When it comes to the most popular drama at the beginning of 2024, it must be "Flowers". Undoubtedly, this high-quality drama cannot be separated from director Wong Kar-wai's "ten years of sharpening a sword" style of meticulous craftsmanship. It is difficult to mass-produce due to its exquisite workmanship, but one thing that is undeniable is: from all aspects of the drama , "Flowers" was born in Shanghai, and can only be born in Shanghai. At the same time, we can also get a glimpse of the development advantages of "Shanghai-produced" TV series from the development of "Flowers".
The score of "Flowers" on Douban increased from 8.1 on January 4 to 8.3 on January 10.
First of all, when talking about "Flowers", Jin Yucheng's original work cannot be avoided. This novel, published in 2012, was rated No. 1 among Chinese novels in 2012 by the Chinese Novel Society, No. 1 among Chinese Good Books in 2013 by the Chinese Book Critics Society, and won the 11th Chinese The novelist of the year award at the Literary Media Awards, the annual novel award at the first Lu Xun Culture Award, the ninth Mao Dun Literary Award, and was selected as the most influential novel in the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up.
As a native Shanghainese, Jin Yucheng’s "Flowers" was produced in the urban background of Shanghai, depicting the stories and moods in the Shanghai city. At a time when Shanghai literature, which is known for its regional characteristics, is declining, the birth of "Flowers" is undoubtedly It gave Shanghai literature a shot in the arm. The novel was published in 2012, and the film and television rights were sold in 2014. It also received support from various departments in Shanghai. This "Shanghai speed" and Shanghai have always been the center of my country's modern publishing industry and the center of literary communication. It doesn't matter.
As far as TV series adaptations of literary classics are concerned, "Fortress Besieged" produced in Shanghai and directed by Huang Shuqin has become an example of TV series adapting literary classics in the new era. In 2015, Shanghai produced a realistic TV series "The Ordinary World" based on the Mao Dun Literature Award-winning work and Lu Yao's novel of the same name, using the camera to vividly and artistically create the earthy smell, national style, and spirit of the 1980s. . In 2023, Shanghai produced another TV series "The Road to Life" adapted from Lu Yao's classic novel "Life". "The Road to Life" follows the basic characters of the original work to restore the true style of the years, and at the same time draws on the inspiration of the novel. Based on the original materials, the original story has been adapted and expanded in line with the development logic of the times. The TV series "Flowers" was also born out of the original work and developed its own context.
"Flowers" director Wong Kar-wai (left) takes a photo with the original author Jin Yucheng
In 2014, the film and television adaptation rights of "Flowers" were sold to Wong Kar-wai. Although Wong Kar-wai is a world-renowned Hong Kong director, he was born in Shanghai and grew up in a strong Shanghai style. Growing up in a family environment, he identifies himself as a Shanghainese and can speak Shanghainese fluently. It can be said that "Flowers" expresses his "nostalgia". Qin Wen, the screenwriter of the TV series "Flowers", is also a native Shanghai girl. She has already produced classic hit dramas such as "The First Half of My Life" and "Sister-in-law", and won the Magnolia Award for Best Screenplay. From the original author, to the drama screenwriter, to the director, the individual Shanghai growth experiences behind them undoubtedly empowered the TV series "Flowers" and ensured the strong "Shanghai temperament" at the core of the work.
In terms of production, "Flowers" has the full support of Shanghai government departments, enterprises and institutions. "Flowers" is not only a major literary and artistic creation funding project in Shanghai, but also the Shanghai Film Group has escorted this work all the way and supported it with real money. In February 2015, at the Shanghai Film Group's creative symposium, Wong Kar-wai's cooperation with Shanghai Film Group to produce the TV series "Flowers" became the focus of news. At that time, Wong Kar-wai called "Flowers" Shanghai's "Along the River During the Qingming Festival": "It complements the above The urban development information from the 1960s to the 1990s will represent the "spirit" of Shanghai. It is not only the "face", but also the "lizi of Shanghai"."
"Flowers" stills
"Flowers" producer, Party Secretary and Chairman of Shanghai Film Group, Wang Jian'er once recalled a certain meeting with Wong Kar-wai. Wong Kar-wai said that he had his eye on a studio base in Shanghai, but he had no money. After completion, "Does Shanghai Film Group have the courage to take it down?" "In response to the contract of "Flowers" by Wang Jian'er, Shanghai Film Group invested 500 million yuan to acquire Haopu Film and Television Base, which was the only one that Wong Kar-wai was interested in. The base is adjacent to Shanghai Film's Chedun Film and Television Base and has multiple high-standard studios. and supporting facilities, including a large studio with an area of more than 5,000 square meters, which provided a top hardware foundation for the filming of "Flowers".
Moreover, based on the original intention and long-term consideration of Shanghai Film to create a "Shanghai-style boutique", Chedun Film and Television The base created the real scenes of Huanghe Road and Jinxian Road for the story stage of "Flowers", restoring the two roads in the 1990s 1:1. This is undoubtedly a far-sighted investment. After "Flowers" became popular, people's interest in Shanghai Attention to urban geography and human history continues to rise, and many citizens and tourists go to the film and television base to "check in." It is reported that the real scene of the Yellow River Road built for "Flowers" will join the newly built "Wukang Building" in recent years and other real scenes to become Shanghai Film and Television It is a carrier for the park to explore "film and television + cultural tourism". The Haopu Film and Television Base acquired for "Flowers" is also aiming to advance the goal of "establishing Shanghai Film Science and Technology Innovation Center" and will conduct a "front store and back factory" with Shanghai Film and Television Park The in-depth linkage will create a future-oriented digital creative industry community and intelligent international studio.
