Author: Mao Weining (director of the 2015 TV series “Ordinary World“)
As a “post-60s”, I have a special feeling for Lu Yao and “The Ordinary World“.
My first contact with “The Ordinary World” was in the late 1980s. At that time, I had just graduated from university and was assigned to the Sichuan TV Station as a director. Every day I would spend half an hour listening to the radio drama “Ordinary World” played by Li Yemo on the Central People’s Broadcasting Station. After listening to three of them. I was deeply moved and soon bought novels. In the book, Sun Shaoping’s determination to change destiny through hard work fits my life situation at that time. I read it day and night, just as Sun Shaoping read “How Steel Is Made”-excellent works can always bring people spiritual resonance and guidance. In the 1990s, I went to a remote county in Sichuan to take a temporary job. That was the second time I read “The Ordinary World“. Combining the actual situation in the county, I had more experience of the grassroots political reforms described in the work. After deciding to direct the TV series “The Ordinary World” in 2013, I read the original work again. This time, I focused on Sun Shaoan, because the peasant problem is at the core of the “three rural” problems that China needs to solve urgently. “The Ordinary World” has deeply influenced the values and life choices of our generation. Every time I read it, I always have new thinking and open new horizons.
It is the long-cherished wish of TV people to put this literary work that has influenced millions of Chinese young people on the screen. When I was reading this novel in my youth, I never imagined that many years later, I would have the opportunity to direct “The Ordinary World” and have some connection with the very respected Mr. Lu Yao. I joined relatively late. It is said that the preparation of the work lasted for eight or nine years, and the adaptation work lasted for more than five years. The breadth and depth of the subject matter of the TV series “The Ordinary World” surpassed my previous works. Therefore, while I feel honored, I am nervous in my heart. This is an unprecedented challenge. I spent a lot of time studying Lu Yao’s life and circumstances to understand why he wrote this way and what he wanted to express. I treat him as my first audience, and I talk to him again and again. For example, in this episode, in which way would he tend to express it? How should I shoot to give him a worthy answer? I hope to find the answer from Lu Yao.
The 2015 TV series “The Ordinary World” stills, Wang Lei (left) as Sun Shaoan, Tong Liya as Tian Runye.
Lu Yao once said: “I decided to use realism to structure this large-scale work. Of course, I will try to have modernity based on the great practice of the previous masters and the insignificant experience I have. The expression of meaning—realism still has broad prospects for innovation.” I think the realism approach should also be the foundation of this film and television work. Whether a work has value lies in the depth, breadth, and height it reaches when it explores human experience and expresses the soul. In this sense, realism is not only never out of date, but also has the best in the creation of Chinese film and television dramas today. Important location.
As Lu Yao said: “The writer must experience life, and this experience must cause the shock of his own heartstrings, instead of standing aside to observe, understand, interview, and memorize stories. The works written in this way are inevitably dry. The so-called writing The most familiar life, the most familiar character, that is, writing about the most familiar experience. “We spent several months experiencing life in northern Shaanxi. This is not only an experience of the external forms of life, but also an emotion. , Emotional experience. Stories can be made up, but the feelings and experiences of the creator must not be made up. To remake “Ordinary World” with a down-to-earth attitude is not only the inheritance of “Ordinary World” rooted in life and people’s creative methods, it is also a tribute and comfort to Mr. Lu Yao.
Back then, the novel “The Ordinary World” left a deep mark on the hearts of “post-60s” and “post-70s”. I hope it can influence today’s young people in the form of images. The starring role of this film is a group of “post-80s” who participated in this film because of their heartfelt love for “The Ordinary World“. Some actors even cancelled the shooting plans of other commercial films because of this. After receiving the filming assignment, Wang Lei took the initiative to learn Northern Shaanxi dialect in order to play Sun Shaoan well. He only eats Baogu noodles and pickles every day, so that the hot sun and strong wind on the high slopes of the loess will tan and wrinkle his face. An out-and-out young born in northern Shaanxi. He not only changed himself in appearance, but also really walked into the heart of the character. At the Magnolia Award presentation ceremony of the Shanghai TV Festival, his monologue was very touching, allowing people to see the spiritual growth and transformation brought to him by “Ordinary World“. I think this is the power of classic literary works.
As I wish, “The Ordinary World” has aroused a strong response among the “post-80s” and “post-90s” audiences. Someone commented: “This drama shows the struggle against the tired and pale life, and the call and response to the glory of human nature.” It is this respect for life, sincerity to life, and the passion and passion for struggle that have been melted through hardship. The lofty ideal deeply touched the softest part of the young audience’s heart. What makes me even more exciting is that the novel became popular again after the TV series was broadcast. Some viewers found the original work to revisit, and many young readers picked up this book for the first time. Some colleges and universities listed “The Ordinary World” as a university. The admission gifts of freshmen have been repeatedly printed by the publishing house, and many young students have sent letters to communicate with me. Let people, especially young people, read “The Ordinary World” after watching this TV series, and walk a short distance, which is exactly what I expected.
For this film, I never considered the issue of ratings. If only for ratings, I would not choose to shoot “Ordinary World“, which is one of the reasons why no investors are willing to shoot this masterpiece for more than two decades. I think that the high ratings of such a work is certainly the icing on the cake, even if it is not ideal, it will not affect its weight and quality. “The Ordinary World” should be remembered forever, not forgotten in a corner-this is the original intention of my adaptation of this novel. In the film and television circle eroded by the impetuous industry atmosphere, I hope that my team and I can stick to it, carefully and calmly take this work of Lu Yao’s hard work and handed down to make readers satisfied , Let the audience taste the classics. Facts have proved that our efforts have not been in vain. The ratings of the TV series “The Ordinary World” have been low and have been rising steadily, attracting many attentions. In the following years, they won the “Five One Project” award and the Feitian Award for spiritual civilization construction. , Golden Eagle Award, Magnolia Award, etc.
I remember that after this TV series was finished, we went to the Luyao Memorial Hall in Yulin. There is a wax statue of Luyao, lifelike, next to the desk and pen he used. Standing in front of the wax statue with Wang Lei, we held the tablet and played the video for him. For 4 minutes, Lu Yao seemed to be watching carefully all the time. Before leaving, we bowed deeply in front of the memorial hall three times. We dedicate this work to that land, that time, and all ordinary people with dreams, and also to the road far away in heaven. I firmly believe that the classics can withstand the washing and polishing of time, and I also firmly believe that no matter how the times develop, young people can get the power to move forward from Lu Yao and from “The Ordinary World“.
(Interviewed by Guangming Daily reporter Zhao Yu and Guangming Daily correspondent Li Buyan)
“Guangming Daily” (July 28, 2021 15 edition)
[
责编：田媛 ]
.