans would follow her and she could keep the money she earns. Her contract with her agency may be crazy though.
I bet its the type of contract where she cant just go if she wants to, i remember watching a video like this but it’s about models from other country (foriegn country girls who live in provinces but have the beauty standards in china) who tried to make a living in china hoping to be a bigshot but in their contract, they have to earn a specific amount if they want to cut the contract (paying the agency in short). As if theyre modelling in debt
She seems like an actual genuine person overall maybe thats why shes so successful
Going solo will have to depend with the type/class of the contract......and also her will to (no offense) give up the vanity
The company can even own her channel so if she quit she might lose almost all followers.
The thing is her entire image is fake though. She doesn't have anything authentic that she creates. Even her room is fake. So if she went solo she wouldn't be able to keep up that fake image. She would need to reinvent herself. She's basically an employee, not a real content creator. She's basically playing a part that her manager created. It's weird how in Asia everything is controlled by corporations (like K-pop groups) whereas in the west, content creators are a lot more individual and have creative control over their own content. I'm guessing it's probably a cultural thing, a different mentality. Maybe Asians don't have the confidence to go out and succeed on their own. Not saying it's good or bad, it's just different.
This is so well shot, so well put together. Naturally, the content itself is tragic, but conveying that tragedy through more than just the words being said is an art form.
Yeah this was a fantastic mini doc…gives us a look into the strange real world of China where some are richer than Americans could even dream, and some are poorer then the poorest! Wish it was longer though.
Really? Dim filter sad music+ just few more pathetic editing, you could basically make anything a tragedy. I mean your comment literally indicates they have done a pretty good job to once again demonize China just a bit more.
@@jax8763 those words are cheap nowadays, type a compelling words when they even didn't know how to measure. Never stating in details why, what just because they already watch & read condensed some views or even reviews popular subject without foundation of understanding. Also they who agree with how many likes it gets makes clear indication of our generations of illiterate also how bad effect of fast information.
@@jax8763 Okay wumao.
@Jina Mina Avastar⭐ that what communism is, you remove/banning religious practices so they "the proletariat" adored or even worship their leader due no-one more powerful/exalted than themselves (gods/deities). But in practices they worship the idols/actors because how popular, beautiful and kind to their fans.
I couldn't finish watching this, not because of the production quality(superb) not because of the story(again superb) but the look in her eyes... it hurts my very soul to see such definitive sadness.
her last word "tired" really touched 💔
This seems like a system which puts humanity (and human feelings) aside for pure profit. What could possibly go wrong with that business model... 😣
@Oli Yes, sadly it is.
Hi Justine! Totally agree it's pure exploitation
that's exactly what I was thinking... every day things get more artificial and artificial, and people more and more depressed.
That's capitalism.
strong man creates good time
good time creates simp
This video reminds me of the KPOP industry. It’s exactly like this yet fans wants to deny it. Now the KPOP idols have become a little more honest with what’s going on behind the scenes and stuff but they still have to go through fans admiring them so much that they think they have a special connection or relationship with them. It’s sad.
Kpop is a bit more multifaceted as an industry, but the delusional/obsessive fans are similar
Yes.. the Kpop industry is so toxic everyone knows.. but no one is ready to have that conversation
Yes. This very much reminds me of VLIVE. Apparently some groups are forced to do VLIVE by their managers instead of them willingly doing it to meet the fans.
They are all forced to do lives. Is why 70% of lives feel soulless.
Lol “have been a little honest” 🤡 i think more so they are being allowed to be a little more honest because of new trends their agency wants them to opt for vulnerability of self and mental health etc as these two are current trends. No way k pop artists gonna expose themselves like that 🤡😂.
The most heartbreaking part is that this is still far and above the life that the vast majority of people in China live. You know it's bad when even those towards the top are suffering.
yeah rural china is completely different from the big cities
To me personally, the saddest thing was towards the end, when He Jin responded to the interviewer asking if she was okay and she answered just a bit too quickly for comfort. Like no pause no nothing to actually take inventory of what was happening to her. Just an automated response of "Yes, I'm fine. Just tired."
