FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PRODUCTION OF CHINESE DRAMA SERIALS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The Production of Chinese television drama serials in Singapore is a significant entertainment enterprise that consistently attracts large numbers of viewers. These serials are produced by the state-owned Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). As such, it is important to understand the influences which shape the production of the Chinese drama serials, unique to Singapore, in order to achieve a better understanding of their structure and function important for policy formulation, regulatory activities and public debate. In-depth interviews were conducted with stakeholders in Singapore's drama serial production process leading to a description of how factors of government, management, and creative workers individually and collectively affect the outcome of the production process. The production of Chinese drama serials in Singapore is marked by the primacy of political influences, a result of the pervasive role the government has in structuring the repetitive activities of related institutions. Based on the analysis, a general model of influence is posited for understanding the drama serial production environment in Singapore