Changes in China in the past half century, a life history of the Chinese people, in the joys and sorrows of the three brothers and sisters of the Zhou family, the TV series “The World” ended on March 1.
Image source: CCTV screenshot
Since its broadcast on January 28, the popularity and reputation of the long-running drama “The World” from a civilian perspective has gradually fermented, and it has been reported by the news network many times. It has set a new high rating on CCTV in the past five years, with a Douban score of 8.1. It is the second episode of iQIYI’s history with over 10,000 hits on the site. Together with “Shan Hai Qing” and “The Age of Awakening”, which have frequently been out of the circle in recent years, “The World” has become a cultural phenomenon that has social effects caused by realistic film and television works.
Such a phenomenon is not only hotly debated by the Chinese film and television industry, but also excited by the Chinese Writers Association. On February 28, the Chinese Writers Association held the “From Literature to Film and Television – “The World” Symposium”, and “Daily Economic News Reporter” listened to the speeches of the guests at the symposium.
Image source: provided by the organizer
“The popularity of “The World” once again strongly proves the close relationship between literature and film and television.” Tie Ning, chairman of the Chinese Writers Association and chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said, “Integrate the power of literature and film and television, and enter into a new era together. In the minds of the broad masses of the people, this is the direction that generations of writers and film and television artists have worked together.”
Tie Ning, Chairman of the Chinese Writers Association and Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Image source: Provided by the organizer
Zhang Hongsen, Secretary of the Party Group, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Secretariat of the Chinese Writers Association, said that the TV series “The World” was adapted and transformed from the Mao Dun Literature Award-winning work, and became a “hot spot” and a “popular”. An inspiring thing. “Today, if literary creation is to be better integrated into the modern communication pattern, it must more fully and actively communicate, learn from and integrate with many art categories and cultural forms.” Zhang Hongsen said.
Literature takes the initiative to launch two plans for the Chinese Writers Association
This is one of the few symposiums held by the Chinese Writers Association in recent years with the theme of film and television adaptation.
“The TV series “The World” comes from our Mao Dun Literature Award and from our lineup of novels. The Chinese Writers Association is very proud and excited about this!” In Zhang Hongsen’s view, this seminar initiated by the Chinese Writers Association is not an easy one. When discussing film and television creation or novels, I hope to deeply explore how to effectively integrate and coexist between literature and film and television. “Seeing trends and trends from phenomena and cases, and constantly thinking about the vitality and diversity of literature in the new era.”
Zhang Hongsen, Secretary of the Party Group, Vice-Chairman and Secretariat of the Chinese Writers Association Photo source: provided by the organizer
The two-way empowerment of literature and film and television has already existed, and the list can be very long. “Camel Xiangzi” directed by Ling Zifeng was adapted from Lao She’s novel, and “Furong Town” directed by Xie Jin was adapted from Gu Hua’s novel… The fifth generation of directors after the reform and opening up has forged an indissoluble bond with literature. Zhang Yimou directed The movie “Red Sorghum” is adapted from Mo Yan’s novel and has become a landmark work in the history of Chinese cinema.
“Since 1982, the Mao Dun Literature Award has been evaluated for ten times. Among the 48 award-winning novels, 31 have been adapted into movies, TV dramas, dramas, etc.” He Xiangyang, director of the Creation Research Department of the Chinese Writers Association, said that at the end of 2019, China The Creation and Research Department of the Writers Association took the lead in establishing a film and television promotion mechanism. Since its launch in January 2020, the mechanism has recommended nearly 100 excellent literary works suitable for film and television adaptation to the State Film Administration. “Recently submitted works include Liang Xiaosheng’s “Me and My Life”, Alai’s “Story in the Clouds”, Chi Zijian’s “Fireworks”, Ye Zhou’s “The Chronicles of Dunhuang”, Hai Fei’s “Jiangnan Campaign”, Teng Xiaolan’s “Home in the Heart”, etc.”
