Streaming videos...draw top talents

Streaming websites are using short online videos as testing grounds to understand young audiences. Han Bingbin reports.

The idea of inviting veteran filmmakers to tailor-make short films for the Internet demonstrates the industry's desire for deeper insights into young audiences' preferences and the Web's power to discover new film talent.

Over the past four years, Chinese online streaming-website giant Youku's Master's Micro Film project has lured the industry's most respected film directors, including Ann Hui and Gu Changwei.