The art settings and real scenes of "Flowers"
In 2023, at the "Magnolia Blooms-Excellent Shanghai TV Series Research and Evaluation Conference" held in Shanghai Li Jingsheng, vice president of the China Radio and Television Federation and consultant to the China Television Artists Association, specifically mentioned that the two characteristics of reality-themed dramas produced in Shanghai are: “One is its historical awareness and awareness of the times; characteristics of the people. From the perspective of style and technique, the former has the atmosphere of the times that runs through the work, while the latter has a delicate and touching focus on the current reality. "These two points of evaluation of TV dramas produced in Shanghai correspond to "Flowers": In addition to its ultra-high production level, why "Flowers" can attract audiences is, on the one hand, the magnificent development history of Shanghai in the 1990s; An accurate portrayal of the people in Shanghai. The charm of these two aspects is based on the history and present of Shanghai itself.
Stills of "Flowers"
Many business war events and landmark prototypes presented in "Flowers" are all from the real Shanghai History, such as the "Baoying War", is based on the "Baoyan War", the first merger case in the Chinese securities market. And the "Sanyang T-shirts" that have been mentioned repeatedly by Mr. Bao and Uncle Ye are hot-selling The prototype of "Hulian Commercial Building" is "Hualian Commercial Building". The predecessor of Hualian Commercial Building was Yongan Department Store opened in 1918. In the 1930s and 1940s, it, together with Xianshi, Xinxin and Dahsin, was known as "Hulian Commercial Building". "Four Major Department Stores". Not only was it once the most popular fashion show in Shanghai, but its fashion influence also spread across the country. After reconstruction on January 8, 1988, it was named Shanghai Hualian Commercial Building, taking the lead in Shanghai's business community to brand "wear in Under the banner of "Hualian", the comprehensive focus on clothing sales once ranked first in the city. Not to mention the long history of the Peace Hotel in Shanghai, an important scene in the play.
It can be said that half of the charm of "Flowers" comes from the city of Shanghai. With its own historical accumulation and rich background, watching "Flowers" is like peeking into the magnificent history of the city of Shanghai.
Stills of "Flowers"
"Flowers" not only shows the history from a macro perspective, but also presents the various aspects of human life in Shanghai. , as well as portraying classic Shanghai characters, especially the images of Shanghai women.
Shanghai-produced TV dramas have many female-themed works in recent years, such as "Only Thirty" and "Twenty Not Confused", etc. Li Jingsheng, Vice President of China Radio and Television Federation In his words, "It explores the various life choices faced by urban women today, and integrates serious life thinking and female consciousness into the meticulous details of daily life and subtle emotional states to express them. This is what Shanghai-produced female-themed TV dramas are best at." content and most prominent style features.""Flowers" has this style and characteristics. Lingzi, Miss Wang, Li Li, Ling Hong, many Shanghai women and women working hard in Shanghai have outstanding images and different personalities, but they all have extremely strong vitality and fighting spirit. , the creation of female characters is truly contemporary and urban, breaking through traditional morality and social value requirements for women. This inherent expression of respect and equal attention to women also fully embodies the spirit of the city of Shanghai.
"Flowers" stills
"Flowers" fully mobilizes the collective memory of the Shanghai audience by telling the story of Shanghai, elaborating on the spirit of Shanghai, and reviewing the history of Shanghai, and also once again arouses the attention and discussion of Shanghai among audiences across the country. Its ratings, click-through rate, and discussion rate are among the best among Shanghai-themed literary and artistic works in the past ten years. In recent years, with the collective efforts of Shanghai government departments and enterprises and institutions at all levels, "Shanghai-produced" films and television Production continues to innovate and reach new heights.
In addition to the many Shanghai masterpieces mentioned above, just look at the 36th China Film Golden Rooster Awards in 2023. Shanghai Film Convenience News frequently reported that a total of 5 films won 7 awards respectively. , the number of awards reached a record high, and the key "Shanghai-produced" films "Unknown", "The King of the Sky", "Chang'an 30,000 Miles", "Ten Thousand Miles Home", etc. all won awards, collectively shining in the Night of the Golden Rooster; the "Shanghai-produced" TV series " "The Road of Life" is CCTV's new year's drama in 2023. In 2024, "Flowers" will become CCTV's new year's drama. For two consecutive years, it is a masterpiece "produced in Shanghai" that accompanies the people of the country to usher in a new year. According to According to the latest statistics, from 2023 to 2024, a total of 19 "Shanghai-produced" TV series have entered CCTV's "Major Drama Watching Channel" list, setting a record high. Shanghai-produced TV series are also constantly polishing the "Shanghai Culture" brand on the national flagship platform. .
Wang Jian'er, chairman of Shanghai Film Group, also said in an interview that in recent years, Shanghai Film has been firmly determined to create "Shanghai-style high-quality products." Currently, Shanghai Film has launched the "Shanghai-style Feast Plan" and is promoting "Love Myth 2" and "Shanghai-style Boutique". "Table" and a series of Shanghai-style film and television development projects.
Zhu Yonglei, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the State Administration of Radio and Television, once talked about his expectations for the creation of Shanghai TV series: based on the great rejuvenation process of the Chinese nation, telling Shanghai stories and Chinese stories; based on the spirit of the city Character, shape the unique artistic charm of Shanghai-produced TV dramas; based on promoting high-level opening to the outside world, strive to improve the international communication capabilities and global narrative capabilities of Shanghai-produced TV dramas.
In the past, Shanghai-style film and television dramas were based on "Shanghai Family", "Besieged City" and "Debt". Representatives have deeply touched the hearts of audiences across the country; and in the new era, "Flowers", "Love Myth", "Thirty Only", "The Road of Life" and many other high-quality masterpieces "produced in Shanghai" will serve Shanghai and the times. Portraits, biographies, and virtues are missions to enrich the people's spiritual world and enhance their spiritual strength.