I know this main girl Jin He through a singing competition in 2018. I showed her this video and she told me that this was filmed back in 2017. She's actually very successful now. She's being invited as a guest artist to a lot of major events in China and doing photo shoots for major brands like Clinique
Are you sure? There are many Chinese with the same name.
NY Times is a reputable company and may not release old videos.
@@perfectstudents8361 I'm pretty sure. I met her in-person and she looks just like the girl in the video. I showed her the video and she also confirmed
does she have Instagram?
Nice to see she is doing great now! I tried to google her but could not find her anywhere, only one video of her singing back in 2018. If you know anything related to her, I would like to see! She is so beautiful!
@@perfectstudents8361 the slideshow also mentions 2017 at @5.42
Also the chilling part of it is that the fans are thinking they have a special relationship with the streamer, it's more like how a deranged fan in any fandom thinks that recieving a signed copy from a celeb means they now have a real relationship with them ....it's freaking me out, it's weird. Not only are the men in this video in this deranged mindset but the company for profiting off of such derange-ness and insecurities
Feel like it really depresses me. Seems like our generation is much more lonely than previous ones
Companies are profiting of people's loneliness and specially of chinese men struggle to find a female partner.
One could say ,,yeah whatever, this men are stupid" but I think it's too easy to say this without taking in consideration what loneliness can do with your brain.
It can even drive you crazy and this men see this women as their savior , even if they now they're fake, who make their life more enjoyable...
To be fair I don't think this is a topic that most women will understand. In most cultures it's not the norm for us to make the first move in a relationship.
Being the one approaching the other gender requires to be confident, having good social skills (with women), being good story tellers, often having money, status and also being good looking....
You can't learn this all without making mistakes, it's just not realistic,...but nowadays we can't make mistakes on a social level ...'cause the other person can expose your failure immediately, for everyone to see.
Why taking all the effort on a stranger when you can "have" someone online giving you everything you want without having to embarrass yourself?!
@@foggyfrogy Yea, true af. That's why i added that companies are profiting from people's insecurities
@@foggyfrogy most of these men, and I met some, believe they are above women in at least a few aspects, which is what really disables them from having a partner. They think real women are too ugly, or smart, or not behaved well. It really doesn't take much to find a partner, if only you're a decent being and look for someone that is actually at 'your level' (which is usually at least 4 times lower than what you think it is). You can't get in any relationship if you don't have social skills, that's just how it is. It's not strictly women, it's friends, buisness partners, neighbours and family also. It's really not that serious. Adults are adults, their doings shouldn't be excused.
@@oneofthosemoments4564 I think that's a result from being sucked into this fake relationships and being rejected in real life.
If you ask a woman how they categorize themselves, she will humble herself and say average (but it's not what she really thinks) while a man often will give his honest opinion and see himself as above average. What I'm trying to say is that human's tend to see themselves as something special and if their surroundings don't see it this way that this often leads to them giving humanity/men/women the fault for it.
I'm not saying I like this kind of people ...I don't!...but I somehow understand how they come to the conclusion...I'm also am one of the few people in my surroundings that call women out for saying ,,all men are trash" because ... let's be honest, it's very similar to this situation. You had one bad encounter and therefore everyone with the same genitals are the same.... it's stupid in my opinion. But more disgusting is companies profiting out of this feelings and making sure (in this case) the genders keep hating each other
Truly awesome short film, and kudos to the filming team and the living streaming star who agreed to be documented. Live streaming, short video clips, and online games create worlds into which one can run away from their daily boring/stressful life. One has to realise that they are not real and you can't live there forever, but unfortunately many are not prepared mentally for this reality, and for them the daily life can only get increasingly boring and unbearable.
