Since its release on Aug 8, No More Bets, an anti-fraud film, has made countless fans across China, performed well at the box office and led to heated discussions on social media platforms.

Zhang Tongyu, who works at the Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court, was one of those who watched the film, attracted not only by its cast of stars, but also because the topic is closely related to her work — assisting judges in handling criminal cases, including online fraud and the illegal collection of public funds.

With a deep understanding of the plot, she wrote an article concerning the legal issues in the film and published it, along with an introduction to the relevant laws, on the court's social media platforms.

Zhang said that movies and television dramas have large audiences and a few of the biggest hits can trigger millions of discussions. "They not only help introduce knowledge of the law and make it easier to understand, but also make people more interested in reading about the law," she said.

"In short, introducing the law and analyzing legal problems through films and TV series is an innovation by judicial departments."

Take No More Bets as an example. Based on real fraud cases and starring a number of celebrities, including Zhang Yixing and Jin Chen, the film tells the story of a programmer and a model who, enticed by the promise of high-paying jobs, find themselves trapped abroad as prisoners of a ruthless gang, and forced into online gambling fraud.

According to data platform Beacon, the film's box-office receipts were 3.8 billion yuan ($520 million) as of Sept 19. Meanwhile, more than 1,800 topics related to the movie can be found on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, many of which have sparked heated discussions.

Among them, a thread with the hashtag "Film No More Bets" has received 2.8 billion views and had been discussed 6.34 million times by Sept 13. Another thread tagged "No More Bets shows fraud through money laundering" gained 7.46 million views.

"This shows that many people like the film and are thinking about the legal issues it raises, such as whether certain actions in the plot violate the law, and how to avoid becoming a victim," Zhang Tongyu said.

"By answering their questions and explaining the associated laws to them, it is easier to stimulate their interest, making my article more popular.

"The plotlines that caught the audience's attention were situations people encounter in daily life, so my introduction to the law in the article has greater relevance and will be more useful in solving problems in life and work."

Close to the audience

As a judicial assistant at the Chaoyang court, Zhang Qian helps deal with civil disputes, including those related to divorce, inheritance and contracts.

She also wrote an article responding to trending legal issues and introducing associated laws in August, while watching the TV series, Imperfect Victim.

The 29-episode drama starring Zhou Xun, Liu Yijun and Lin Yun tells the stories of several women, showing how they brave issues including cyberbullying, sexual harassment and domestic violence.

As of Sept 13, a thread with the hashtag "Imperfect Victim" on Sina Weibo had received 1.5 billion views and had been discussed almost 1.1 million times.

"What the main characters suffer from in the drama are problems that urgently need to be solved in our country and are also public concerns, especially among women," Zhang Qian said.

"Therefore, using the drama to analyze legal problems and respond to concerns brings the article closer to people, and introducing the law in this way might also be more easily accepted. Reading my article after watching the TV series will, I believe, deepen the audience's understanding of legal provisions and help them learn how to protect their rights through the rule of law."

Qin Pengbo, who works at the Beijing Haidian District People's Court, is an avid viewer of films and TV series. He believes that when hit TV dramas or movies are released, especially those concerning crime, it is an opportunity for courts to explain the law.

"Legal knowledge explained through films and dramas not only helps viewers understand the plot, but can also help them learn about judicial work," the judicial assistant said. "In other words, what I do is get closer to people and learn their legal needs."

He said that because many films and TV dramas are popular, the number of views of articles about them is much higher than those that explain the law directly.

He said that, in general, articles about actual and influential cases receive 4,000 to 5,000 views on the court's WeChat account, but the figure can exceed 30,000 if they involve popular films or dramas.

"Many netizens interact with us after reading film-related articles, leaving text messages to show their satisfaction with the content and also to express their gratitude for the further explanation of the law," he added.

Accuracy first

Zhang Tongyu said that writing articles about films and dramas requires a comprehensive understanding of the plot, much like reviews of case handling.

"Only by paying close attention to the plot, details and backgrounds are we able to identify whether the characters' behaviors violate the law," she said. "Accuracy is of the utmost importance in explaining the law."

She emphasized that she researches the relevant laws and regulations when she decides to write an article explaining legal issues in movies or dramas.

She also looks up similar cases at work and asks experienced judges what measures should be taken to prevent such legal risks.

In addition, it's also necessary to read books and journals about legal issues, she added.

Zhang Qian agreed with Zhang Tongyu, saying that she took the time to thoroughly research related laws and regulations — including the Civil Code, the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights, the Personal Information Protection Law and the Anti-Domestic Violence Law — before writing about Imperfect Victim.

Qin was unable to hide his excitement as he recalled the TV drama, Nothing But Thirty, which was a hit two years ago, as it was the first TV series about which he wrote a legal article.

In the drama, the heroine's husband spends a lot of money and buys gifts for his mistress, including paying her rent and buying her airline tickets. The plot was similar to a divorce case Qin was handling at the time.

"So, based on the plot and the case, I explained some of the provisions in the Civil Code, telling readers that adulterers violate public morals, and that assets given by one member of a couple to a third party could be returned to the other member," he said.

Qin highlighted the significance of combining the provisions with real cases and plots, noting that it is a better way of giving readers easier and more accurate ways to understand legal terms. He added that the process of writing the articles has helped deepen his own understanding of the law and legal issues, which has contributed greatly to his abilities at work.

"Writing articles to help readers solve disputes and answer their legal problems as they watch the shows is like killing two birds with one stone," he said.

Zhang Tongyu said that she has also learned a lot from watching films and TV series. "New problems reflected in the shows have prompted me to further study the law and find new legal solutions. That's meaningful and crucial in improving the quality of case handling and enhancing public awareness of risks," she added.

Zhang Qian said, "Films and TV dramas have helped me understand more about litigants' needs, prompting me to provide them with better legal services and put myself in their shoes."

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