I’m fairly new to watching C-drama but this show really stood out for me. I think its style is unique. The comedic elements are so cute. They use a slide-whistle as a sting. Actors rise up into an ongoing scene from below the frame, and everyone reacts with astonishment. They break the fourth wall. Two actors in a scene will look meaningfully at each other and emote (including hand gestures), but their communication is done by voice-over. Other characters sit there oblivious to the “secret” conversation. What is even supposed to be happening? For me this style is just brilliant. I would think that either the director, the screenwriter or a producer is responsible for these innovations. I’d love to watch more of their comedic work but I don’t know who to look for. Does anyone know? Can anyone help me? Thanks.
Yes, “I’ve Fallen For You” also was one of the first Chinese dramas to film entirely using all actors’ real voices with no dubbing. The sound was recorded live on set, which is why you can often hear the actors breathing or variations in tone/breaks in voice, as well as sounds of nature/ outdoors in some scenes. Standard practice in the Chinese TV industry is to record all dialog and sound in a controlled studio environment; all voices are dubbed, often using professional voice actors. Using voice actors for all roles can vary now. There are some actors who dub themselves. However, the practice of dubbing is still standard. This is why you will often see comments asking if actors in a production are using their own voices or if it is a voice actor. Western-style sound recording where all voices are those of the actors and are recorded live on set with boom mikes and such, and then sometimes fixed in post production is not common in Chinese TV industry. The Chinese film industry does record this way, so if you see a Chinese film, then you are guaranteed to be hearing the actors real voices. There is a movement to have the Chinese TV industry record sound in this manner, but it is slow going. Progress has been made, though, with more actors being able to dub themselves using their own voices, rather than voice actors. It is handled on a show-by-show basis, so one has to ask or look at the production credits to see how the sound was handled for a particular drama.
Production details can be found on MDL and other sites
https://wiki.d-addicts.com/I've_Fallen_For_You#google_vignette
Right, and thank you for the response, but while I can look up the director, the screenwriter and the producers who worked on this show, I don’t know which of them is responsible for these wild comedic innovations. For instance, if I like a Quentin Tarantino movie, anyone I ask will tell me that his unique style may be seen in any film he directs. So I know to search out movies where he is the director. Or Won Kar-wai. For more comedies like I’ve Fallen For You, who do I follow? The director? The screenwriter? Who came up with and implemented these comedic techniques? Are they known for this sort of thing? Thanks in advance to the community.
This is a good question. It’s somewhat difficult to answer for Chinese TV series, in my opinion, simply due to the fact that so many of the dramas are based on other IP. It’s rare for Chinese TV series to come from original scripts. Because of this, it’s difficult to say follow a certain writer, director, for comedies because they may or may not be doing comedy for their next projects. Again, this is different from the Chinese Film Industry, where you can follow certain film directors or film screenwriters if you enjoy their style. I would just try asking in forums if people have any suggestions for comedies similar to “I’ve Fallen for You.” where they break the fourth wall, etc. List out what you especially liked about it.
The only Chinese comedy I’ve seen where they broke the fourth wall was “The Happy Seven in Chang’an.” You can give it a try.
Hi! Thank you for the thoughtful reply, and for the recommendation. I see what you’re saying about Chinese TV. Still, the same comedy source material might produce two very different TV adaptations; for example, one a rather straight translation, but the other (as in I’ve Fallen For You) incorporating various fourth-wall-breaking, or over-the-top, filming/staging/directing/editing techniques. You won’t see those techniques in reading material that is the source for the story. That sort of thing only appears in a shooting script. Someone initiates the use of those techniques, and someone approves them. Those are the roles that are responsible for what I like about I’ve Fallen For You.
Well, in that case, perhaps the Producer or Production company might be the best to follow if you can find that information. You may want to try asking in forums for who is the producer and production company for “I’ve Fallen For You.”
From what I could find out, the production company was Cool Whale Film Production (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Yingmei Media
I found Cool Whale Film Production also produced this drama: “Egg and Stone” (2023)
https://mydramalist.com/726803-girl-s-jiang-hu
Another good recommendation, thank you.
You’re welcome. Hopefully, The Happy Seven in Chang’an and Egg and Stone will be to your liking. I hope you are able to find more drama recommendations from others.