In the conference room of the Chinese Writers Association, screenwriter Wang Hailing talked about the adaptation process of “The World” in detail. Just after finishing speaking, Liang Xiaosheng, the original author of the novel, stood up abruptly and held Wang Hailing’s hand tightly…
The venue immediately burst into warm applause.
This is a sincere handshake between writers and screenwriters, and a perfect marriage of literature and film and television.
From the mid-winter to early spring of the Chinese New Year, many Chinese families spend their time watching the TV series “The World“. People sit in front of the TV and experience the ordinary and simple life with the “three generations of the Zhou family”, which is full of human fireworks and joys and sorrows.
The hit TV series, adapted from the novel of the same name, once again strongly proved the close relationship between literature and film and television – they go hand in hand and coexist together.
How to better play the role of the “mother” of literature? On February 28, the Chinese Writers Association held the “From Literature to Film and Television – “The World” Symposium, starting from the popular TV drama “The World“, to exchange the interconnection and interaction between literature and film and television, and to explore the development of literature in the new era. of vitality and variety of possibilities.
From literature to film and television, it marks a vast space for vigorous creation and reception
From the movies “Linjiapuzi” and “Sad Death” adapted from Mao Dun and Lu Xun’s novels, to the TV series “Ordinary World” adapted from Lu Yao’s novels, from the TV series “Set Up a Stage” adapted from Chen Yan’s novels to movies adapted from Zhou Daxin’s novels “Requiem”, in the history of Chinese literature and film and television development, in the two-way empowerment and two-way drive, literature and film and television profoundly reflect the changes of the times and real life, and build the splendid prosperity of Chinese literature and art.
According to preliminary statistics, since the new era, the film and television works adapted from national award-winning works such as the Mao Dun Literature Award have become very popular. Since 1982, the Mao Dun Literature Award has been evaluated for ten times, and 31 of the 48 award-winning novels have been adapted as Movies, TV series, Peking Opera, drama, etc.
For a long time, why has literature been the “darling” of film and television adaptation?
Tie Ning, chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and chairman of the Chinese Writers Association, believes that language is the most profound and basic way of existence for human beings, and literature, as the art of language, has the longest and most profound tradition; film and television art and other art categories are developing their own artistic world. In the process, not only distinguishes itself from literature and publicizes its own characteristics, but also obtains abundant resources and strong support from literature. Literature and film and television are a relationship that distinguishes, inspires, inspires, complements each other, and ultimately strengthens and magnifies each other.
Look forward to the power of film and television in the power of literature, and understand the power of literature in the power of film and television. “From literature to film and television, this is not only a description of a process, but also a sign of a vibrant broad space for creation and acceptance.” Tie Ning said, let the power of writers and artists merge together, let literature and film and television enter together In the hearts of the wider people, this is the direction of our common efforts.
Zhang Hongsen, Secretary of the Party Group of the Chinese Writers Association, said that the novel “The World” was successfully adapted into the TV series “The World” and became a “hot” and “popular”. This is an inspiring and inspiring thing. It fully proves that in today’s, in the new era of cultural life and the modern communication pattern, literature should and can better play its “mother” role in various art categories, and it should and can be more A three-dimensional way to enhance its own value.
Yan Jingming, vice chairman of the Chinese Writers Association, pointed out that many classic and modern novels themselves have multiple levels of value. Dynamic stories, twists and turns of plots, profound thoughts and precise language can all be integrated and coexist in the same work. . The art of film and television can be properly selected according to its own needs, so as to complete a superior work.
It is not only a source of living water, but also a nutrient fertilizer. Literature nourishes the trees of film and television with lush greenery and pavilions.
Lu Yao’s “Ordinary World“, Chen Zhongshi’s “White Deer Plain”, Zhang Ping’s “Choice”, Alai’s “The Dust Settles”, Wang Anyi’s “Song of Everlasting Regret”, Xu Guixiang’s “History of the Sky”, Mai Jia’s “Song of Eternal Regret” His adaptations, such as The Conspiracy, Bi Feiyu’s Massage, Jin Yucheng’s Blossoms, and other adaptations have won the Golden Rooster Award for Chinese Films, the Hundred Flowers Award for Popular Films, the “Five-One Project” Award of the Central Propaganda Department, the China TV Golden Eagle Award, and the Chinese TV Drama Feitian. Award, Magnolia Award at Shanghai TV Festival, Silver Bear Award at Berlin International Film Festival, etc.
Liang Xiaosheng has a deep understanding: “Whether it is the title or the theme song, the TV series “The World” accurately shows the temperament of the original work, and it is condensed with deep affection. Many characters are more plump and vivid in the second creation of the TV series. Most of the TV drama actors are from the Northeast, and their dialogues with a Northeast flavor are difficult to present in novels. This is the interaction between literary works and film and television dramas to complement their shortcomings and take advantage of their strengths, which is a two-way promote.”
Wang Yichuan, a professor at Beijing Normal University and vice-chairman of the Chinese Literature and Art Critics Association, commented from an aesthetic perspective: “The Human World allows Chinese-style wisdom of mind to lead the spiritual principles of realism, and has embarked on a Chinese-style realist artistic path, which can give contemporary similar Thematic TV series and other genres of artistic creation are inspired by useful aesthetic paradigms.”
Dai Qing, a professor at the School of Drama, Film and Television, Faculty of Arts, Communication University of China, suggested that film and television creators should absorb fresh nutrition and spiritual calcium from serious literature, especially realistic themes, improve the spiritual connotation of film and television dramas, and strengthen their understanding of excellent realistic themes. Literary creation mother book adaptation weight.
