Editor's Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on almost every industry, but last year cinemas were hit especially hard in China. In the first episode of "Artistic Scar," CGTN's Wang Mengjie finds out how the virus has affected people working in the film industry.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us into scenes that are only seen in horror movies. Some of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are more immediate and obvious, like the economic recession and education disruption, but in the long run, the negative influence on mental health has also become evident.

"They slashed their wrists and even wanted to kill themselves," said film producer Ye Xin when talking about depression spreading among people working in the film industry. She herself included. In one of her darkest moments, she would cry through the night.

When it comes to actors, two-thirds of their usual workload has been canceled. Actor Yang Yucheng told CGTN that he took a break for several months a year before COVID-19, but in 2020 he rested for almost the whole year.

"I only got work at the end of the year," Yang said. The actor said some of his colleagues have been forced to find new jobs and creative outlets.

"It's not easy for my colleagues who've moved to live streaming on social media because there are already other influencers with many followers. It's totally new, and I don't think it's good enough."

The film industry may have taken a hit, but some argue that there are some good outcomes.

"The pandemic has helped kill flippancy in this industry," film director Guo Xiang told CGTN.

"We have more time to create work that maintains a common touch with the people and the nation," Guo said, adding that movie and TV series productions used to be like fast-food, as everybody was rushing them.

"But amid the pandemic, we've had more time to create and calm down," the director reaffirmed.