This is sooo terrifying. Also, incredibly captivating
this honestly was one of the best short docs i've ever seen, really well done
True that! I hope this gets lots of awards
The cinematography is so professional and artistic. It's meant to make you feel the loneliness and dystopian-like atmosphere, so well done.
"She makes me feel warm and I think the feeling is mutual".
Aww, I feel bad for the disillusioned livestreaming fans.
Yea, they’re being taken advantage of as well and they need therapy ASAP.
I don't. I feel repulsed for both parties. It's like these people haven't left their house for one minute in their lives
Literally every simp out there
OK they’re definitely simps but I still think we can feel bad for them. At the end of the day they’re probably just really lonely
@@manuelfigueiredo8986 have you dude? lmao this has existed in various forms in almost every civ. i mean i would understand if you are a edgy kid but icon worship aint nothing new lmao
Jin we are all cheering for you. Do what you love and I really hope you find true happiness JAYOOO
That was haunting and disturbing in so many ways.
My heart breaks for her. You can tell she’s depressed and her managers are only in it for the profit. So sad
The managers are also under pressure by the owner to push the girls to their limits, so as to bring in more money for the company.
At least she makes some money. I'm truly sad for the guy that thinks she is her friend, spending TONS of money, while being exploited. In a country that is by no means rich. What a wreck...
What about the girl? What do you think she signed up for if not the profit?
I know this main girl Jin He through a singing competition in 2018. I showed her this video and she told me that this was filmed back in 2017. She's actually very successful now. She's being invited as a guest artist to a lot of major events in China and doing photo shoots for major brands like Clinique
@@joannalok9833 How do you have a RUclips channel since 3 years if RUclips is banned in China?
4:34 The saying on the wall, "Go Bigger or go Home" is a little disturbing. I don't like it at all. Original saying is "Go Big or go Home". But on the wall of this company, it says 'bigger' as if going 'big' is not enough. It fosters an unhealthy attitude to reach for endless ambition and determination which is not good and not possible. Working hard and having ambition is good but within the limits of the human body. The body and soul need rest and balance. Working tirelessly and endlessly is not something to be proud of if you are sacrificing more than what your end goal is worth.
👏 Well said…
it may have been an incidental thing but i agree with u
I honestly agree, but as a person who grew up in china, 99% chance it's just a grammar mistake. But still, that 1% scares me
@@sintura yes
same thoughts
okay, but Jin he’s voice is really good, i hope she pursues in her dream of making music someday
this documentary is so well done i’ve watched it now 3 times…so sad
The editing and presentation on this is award winning.
Specially the dystopic china filter.
I wasn't even surprised it was funded by Denmark, Danish movies look similar lol
Music score too. We will see movies like this in cinemas soon
Like a movie.
they’ve taken the soul out of livestreaming. now it’s just deadstreaming.
This deserves way more likes
Just because the internet exists, it still won’t stop people from being hermits, and isolating themselves. Documentaries like this really show that.
Omg the way she said ^^tired^^ hit hard!
12:01 she literally looks so empty in that part :( She's so beautiful and talented, I hope one day she can finally find happiness that doesn't drain her so much
Agreed 🤗. I hope she travels further down the journey of self fulfillment. It seems she’s at a plateau right now, but I believe in us all.
Drain gang 🤤
She's so beautiful and talented --. like the many you too are "deranged"
@@Logic807 yikes just say ur jealous and move on
U can tell that someone is empty inside just by looking at them in a video for a few seconds? WOW impressive
I was a streamer for 7 years, did like dancing and chatting and silly stuff and eventually some nudity. But the hardest part of it was gaining relationships with these people that I truly starting caring for, and them truly starting to love you and feel a connection but it's all phony... It makes you feel so strange and dishonest, it's a weird world we live in with tech. It eventually became so emotionally draining that I had to stop.
because most of my "fans" were the same few people for years. They even became good friends with each other and still are to this day.