Literary and artistic creation should follow the pulse of the times and history, and the heartbeat of the people.
Watching the TV series “The World” every night has become a daily warm moment for many families in recent times. Many viewers sighed, “I fell asleep crying yesterday, and woke up crying today.”
On the evening of March 1, “The World” officially ended. After the show was broadcast, the average viewership rate of CSM’s national network and the highest viewership share of a single episode hit a new high in the past three years for a set of CCTV TV series. Some netizens left a message full of reluctance, “The TV series tells us that there are always warm days and people, telling the world is worth it”.
Why does “The World” arouse so many people’s empathy? What implications does this have for the hand-in-hand marriage of literature and film and television dramas?
Zhang Hongsen said that the success of “The World” once again proved the great vitality of epic pursuit and people’s aesthetics. He was impressed by the recommendation “Fifty Years of Chinese People’s Life History” printed on the cover of the novel. He said that it is precisely because it follows the pulse of the times and history and the heartbeat of the people that “The World” can arouse such a broad and strong resonance among the broad audience of different identities and age groups. It shows once again that good creators must sink their eyes and emotions into their lives and people.
Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Society, said that writing epics of the common people is the most popular subject for audiences. The so-called epic is not only an objective presentation of social history, but also a subjective construction of people’s hearts and values by writers and artists, the most important of which is to stick to the people’s stand. Through epic works, the correct social values and ideas are conveyed to the audience.
“Having an epic character, it also needs to be expressed with warm realism, giving people hope. But this does not mean dedicating fantasy-style ‘chicken soup for the soul’ to the audience, but the daily truth of ‘unhappy things often happen’ Make visual annotations. The various forms of life that are separated from the romantic packaging are the true portrayal of the life conditions of the general public.” He said.
Cheng Wu, the producer of the TV series “The World” and vice president of Tencent Group, said: “Writers and artists should write colorful and colorful stories of the times for the audience, so that the audience can understand the human affairs of ordinary Chinese people through their works, and see the common people in the broad world. On the warm and gracious land of China, love and struggle like fire, a strong appearance that grows with all things.”
A good work should resonate with the audience’s aesthetic needs.
How to resonate? Zhang Dexiang, vice chairman of the China Literature and Art Critics Association, pointed out that it is the life situation displayed by the works that echoes the actual life experienced by the audience, and reflects the real life like a shadow. The characters in the works are like the people around you. See, once you are born, you are cooked twice, and you have to follow the characters three times.
“Works with a sense of life have this kind of artistic charm.” He said, “The so-called quality of life is authenticity, vividness, and freshness, and it is the temperature, breath and human feelings of life that the audience can empathize with. In the final analysis, it is a kind, simple, and living firework smell. Don’t eat the fireworks of the human world, and take pity on oneself.
In the hand-in-hand marriage with various art categories, the spread of literature “breaks the circle”
The new era literature of Hao Hao Tang Tang has a broad space for creation and acceptance. How do literature and various art categories “cross-border” and how to “break the circle”?
Wang Hailing said that serious literature is a writer’s personal reflection on life experiences and the expression of his personal emotions, while TV dramas are popular art. The more you lean towards serious literature, the more personal the traces will be, and the more difficult it will be to adapt.
For her, adapting “The World” was a big challenge. The script had been written for two or three years, and after several revisions, I couldn’t remember exactly. The script was still being revised during the filming period. “I thought that with such a solid literary foundation and a satisfactory drama structure, the problem should not be big, but I didn’t expect this process to be much more difficult than I imagined. In the past, there were more than ten characters with names and surnames in my scripts. This time, a few Ten. During that time, I was highly stressed and read novels over and over again.”
Wang Hailing suggested that at present, the atmosphere of film and television has gradually moved towards art itself. Only by insisting on writing what they think, think and feel can writers be able to impress others. If there is a motive for quick success, it is difficult to write a novel well. Screenwriters should also calm down, gain enough life experience, and “dig deep into the characters so that everyone can read themselves.”
Whether it is necessary to “respect the original work” when adapting novels to film and television is a common topic, and it is also an unavoidable question for film and television adaptation.
Meng Fanhua, a distinguished professor at Shenyang Normal University, pointed out that literature and film and television each have their own laws. Complete fidelity to the original is impossible. The conversion of one art form to another determines the existence of two different differences. “However, this does not mean that the original work can be arbitrarily adapted. What I agree with is that the creativity of the adaptation should enhance the original work, and the original work should not be damaged due to some market demands.” Meng Fanhua said.
In order to give full play to the “mother” role of literature in various art categories, the Chinese Writers Association and Mango TV signed a strategic cooperation agreement on the sharing of literature resources to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results in cross-border integration; signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Xinhua News Agency to create literature A new media convergence platform in the 5G era in the field. The “New Era Mountain and Township Creation Plan” and “New Era Literature Climbing Plan” to be launched this year will also strengthen communication and interaction with various art categories.
“Writers and artists are faithful recorders of social culture and spiritual life. The profound cultural heritage of literature and the new expression methods of film and television are perfectly matched and complement each other. The purpose is to meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of the people. The new era Literature and new artistic styles should learn from each other, break down barriers, and jointly promote the development and prosperity of socialist cultural undertakings,” said He Xiangyang, head of the Creation and Research Department of the Chinese Writers Association.
(Reporter Liu Jiangwei)
Original title: The widely acclaimed TV series “The World” fully proves the great value of literature
[Editor in charge: Xu Ziming]