Dalian Works

Serial novel · production diary · 第一大道

First Avenue

Original title: 第一大道 · 14 essays in the archive · Chinese originals at hellowocao.com

First Avenue is a serial novel paired with a production diary, documenting the intense eleven-day process of making a 150-minute AI film of the same name. The diary entries focus on the physical and emotional toll of solo filmmaking: sleepless nights, overheating rooms with three computers running simultaneously, a power outage that interrupted a key monologue, and the moment the hard drive filled up and forced difficult deletions. It answers what it feels like to nearly quit, how heat and noise shape the workspace, and what gets sacrificed when storage runs out.

In this series

Questions people ask

What is First Avenue?

First Avenue is a serial novel accompanied by a production diary about making a 150-minute AI film in eleven days. The diary entries chronicle the filmmaker's nightly struggles, hardware limits, and the emotional low points during the shoot.

How does the diary describe dealing with three computers running at once?

The diary describes the room becoming extremely hot with three computers working simultaneously. It asks how hot the room actually got and treats the heat as a constant physical presence, alongside other production pressures like hard drive space and power outages.

Where are the original Chinese versions published?

The original Chinese versions are published at hellowocao.com, and the English archive is available at dalian-works.pages.dev. Both host the same series under the fixed English title First Avenue.

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