【双语精读】银发族在横店短剧中重拾自我,圆了演员梦?

"Can someone my age still become an actress?" Standing backstage at a film shoot, 55-year-old Wu Shaohua smiled at the camera. She never thought she would realize her acting dream in her lifetime.

“我这个年纪还能当演员吗？”55岁的吴少华站在拍摄后台，对着镜头微笑。她从没想过，自己这辈子还能实现演员梦。

Wu's unexpected debut came through a short-drama experience program at Hengdian World Studios, one of China's largest film and TV production bases, in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. The program is open to ordinary visitors, not professional actors. Tourists can put on costumes, choose scripts, and perform in front of the cameras, leaving with a short professionally edited video as a souvenir.

吴少华的意外“出道”来自横店影视城的一档短剧体验项目。横店影视城位于浙江省金华市，是中国最大的影视拍摄基地之一。该项目面向普通游客开放，而非专业演员。游客可以穿上戏服、挑选剧本、在镜头前表演，最后带走一段由专业团队剪辑的短视频作为纪念。

For a few hundred yuan, participants go through the entire process — styling, filming, and editing — and walk away with a one- or two-minute video in which they are the heroes of their own stories.

只需几百元，参与者就能体验从造型、拍摄到剪辑的全过程，最后带着一段一两分钟的视频离开——在视频里，他们就是自己故事的主角。

The concept took off in 2022, when a homemade version of the hit dramaEmpresses in the Palace, performed by middle-aged and elderly women, drew more than 1 million views within 15 minutes of being posted online. Today, senior tourists are one of the program's main groups.

这一概念在2022年迅速走红。当时，一群中老年女性自制的热播剧《甄嬛传》翻拍短片，上传网络后仅15分钟就吸引了超过100万次观看。如今，老年游客已成为该项目的主要群体之一。

"This isn't something that happens at only one film base," said Zhang Yi, CEO of market research firm iiMedia. Film bases across China, he said, have shifted from "serving only professional crews" to "serving ordinary people," matching the growing demand among older consumers for enjoyment, self-expression, and social connection.

“这并不只是某一家影视基地才有的现象，”市场研究公司艾媒咨询（iiMedia）CEO张毅说。他表示，全国各地的影视基地已经从“只为专业剧组服务”转变为“为普通人服务”，正好契合了老年消费者对娱乐、自我表达和社交联系日益增长的需求。

From outsiders to insiders

从旁观者到戏中人

Zhang Jinquan, director of Hengdian's microfilm project, said his team received dozens of visitors a day this summer, sometimes more than 100 at peak times, with elderly visitors making up a large share. The team provides a full range of services, including costume design, script selection, and acting guidance.

横店微电影项目负责人张金泉说，今年夏天，他的团队平均每天接待几十位游客，高峰期有时超过100人，其中老年游客占很大比例。团队提供全方位服务，包括服装设计、剧本选择和表演指导。

For Wu's daughter, her mother's decision to "go shoot a movie" was surprising at first. "She had gradually lost touch with many of her old friends who used to sing and spend time with her," the daughter said. "When I came home from work, I could see she often felt lonely."

对吴少华的女儿来说，母亲决定“去拍电影”起初让她很惊讶。“妈妈以前有很多老朋友，她们常一起唱歌、一起作伴，后来渐渐都断了联系，”女儿说，“我每天下班回到家，能看出她常常很孤独。”

Wu is one of a growing number of older people entering studios and transitioning from audience members into performers. For many retirees, the experience is more than just making a video — it's a chance to rediscover confidence, creativity, and social life.

越来越多老年人走进摄影棚，从观众转变为表演者，吴少华就是其中之一。对许多退休人员来说，这段经历不仅仅是拍一段视频——更是重新发现自信、创造力和社交生活的机会。

Elderly participants often choose historical costume scripts, Zhang Jinquan said, and many reveal unexpected talent after a little coaching. "With the rise of micro dramas and AI-generated short dramas, filmmaking is no longer out of reach. Ordinary people can take part too."

张金泉说，年长的参与者通常选择古装历史剧本，许多人经过一点指导就能展现出意想不到的才华。“随着微短剧和AI生成短剧的兴起，拍电影不再是遥不可及的事。普通人也可以参与其中。”

Middle-aged and elderly tourists value cultural depth, a sense of ceremony, and nostalgia, another studio representative said. They are especially drawn to fulfilling long-held dreams, creating meaningful memories, and sharing them with others.

另一位影视基地代表说，中老年游客看重文化深度、仪式感和怀旧情绪，尤其被实现长久以来的梦想、创造有意义的回忆并与人分享这些事情所吸引。

The trend also reflects a broader shift in how older people spend. Senior consumption was once centered on tourism, health products, and daily necessities, Zhang Yi said. Now more elderly consumers are willing to pay for hobbies, emotional value, and meaningful experiences.

这一趋势也反映出老年人消费方式的更大转变。张毅说，过去老年人的消费集中在旅游、保健产品和日常必需品上。如今，越来越多的老年消费者愿意为兴趣爱好、情绪价值和有意义的体验花钱。

New stage

新舞台

Beyond acting, other experiences are gaining popularity among older generations, including traditional Chinese costume photography, study tours, and cultural workshops.

除了演戏，其他体验也在老年群体中越来越受欢迎，包括传统古装摄影、研学旅行和文化工作坊。

In June, 150 elderly participants traveled to the Ancient City of Ping Yao in Shanxi Province for a cultural study program. Instead of merely visiting historical sites, they recited poetry in ancient streets, studied local business culture in exhibition halls, and created their own works under the guidance of professional art instructors.

今年6月，150名老年参与者来到山西平遥古城参加文化研学项目。他们不只是游览历史遗迹，还在古街上朗诵诗歌、在展厅里学习当地商业文化，并在专业艺术教师的指导下创作自己的作品。

Senior tourism, Zhang Yi said, is evolving from simple sightseeing into a blend of learning, participation, and personal expression. For businesses, the next challenge is to better understand the emotional and social needs of older consumers.

张毅表示，老年旅游正从简单的观光演变为学习、参与和个人表达的融合。对企业来说，下一个挑战是更深入地理解老年消费者的情感和社交需求。

The future of the silver economy, he added, lies not only in providing care but also in creating products and experiences that allow seniors to pursue their interests, express themselves, and build connections.

他还补充说，银发经济的未来不仅在于提供照料，还在于创造能让老年人追求自己的兴趣、表达自我、建立联系的产品与体验。