Since 2021, the China Writers Association has taken the lead in carrying out different degrees of cooperation with different institutions-China Writers Publishing Group and Mango TV have signed a strategic cooperation agreement on the sharing of literary resources. ; China Writers Association and Xinhua News Agency will establish a new media convergence platform in the 5G era in the field of literature. China Central Radio and Television Station and Tencent Group also actively interacted with the China Writers Association.
“We have been discussing repeatedly recently that we must develop and extend the value of literature, and achieve breakthrough and cross-border communication.” Zhang Hongsen said, “Today, if literary creation is to be better integrated into the modern communication pattern, it must be more fully and proactively. It has exchanged, learned and integrated with many art categories and cultural forms. The breakthrough and cross-border success of “The World” is a good example. We would like to see more artistic and cultural fields, all kinds of new Active elements and forces can all pay attention to literature, hold hands with literature, and graft and coexist with literature.”
It is understood that the Chinese Writers Association will launch and implement the “New Era Mountain and Township Creation Plan” and “New Era Literary Climbing Plan” this year. It is a literary masterpiece that delivers more and better literary resources for film and television and other cultural fields.
“Does Bingyi have to die?” Liang Xiaosheng and Wang Hailing responded calmly with regret
When Chen Daoming’s familiar voice came from the narration, and when the green-skinned train passed through the white snow in the camera, the story of “The World” slowly unfolded. At the beginning of the birth of the original book “The World“, Liang Xiaosheng had no idea of filming.
Back at the end of 2017, the 1.15 million-word realistic novel “The World” came out. After the film and television industry experienced the situation of being dominated by fantasy IP in the past few years, the realistic themes have gradually returned. The founders of Beijing Yiwei Culture, Wu Fengwei and Wei Tong, who felt the change in the wind, knocked on Liang Xiaosheng’s door.
“They talked to me about the agency copyright issue of “The World” right away. I am familiar with both of them, and I have always supported young people’s careers, but I am extremely firm on this matter. I object, because I know that the adaptation of this book is quite difficult.” Liang Xiaosheng recalled, “At my house, Wu Fengwei and Wei Tong were splashed with cold water and wept several times. They came to my house to talk about it, It is estimated that there are no less than ten times. Young people have to do things, and they can’t stop them. Later, the dramas were also pushed up by them. Because of them, this book was placed in Tencent’s editorial department.”
Liang Xiaosheng, author of the original novel “The World” Image source: provided by the organizer
At the symposium of the Writers Association, Wang Hailing and Liang Xiaosheng, screenwriters of “The World“, crossed the crowd and shook hands excitedly. The transformation of long and serious literature into market-oriented series, adaptation is the primary difficulty in film and television creation. There are sparks in the script, and friction is inevitable. Liang Xiaosheng took the initiative to write a 5-page pencil authorization letter, saying that as long as the creative team follows the common guidelines of “professionalism and purity”, any changes will be fine.
“As a screenwriter, I have an experience that the more voices I hear, the easier it is to lose myself.” In order to protect his intuition and innocence from interference, Wang Hailing no longer communicates with Liang Xiaosheng. “I didn’t ask him, and I didn’t say a word until the episode aired. I think he must have a lot of regrets in his heart, but Xiaosheng fully showed his wisdom, tolerance and kindness.” Wang Hailing said.
“The World” screenwriter Wang Hailing Image source: provided by the organizer
“Chairman Tie Ning said that I was affected just now. In fact, I was not affected during this process. I wisely stood by to see how they were affected.” Liang Xiaosheng responded humorously. In his opinion, “The World” has many advantages over the original work. “For example, the image of Zhou’s mother is higher than the original; Song Chunli’s role as Mrs. Jin, the adaptation is also very good… I deeply feel that if my novel can be rewritten, the wisdom points just now will be my favorite. It will all melt in.”
