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| Li Xian Urges Public to Reject “Dai Pai” Photographers, Protect Film Crews’ Rights (Weibo) |
Renowned Chinese actor Li Xian took to social media to call for an end to the practice of “Dai Pai” – hiring photographers to secretly capture and leak photos or videos from film sets. His message comes as he works on his latest drama, Chang Feng Qi (also known as A Prophet), which is currently in production.
In a message to his fans on May 10, Li Xian emphasized that a successful production is the result of a collective effort by all the members of the crew, and such practices undermine this.
“Hello everyone, I’m Li Xian. Right now, I am filming Chang Feng Qi,” he began.
“As an actor, I believe that every project is a collaborative effort from the entire production team. I would like to ask everyone not to purchase or spread unauthorized content from the set. Let’s respect the hard work of the crew and protect their rights.”
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| Li Xian Pleads for Photographers to Stop Spying on Set, |
Li Xian’s statement comes amid increasing concern in the Chinese entertainment industry over the rise of “Dai Pai” photographers, who surreptitiously take photos or videos on set and sell them to the public.
This practice not only disrupts the shooting process but also risks spoiling the plot before the official release.
In his message, Li Xian stressed the importance of respecting the creative process. “Let’s cherish the efforts of the crew and ensure their rights are protected,” he said.
The actor also added a hopeful note, stating, “I look forward to meeting you all when the project is officially aired!”
Li Xian's call was met with widespread support from fans and industry professionals, many of whom praised his stance as a safeguard for creativity.
His message also aligns with a broader movement within the industry to curb the rise of unauthorized “Dai Pai” practices, which have disrupted several productions in recent years.
In a wider context, the “Dai Pai” phenomenon has become a growing concern in China’s entertainment sector, with multiple celebrities in the past, including Wu Jing and Hu Ge, publicly criticizing the practice.
Back in 2019, Wu Jing was swarmed by "dai pai" at the airport — a whole crowd of them packed into the terminal, shoving their phones right up in his face. They even nearly knocked over a passing child. Wu Jing snapped and shouted, “What if you knock the kid over?!”
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Last year, Wang Junkai snapped at "dai pai" photographers at the airport, saying, "Do you lot have any decency at all?"
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Unauthorized photos from filming have caused significant disruptions, such as delaying flights due to photographers crowding airports, leaking behind-the-scenes images before a show’s official release, and even climbing mountains to capture private footage of sets.
Li Xian's statement is one in a series of recent efforts by various productions to tackle the problem.
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In April, director Zhang Yimou’s team issued a public appeal, asking fans to respect filming locations and avoid gathering outside sets, following a rise in “Dai Pai” incidents.
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On April 22, famous producer Yu Zheng shared a third-person video taken by a dai pai (unauthorised set photographer). The sneaky lot had disguised themselves and were hiding behind a fake rock. Yu Zheng joked, “What are you, Peashooters from Plants vs. Zombies?” He also reminded everyone—yet again—to stay safe.
Similarly, popular stars such as Yi Yangqianxi, Zhu Yilong, and Yang Mi have backed the call to protect the filming environment and avoid leaks that can spoil the experience for audiences.
Li Xian’s actions are a reflection of a growing trend in the entertainment industry to put an end to the invasion of privacy and protect the creative and collaborative efforts that go into making quality productions.
Fans and industry experts alike continue to support this shift towards respecting the work of actors, directors, and crew members.