2009-06-12
Possible in the Future: Broadcasting while Shooting
Film & Drama, SMG has always been committed to the creation, editing, broadcasting and marketing of TV series, films and animations. The China-US TV & Film Creativity Forum this year was as good as that of last year. The journal had an exclusive interview with Yang Wenhong, director of Film & Drama, SMG, who enjoys a high recognition in the circle, about the present condition and future development of the Chinese film & drama.
Daily News: How did you, Film & Drama, SMG design this year\'s China-US TV & Film Creativity Forum attended by senior professionals from both sides?
Daily News: Is it possible for china to adopt the playwright-oriented system in the future?
Yang: My answer for this question would be yes, but at present, the playwrights are writing complete stories and the producers are making complete TV series. Things are not that simple, for we have our censorship in China. However, I believe it is possible in the future, but not necessarily for all the films or dramas. For some small-scale films or TV series, the playwright-oriented system might be a good idea. Anyway, it still needs time.
Daily News: Nowadays new media is developing at a fast pace, and IPTV is now becoming popular in Shanghai. What impact does this kind of new media make on traditional media in playing TV series.
Yang: Certainly the traditional media will be affected by new media, as there are more platforms among which the audience can choose. So it is possible that the number of people who watch traditional media will be on the decrease. However, SMG film & drama centre has more than one platform. Besides, we, as content producer, are very glad to see various platforms being explored.
Daily News: AS a big content producer, the Film & Drama, SMG has made tremendous films and TV series, would you please say something about it?
Yang: SMG is the biggest producer of films and TV series in this field. This year we have plans for about 13 films and TV series, among which there is Shanghai Shanghai with about 40 million investment, the biggest investment SMG has ever made in TV series. At the fair, our booth attracted a lot of people, and experts and professionals within the circle took great interest in us.
Daily News: How did you, Film & Drama, SMG design this year\'s China-US TV & Film Creativity Forum attended by senior professionals from both sides?
Yang: This forum offered an opportunity for industry leaders from both sides to have direct communication about the latest development of film and drama creation. This forum is for top talk, so we invited guests that are influential and authoritative enough in the circle. Among the American guests we invited, there were producing elites of Kung Fu Panda, House and Desperate Housewife which are popular with Chinese audience.
Daily News: The American team at the forum are all experts in this area, so what did we expect from them?
Yang: We talked about the characteristics of Chinese and American film & drama producing modes and mechanism, and we learned from each other in many aspects. For example, one topic was about the difference between playwright-oriented system and producer-oriented system which have their respective merits and demerits. As one of our guests pointed out, Chinese TV series are producer-oriented at present, and this system well suits Chinese condition. However, playwright-oriented system is more suitable for America. They broadcast the TV series while making it. In this way they can change anything they want to in the process if the TV rating does not meet their expectation.
Daily News: The American team at the forum are all experts in this area, so what did we expect from them?
Yang: We talked about the characteristics of Chinese and American film & drama producing modes and mechanism, and we learned from each other in many aspects. For example, one topic was about the difference between playwright-oriented system and producer-oriented system which have their respective merits and demerits. As one of our guests pointed out, Chinese TV series are producer-oriented at present, and this system well suits Chinese condition. However, playwright-oriented system is more suitable for America. They broadcast the TV series while making it. In this way they can change anything they want to in the process if the TV rating does not meet their expectation.
Daily News: Is it possible for china to adopt the playwright-oriented system in the future?
Yang: My answer for this question would be yes, but at present, the playwrights are writing complete stories and the producers are making complete TV series. Things are not that simple, for we have our censorship in China. However, I believe it is possible in the future, but not necessarily for all the films or dramas. For some small-scale films or TV series, the playwright-oriented system might be a good idea. Anyway, it still needs time.
Daily News: Nowadays new media is developing at a fast pace, and IPTV is now becoming popular in Shanghai. What impact does this kind of new media make on traditional media in playing TV series.
Yang: Certainly the traditional media will be affected by new media, as there are more platforms among which the audience can choose. So it is possible that the number of people who watch traditional media will be on the decrease. However, SMG film & drama centre has more than one platform. Besides, we, as content producer, are very glad to see various platforms being explored.
Daily News: AS a big content producer, the Film & Drama, SMG has made tremendous films and TV series, would you please say something about it?
Yang: SMG is the biggest producer of films and TV series in this field. This year we have plans for about 13 films and TV series, among which there is Shanghai Shanghai with about 40 million investment, the biggest investment SMG has ever made in TV series. At the fair, our booth attracted a lot of people, and experts and professionals within the circle took great interest in us.
State Administration of Radio and Television
