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BEIJING: Even as China tries to shed its image of being the land of fake or counterfeit products, the knock-off culture seems to be taking on a life of its own.
It is not everyday that you get to see impersonators of China's late former leaders on television.
The portrayal of Chinese politicians remains a fiercely-guarded affair in China, and definitely not something to be made light of in an entertainment show.
But Shi Mengqi has no qualms about breaking the mould. He produced his own version of the famed annual Spring Festival show with the motto "for the people, by the people".
He said: "I'm a beipiao - a migrant in Beijing trying to make a living. A lot of us are often unable to go home for the Spring Festival. I was organizing a wedding in November 2008 when it dawned on me that I could gather people for a Spring Festival celebration complete with song and dance, record it down on DVD and broadcast it 'live' through the Internet."
He called his production "Shanzhai Chunwan", a "knock-off" of China Central Television's flagship Lunar New Year programme.
The provocative title is a challenge to the status quo and caused a stir.
The term "shanzhai" has hit the mainstream in recent months after China's media shed light on the country's counterfeiting culture. It means "mountain fort", a reference to the often dubious origins of knock-off products.
But Shi Mengqi, better known as Lao Meng, has a different take on his shanzhai production.
He said: "CCTV's Spring Festival Show is a high quality show with a lot of glamour, but it cannot fulfill the needs of every one. Many of those in the grassroots are simple and low-brow. They may enjoy something different."
Song Shixin, skit performer, said: "This was a show produced by the ordinary folks that showcased grassroot talents. You will never see some of the items on CCTV."
However, the extravaganza did not quite reach his intended audience. Major portals like Baidu.com and QQ.com which had agreed to telecast his ambitious programme pulled out at the last minute.
Lao Meng added: "I could feel there was a force standing in the way, but I can't say for sure where it came from. I'm not afraid as I have nothing to lose; I only wanted to make it happen. Unlike me, big corporations have their future growth to worry about."
The show was telecast by a Macau TV station, which was inaccessible to most on the mainland.
The DVD recording is all he's got. Lao Meng said he did not make money out of the US$30,000 production, but he is already planning the next shanzhai Spring Festival.
Like many shanzhai product makers, he intends to go commercial, enlisting sponsors to finance his project and hopes that perhaps one day he can carve out his own legitimate identity. - CNA/vm
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