20 | Thursday, November 28, 2019 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY LIFE
Anniversary production
TV series on diplomatic relations is proving a hit in China, Ma Zhenhuan reports in Hangzhou.
48episode TV series on endeavors of the first generation of was surprised that a lot of men born China’s diplomatic rela state leaders, including Mao Zedong, in the 1990s and 2000s showed great tions with the outside Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and Deng Xiaop enthusiasm for the series. world from 1948 to 1976 ing in forging friendly relations with “People who were born in the hasA proved a hit with Chinese audi other countries and protecting Chi 1950s and 1960s, like my father, ences. na’s own interests in the world. might have some knowledge about Diplomatic Situation, which pre Since the founding of the PRC in diplomatic matters and could recall miered on Sept 19 ahead of National 1949, China has gone through a these events as they watch the epi Day (Oct 1), is popular for its content, series of diplomatic events, includ sodes, but I found young people also theme and vision, according to Niel ing the establishment of ChinaSovi expressed a love for it on social sen Ratings and Kuyun Big Data. et Union friendship and the first media,” she said at a workshop in People’s Daily, the flagship news AsianAfrican Conference. Hangzhou on Sept 29. paper of the Communist Party of Ma Jihong, scriptwriter of the “I myself also bingewatched the China, called it a “grand gift” for the series, says stories about diplomacy drama series,” she added. 70th anniversary of the founding of are “mysterious and attractive”. “Diplomatic Situation represents the People’s Republic of China this She says: “To make a TV series on an icebreaking journey through year, along with the military parade this theme was challenging and Chinese diplomacy and the high and the film My People, My Country. required courage.” TV series Diplomatic Situation presents how China’s first generation lights of Chinese diplomats’ careers,” The first epic production to tell the The production team built replica of state leaders forged friendly relations with other countries and says Ding Lili, a professor from Zhe country’s diplomatic stories, the interiors of the White House, the protected China’s own interests. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY jiang University of Media and Com series presents the thoughts and Kremlin, the UN Palais des Nations munications. and the planes and trains that were Founded in 2005, Zhejiang Huace in service at that time. “Tang showed a deep appreciation She says besides history and diplo Film and TV Co has been dedicated The cast and crew also traveled to of the script, which gave us a lot of macy, the drama is also a tribute to to the production of TV dramas, several cities including Beijing, Yan confidence,” says Gao Jun, the gener the country. films and TV shows over the past 14 tai in Shandong province and Dalian al producer. “We will continue to shoot more years with an annual output of about in Liaoning province, and to Russia, Zhao Yifang, president of the dra mainstream TV and film products,” 1,000 drama episodes, many films France, Switzerland and the United ma’s production company Zhejiang Zhao said at a forum in Hangzhou and over 10 TV shows. States for filming. Huace Film and TV Co, attributes on Nov 17. Last year, the company set up a “We had more than 50,000 actors, the success of Diplomatic Situation Huace has been exploring effec research center for TV series and including over 100 foreigners, to the dedication of the production tive ways to create productions that films that “will uphold peopleori 50,000 props and 1,000 sets,” says team. are enjoyed by the younger genera ented concepts and prioritize social Song Yeming, director of the drama. She says they set out with the aim tion, Zhao added. benefits instead of economic ones”, The cast was key to the drama, of building it into a successful work “We took young people’s tastes which will account for almost 30 Song adds. in spite of the difficulties and the and viewing appetite into considera percent of the company’s total future The production team decided to unknown consequences, and the tion and tried our best to make the output. strive for their first choices of actors team paid a lot of attention to and drama both attractive and historic.” and actresses from the very begin investment into the content and the Huace will explore more works Qin Jirong contributed to this story. ning, choosing Tang Guoqiang to production, in terms of sets, actors, like these to convey the spirit of the play Mao and Sun Weimin to play special effects and background era to its audiences, she said. Contact the writer at Zhou. music. Wu Mengjie, a young scriptwriter, [email protected]