Popular Short-Form Series Actor Loses Job to AI, Turns to Chili Farming Instead
Chinese actor Zhang Xiaole, who appeared in over 200 short-form series before AI reduced demand for live actors, invested 400,000 yuan to start a chili farm in Qinghai Province in March after his acting work dried up.
According to Red Star News, Zhang Xiaole, 28, who has appeared in over 200 short-form series, began working at a farm in Qinghai Province in northwestern China starting in March to earn a living.
Zhang initially entered the entertainment industry through dance before being introduced by a friend to a short-form series production team in late 2023, quickly becoming a recognizable actor. Over 70% of his roles featured him playing "ba zong" (the domineering CEO)—a romantic novel character archetype with an overbearing personality who shows tenderness only to his love interest.
Zhang recalls the boom years of the short-form series industry, when work was so abundant he filmed continuously for three days without rest, and online audition chat groups constantly posted casting calls. However, since early this year, he has received only one acting offer, with his pay cut to half of the previous year's rate. This shift coincided with AI's emergence in creating virtual characters, significantly reducing demand for real actors.
In early March, Zhang invested 400,000 yuan (approximately 1.9 million baht) to establish a chili farm in Haidong, Qinghai Province, choosing chili farming because his family had long worked in agriculture and he had basic knowledge of it.
"Now my main work is growing and selling chili peppers in the market. If acting opportunities come, I'll take them, but if not, I'll continue being a farmer," he said. He reflected on social media: "In dramas, I hit other people, but in real life, reality has hit me in the face. In dramas I have vast wealth, but in real life, when a customer forgets to pay 10 yuan, I still feel the loss."
The short-form series industry is undergoing rapid transformation. According to Sina.com, AI has significantly reduced production costs. While live-action series previously cost at least 10,000 yuan per episode, AI has drastically lowered expenses. AI usage in production has surged from 7% last year to 38% this year. Zhang's life change has become widely discussed online.