Links or it didn’t happen
@@yes6268 u sold ur soul
@@sisamusudroka3000 not the time
@@Tomluke5823 that’s kinda suspicious
This was so well done. Didn't know how bizzare it is outside of the western streaming community.
Well, quite frankly is not that different from the Western streaming community. The simping, the exploitations, streamers not able to take a day off not to lose donations/subscribers. It's not that in the West streaming is much healthier and genuine...
@@strategicfred yeah but still, here it seems a bit too far
the entire concept feels so dystopian
It's so well made that it almost doesn't look real
I don't know how they really 'showed' us the characters, as if it was a movie. I'm awestruck!
Well they made it really dramatic to be fair
probably fake this is from 2017 tbh,
stuff explainde is real but everything is exaggerated
@@NeostormXLMAX no it’s probably real
I was a German DJ touring in Shanghai. The city itself is amazing and it really looked like Blade Runner plus mad max due to the fact that it's a ultra inner competitive society on wealth, finance, class and Chinese beauty mixed with Western lifestyle.
However, the youth there are hyper stressed and the expectation from them is insanely high. I enjoyed my stay and at the same time, I felt a sense of sorrow for them as well.
Ha, grew up there, you are absolutely correct! Moved to Sydney, it was slightly better; then to Bangkok, it is amazing. My friends back home are basically working bots now, I barely talk to them anymore. So much suppression, people seem to barely have a sense of self. None for me, I don't partake! (I'm a millenial)
Im glad u have a soul now
wie kann man dich buchen?
@@DL-nb9hp Soar, free bird!
Announce next tour datea in america pls
The opening segment of the camera zooming into her face while the lady irons her hair and the deadpanned expression in her eyes is like something out of a horror movie. It already says so much.
She sings so well. She can pass as a professional singer. I like her voice
" I never met her and only sent her $75,000, and yet she sends me hot sauce as a gift, she truly cares about me, this touches my heart" ... what? LOL
Pretty sure the hot sauce guy is the the 75$k one. These are two different fans.
just same as an amerian guy call 1900 cost 5 cents per second at mid night
Just like guys on only fans. Just like Jeff Bezos. If you have the money whatever floats your boat.
Better than stinky bath water I guess
Its not funny. It's honestly sad
She’s not tired. She’s lonely and depressed.
and tired.
lonely and depressed can lead to tiredness... and vice versa... you know that right?
Existential tiredness. The kind of tired that sleep doesn't fix.
High functioning depression
She's too pretty to be those things. 🤣
Great filmmaking. Surprised this is not a doc on Netflix.
truly unsettling
I want to give everyone in this documentary a hug. They need one.
I know the talents signed up for this, but I don’t want to hug the manager and the people driving these talents to depletion.
I feel sad for them 😭
They will do it for a small donation
You have to send a donation first
@@Ryker150 many donations and no hug xD
How sad is it with the guy who says we are so emotionally connected, between he and a live streamer. The minute he cuts off that money and stop sending checks, let’s see how deep the love relationship is.
It's not even the streamer's fault. She has thousands of fans and she needs to cater to them all. It's because so many people on earth are lonely and desperate for human interaction that this industry exists.
@@jchen8902 I wonder though if a person is so lonely why not make a profile on an actual Dating App where you can meet actual people who also look for someone?
@@scarface11991 Likely due to fear of rejection and people online not meeting their expectations. The streamer has to be nice to them or is inclined to be nice and submissive as they are getting paid.
Every new day makes me realize we live in a dystopian society
I would love to watch a full length film of this. It is beautifully shot and edited. That sh1t got real dark at the end. I hope she is ok.
This is so creepy. It makes me uncomfortable to see streaming, something that was initially used for genuine human connections and authenticity, get turned into a money making machine. Using fake books to dupe fans is just so gross. Nothing against the girls who are a part of this and obviously many other aspects of the world are for soulless profit, but the way this whole thing was filmed puts it in perspective. Of course even youtube alone is often just a money making machine, but this was a level of that I haven't been familiar with until now. Yes, virtual relationships can be valuable, but it unsettles me to see some people prioritize them over real human connections. Especially when these fans are in turn only considered profits and ways to make money. I'm honestly struggling to even put into words how uncomfortable this makes me feel!
