Compress it to 500 words：Over the past decade, Chinese commercial documentaries, starting with “A Bite of China” in 2012, have made significant progress and development. However, there is still a considerable gap between China’s documentary industry and the global market, especially when compared to the mature documentary systems in the UK and America. To bridge this gap, Chinese documentary creators need to communicate and collaborate more with their overseas counterparts, opening up new possibilities. As a result, a significant part of my work in recent years has focused on relationship-building.

When “Flavorful Origins” premiered on Netflix, I leveraged my connections in Tencent’s global media department to secure an interview between a Beijing-based journalist from The New York Times and our Chinese food documentary production team’s director in the UK. This collaboration marked the first partnership between Netflix and a Chinese commercial documentary, and The New York Times published the interview on their official website. Through my work, overseas audiences were able to gain insight into the creative perspectives and attitudes of Chinese food documentary creators.

Each project has its specific networking requirements. The documentary team I work with has produced reality TV-style food documentaries from the perspective of protagonists exploring different regional cuisines, a departure from traditional documentary styles. I thus need to establish connections with celebrities through my network.

For instance, in 2022, I contacted over a dozen middle-aged actors, including individuals from Taiwan and Hong Kong, for our documentary “Cheers to the City.” I coordinated with their agencies to arrange shooting schedules and discuss project details. Within a short timeframe, I successfully found suitable actors, leading to the smooth initiation and completion of the project.

In recent years, I have also reached out to organizations such as the Cannes TV Festival, Netflix translation team, and BBC Documentary Department in the UK. I maintain regular contact with these connections, introducing our future project plans and seeking potential collaborations. In 2022, I communicated with a producer from Troisième Œil Productions in France for a new documentary project. Our collaboration progressed to specific discussions on budgeting and other aspects. Unfortunately, due to their temporary suspension of investment in global co-production projects, the collaboration could not be finalized. Although it was a disappointing outcome, I continue to actively build my relationship network, which will serve as a valuable asset for future endeavors.

For me, effective networking involves establishing a network of interpersonal relationships that transcend both my personal and professional life. Friends I have made throughout my life and studies can contribute to interesting projects when suitable opportunities arise. In recent years, as we ventured into reality TV-style food documentaries, which involve numerous guest participants, my connections in Beijing and Shanghai have played a vital role in facilitating these collaborations.

Outside of work, I have a natural inclination toward expanding my social circle. Every winter, I go skiing and forge friendships with professional skiers and ski photographers. I believe these experts, who excel in high-speed sports, may present future collaboration opportunities.

In recent documentary projects, I have had the pleasure of accompanying numerous scholars during their recordings. Beforehand, I extensively study their academic works, such as Professor Cao Yu’s “The History of Spicy Food in China” and Professor Shi Zhan’s “Hub.” During our collaborations, they share their latest research perspectives, enriching my knowledge and reinforcing my determination to return to academia for further learning.

Documentary creators act as the connecting link between cultural research and the broader public. British documentary productions, in particular, embody a fusion of cultural depth and humanistic care. Therefore, I eagerly anticipate understanding and learning more during my time in the UK, as well as actively participating in various cultural exchanges. I firmly believe that the Chevening scholarship’s support for learning will foster a lasting network for the future. Collaborative documentaries between China and the UK have already taken place in the documentary. 

Relationship-building and shared learning have allowed us to form a community for growth and communication.