“In the end, the details of Bingkun leading everyone to start a business are well presented in the TV series. The death of Bingyi is written in the original book. To be honest, I have been thinking about this question since the filming started. Does Bingyi have to die? If possible When I re-write this work, I may really consider this issue seriously. Then a good comrade, why should I deal with it like that?” Liang Xiaosheng said, “Actually, he was such a good person at the time, and there are no more people in his inner loneliness. To understand, he almost understands, I have done what I want to do most and do for everyone, so I should be like Prometheus, and I should retire completely and die. This is one of my feelings about loneliness at that time. The way of writing. Looking at it now, this is too writer-like. If I rewrite it, I will really consider your revisions seriously, so I am very grateful to the director and the screenwriter. Everyone has a lot of regrets about the drama, and I really feel that I am in the creation. It is a pity that we cannot reach a higher level.”
Image source: Video screenshot
The record of national IP: “Fake” is hard to pass
After reading the masterpiece “The World” for the first time, Cheng Wu, vice president of Tencent Group and CEO of China Literature Group, was deeply moved, and also very much supported the team’s idea of obtaining authorization and adaptation. “We quickly reached a cooperation with Director Li Lu, and it took nearly four years before and after, and finally created this masterpiece.”
Cheng Wu, the producer of “The World”, Vice President of Tencent Group and CEO of China Reading Group Image source: provided by the organizer
The writer Chernyshevsky once said, “Anything is beautiful if what we see in it is the life we understand it should be like.” This sentence is engraved on Cheng Wu, the producer of “The World” In his mind, this sentence also confirms why “The World” can become a “national drama”. Because in the span of half a century and hundreds of people, the audience saw the spatial dimension of the entire China reflected by the Zhou family, and saw everyone in the big era.
Everyone likes Zhou Bingkun very much, and so does Cheng Wu. This ordinary person who runs the entire Zhou family knows that he is not as good as his elder brothers and sisters in his studies. When his father asked him if this was the truth, he finally broke out the powerful sentence “Should the facts be told?” Details, deja vu memories, bring tears to the eyes.
After watching the episode on February 12, Wang Hailing sent Li Lu more than a dozen voice messages, “I said how good the filming is, how good Bingkun’s colorful wool pants are, we were like that when we were young! Eat there, the real food is really delicious, Poke the salted duck eggs with the tip of the chopsticks, and the barrage is praising, ‘This can extend a “The World” on the tip of the tongue’. Music, clothing, makeup, props, photography… are all top-notch, not to mention the actors How neatly and appropriately sized.”
A person, scene after scene, director and chief producer Li Lu “brick by brick” builds a “building” of light and shadow. The crew of “The World” had a maximum of 1,000 people, and Li Lu had to take care of everything. “TV dramas are systematic projects. If you don’t do well in one part, you will lose everything. I’m not afraid to work hard. I have to manage even the empty scenes.” Li Lu said with a smile, “So it’s quite annoying.”
“‘Fake’ is a problem for me. If the audience sees it as ‘fake’ and ‘suspended’, then I will not accept it.” Li Lu told the “Daily Economic News” reporter, “In order to make this This drama, which spans fifty or sixty years and records contemporary Chinese history from the perspective of ordinary people, is “true”. There must be various disagreements. I keep saying NO, offending people, persuading people, and hurting my brain Sad. But the end result was good.”
Li Lu, director and chief producer of “The World” Image source: Provided by the organizer
“Fake” is also the antithesis of serious literature. Seeing that the trend of realistic themes is about to become the focus of the film and television industry, Wang Hailing suggested that the success of “The World” should be used to strengthen the emphasis on serious literary attributes. “The most basic feature of serious literature is the truth of human nature. The more truthful, the more credible it is. Film and television is a good way out, but if you are eager for quick success, it is difficult to write a novel well. Today’s film and television companies are very different from before, such as Li Lu’s The team has a high literary quality, which makes me deeply feel that the atmosphere of film and television has gradually moved towards the track of art itself. Therefore, writers can only move people if they insist on what they think, think and feel.”
Image source: Video screenshot
“The World” and “1921”, a “key film celebrating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party” released on July 1 last year, and the upcoming TV series “Home of the Heart”, adapted from the novel of the same name by Teng Xiaolan, winner of the Lu Xun Literature Prize, will work together. It constitutes the “Time Melody Trilogy” of Tencent Pictures and China Reading Group. For Tencent Pictures and China Literature, “focusing on the stories that are happening in this era” is the most important content direction.
