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[20250606] Beijing Youth Daily shared an article: Zheng Xiaolong, Director of #LegendofZangHai : 'We Didn’t Approach Xiao Zhan as an Idol Actor' By Yang Weijie June 6, 10:34 AM As The Legend of ZangHai prepares for its finale on CCTV tonight, its stellar viewership data and the fervent fan theories proliferating online reaffirm the enduring cultural impact and long-tail resonance of premium long-form dramas qualities short-form series simply cannot match. In today's polarized drama market where long-form content struggles against shorts, many mourn the loss of timeless classics like Empresses in the Palace. Yet director Zheng Xiaolong rejects this pessimism outright. "Audiences inherently crave substance," he states. "Only works exploring life's complexities can deliver true resonance." From Empresses (2009) to ZangHai and his upcoming City of Heavenly Craftsmanship (a historical epic about Forbidden City artisans), Zheng merges market awareness with unflinching realism. Where others sensationalize palace intrigue, he exposes feudalism's brutality devoting screen time to oppressed commoners and systemic dehumanization. Even with fictional settings, he enforces archaeological accuracy in costumes, rituals, and social structures. His mantra to actors like Sun Li and Xiao Zhan: "Treat every detail as plot." This discipline transformed ZangHai from a star-driven project into a national phenomenon, demonstrating how to convert "traffic" into artistic credibility Xiao Zhan: The Power of Contradiction The role of ZangHai evolving from vengeful outsider to guardian of the people demanded profound emotional range. Zheng, having studied Xiao Zhan's prior work, recognized his potential: "His striking looks create electric tension with the character's inner darkness." The director particularly praised Xiao Zhan's work ethic in mastering period dialogue, making archaic speech feel authentically conversational. Simply capitalizing on an actor's appearance is also a waste of their acting skills. One key reason why The Legend of ZangHai has gained recognition is its prioritization of respecting the script and characters, utilizing actors appropriately rather than deliberately catering to market trends. Director Zheng Xiaolong also stated that they did not approach Xiao Zhan as an idol, obsessing over how to frame his looks attractively every day. "Xiao Zhan is portraying a character. We capture the essence of how this character resonates with him. Filming Xiao Zhan is no different from filming other characters, both are treated equally in terms of narrative focus and screen time. Simply exploiting an actor's appearance is a waste of their acting potential." In today's market environment, effectively leveraging high-traffic actors poses a significant challenge for directors, requiring both wisdom and resolve. Zheng Xiaolong emphasized that the primary task of an artistic creator is to tell a compelling story with well-developed characters. "Xiao Zhan already has an enormous fanbase, and I believe his fans also hope to see him deliver even more outstanding performances. When an actor fully embodies their role, and their co-stars are equally strong and cohesive, the entire production benefits and only then does the actor truly gain from it." Young actors should step out of the set and into real life. Young Actors Should Step Out of The Set and Into Real Life. After working with Zheng Xiaolong, both Sun Li and Zhao Liying expanded their acting range, transitioning from idol actors to skilled performers capable of nuanced character portrayal. Zheng Xiaolong believes Xiao Zhan also has the potential for such a transformation: "With more experience, he could become a very accomplished actor in the future." As for the current market, Zheng Xiaolong offered insightful advice on how to channel actors' star power into genuinely beneficial creative energy.>> #XiaoZhan | #ZhengXiaolong | #ZangHaiZhuan | #藏海传 | #Cdrama

[20250513] #LegendofZangHai Weibo update: Gathering momentum and riding the wind, the game is set. Starting from 18th May, #LegendOfZanghai will be broadcast on CCTV8 prime time and on Youku platform! Starring: #XiaoZhan as Zang Hai #ZangHaiZhuan | #藏海传 | #Cdrama

[20250513] #LegendofZangHai Weibo update: With regrets in my heart, I am more determined to move forward Starting from 18th May, #LegendOfZanghai will be broadcast on CCTV8 prime time and on Youku platform! Starring: #YuNan as Mingyu Suti #ZangHaiZhuan | #藏海传 | #Cdrama

[20250513] #LegendofZangHai Weibo update: Set your chess position firmly and never regret your move. Starting from 18th May the drama will be broadcast on CCTV8 and Youku! Starring: #MichelleChen as Zhao Shangxian #ZhangGuoqiang as the Emperor #ZangHaiZhuan | #藏海传 | #Cdrama

[20250513] #LegendofZangHai Weibo update: All we do and seek are loyalty and righteousness. Starting from 18th May the drama will be broadcast on CCTV8 and Youku platforms primetime! Starring: #WallaceChung as Kuai Duo #ZangHaiZhuan | #藏海传 | #Cdrama