There's no problem in supporting a person you admire online when they're honest and genuine
The problem here is their whole persona is fake and geared towards making people spend on them it's like they are using a toxic formula to drain people off of their money on purpose
@@ikaramelya I agree, but I do think the genuine people are rare these days
I dont see anything wrong if you're more comfortable with virtual relationships tho rather than person-to-person contact, that's another topic of its own. Altho yes, this type of livestreaming industry can be problematic and fake.
@@claudine8140 virtual relationships can definitely be healthy and a good way to socialize depending on the situation, but i think it really relies on so many factors. not every situation is the same. i think what is most concerning is that these days most people cant tell the difference between healthy ones and toxic ones, and i dont just mean toxic people, but toxic behavior when it comes to being a fan of someone. there is also a lack of good faith criticism of influencers. online personalities are deemed as either someone perfect to worship, which is the problem here in this video, or they are just completely cancelled. in reality most people should be viewed as somewhere in the middle. having a person on a pedestal to this level isnt healthy for you or the influencer and it just creates toxic and fake environments, as shown here.
i'm always horrified at how capitalism can make almost anything into a money-making machine... it's bizarre and extremely sad to see how it can apply to new social dynamics and technology
I find it ironic, how in the past women trained in these small talents such as singing and playing instruments to appease men, for various reasons depending on the culture. Now they're still doing that, only over the internet.
Ikr , even tho the technology and science has evolved alot but yet the attitude of human to things or situations are the same
Ikr
@@BoraniumArt empathise on the "we", as in both women and men, are flawed
these talents aren't "small", considering that people made their livelyhood from them since old ages. Music and instruments in most cultures were a thing to do as a group used for entertainment, since there weren't many sources of it. Actually, like anything else, men were the ones mostly playing and singing at first. This is a buissness which is more acting than anything else. I don't think the comparation you made was a correct one
turns out men are just as gullible as ever and will pay women for even the smallest semblance of company - even if it’s virtual 😳
It was nice to see them in the broad light of day.
This feels like a movie not a documentary
I just feel so sad for the kids who believe that they have a genuine relationship with her, specially the one with the sauce that said he felt like she thought of him like a friend, I really hope that they are able to make a genuine connection with someone that actually cares about them. And I also feel so bad for the streamer, she looks so depressed, what a disgusting industry
The ENTIRE point of livestreaming is so that anyone can easily do it alone and whenever they want with just a cellphone and without the need of working a job or having a boss. I don't understand how livestream companies are even a thing. The only thing I can think of is maybe some people don't know how to get started so they seek help from a company but I fail to see how that company can retain employees after the streamer learns the trade and accumulates a fanbase then just leaves to do it by themselves.
They usually are starting as a small live streamer and the company spots them and hire them some of them get offered by a close friend or something like that it's tough
Look at vtuber company like hololive. Like Daikon said most of the ppl started as a small streamer that have a hard time to grow, so a company offered them a contract,then said streamer get more publicity and better equipment to stream
DIRTY CONTRACTS
The reason they stay is because if they try to leave, they have to pay an enormous fee (stupid contracts)
@@sugakookies8063 Yes. Same with some writing sites owned by these sort of people. You will also have to pay for all legal fees during thr process
*"I get thousands of love and money a year and still feel lonely, people say visit a therapist but all the the therapist says is things like "oh i understand" but they truly dont, they dont know how it feels to have 30,000 eyes on you at once, they dont know how it feels to have all you want in the world and still feel lonely...at the end of the day you have the water to fill up your cup but the cup still finds a way to tip over"*
-Kim Bo-Ra
The songs that she singing at 1:27 is Ai Mei by Rainie Yang 😁