Breakout Uyghur actress Dilireba (迪丽热巴) shot to fame following her popular performance in the 2017 drama Eternal Love <三生三世十里桃花>. With a fast-growing fanbase, the 25-year-old is on track for big success ahead. But unlike many successful artistes of her generation, Dilireba is tied to a 15-year contract with her agency Jaywalk Studio. A fan of Dilireba posted a thousand-word essay on social media to point out the contract’s unfair terms, and urged the company to give its artists more freedom. After working and filming nonstop for five years, Dilireba finally achieved popularity and rising status after starring in Eternal Love last year. Though Dilireba is being offered lead roles, she does not have freedom over her work. She has to share many resources with her colleagues at Jaywalk Studio, including the same PR managers, hair dressers, and stylists. She cannot hire her own team. The fan also criticized Jaywalk Studio’s tendency to hire and cast its own artists for in-house productions, disregarding diversity. Dilireba and fellow Jaywalk Studio artiste Vengo Gao (高伟光) have already collaborated in six dramas, not including the upcoming Eternal Love sequel The Pillow Book <三生三世枕上书>. The fan added that there is often a gray area about copyright and licensure when it comes book-to-TV adaptations, and when certain things go wrong, the artistes take the brunt of the criticism. Finally, the fan finished the essay with a plea to the company. Since Dilireba is already dedicating 15 years of her youth to the company, her employers should consider her rights as an artiste and allow her more freedom and room for development. Creds: Hk01
