In the first ten years of this century, Chen Mingzhang filmed a large number of classic Chinese idol dramas in Taiwan, such as "The Prince Turns into a Frog", "The Sheep Star", "Destined to Love You", etc., which have repeatedly created ratings myths on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Later, Chen Mingzhang once felt that he was "lazy and content with the status quo" in his creation, so he bravely entered the mainland film and television industry and tried a new team and a new environment. "When I came to a new place, I needed to be more humble and need to be more humble." Be more cautious." The first work was "Du Lala's Promotion", which received quite good ratings.
"I have always wanted to do an idol drama that adults can watch." In 2016, the TV series "Meeting Wang Lichuan" directed by Chen Mingzhang was broadcast. During the interview, his words impressed the reporter deeply.
He believes that "'adults' have a need to watch idol dramas, but the idol dramas on the market are relatively younger." In Chen Mingzhang's view, actors should be more mature and sophisticated, and stories should be more logical. In the past ten years, in the mainland film and television drama market, he has filmed emotional dramas with a stronger urban feel and younger age groups such as "Carat Lovers", "The Second Time Is Beautiful" and "Across the Ocean to See You".
"You Too Have Today" poster
Recently, his new drama "You Too Have Today" was aired. At first glance, it seems to have the flavor of a "youth idol drama": a cold tyrant meets a cute girl, and they live under the same roof. Faced with this kind of setting that is more common in idol dramas, Chen Mingzhang chose to use it as a joke in the drama to laugh at himself: "The first title of my first episode is 'Idol drama happened to me', and then it is the inner os of the heroine." The plot of the idol drama is brought into reality, and in this way, the drama is de-commonized."
"You Too Have Today" looks like a standard light-hearted sweet drama from the outside, but if you look closely, In addition to the prescribed actions, some quite unexpected designs have been added. In terms of characters, Chen Mingzhang does not want a so-called standard "overbearing president". People often say that the male protagonist in idol dramas is aloof, so Chen Mingzhang may make the male protagonist "afraid of heights and coldness". "Anyway, The character must have flaws to make him rich and interesting."
Qian Heng (played by Chen Xingxu)
Cheng Yao (played by Zhang Ruonan)
Then came the acting. In the past two years, he has left a deep impression on people in "East Palace" Chen Xingxu, who was deeply impressed by BE, and Zhang Ruonan, who has played the innocent role of "White Moonlight" in many film and television works, collectively burst out as comedians this time, and contributed many funny comedy scenes in an idol drama. This is largely due to Chen Mingzhang's guidance.
In addition to being an idol drama director, Chen Mingzhang is also a very experienced stage drama director. To this day, he still maintains the working habits of stage dramas in his creations. Different from regular script readings, in his opinion, "It is too easy to reach a consensus with language, but when it is actually performed, it may not be what is said, because the picture we imagine based on the words is different for everyone."
Before starting the machine , he will gather more than a dozen main actors and spend three to five days conducting theater-style performance exercises and doing many unscripted improvisational performances. "I only give them a situation and let them act it out without dialogue." Chen Mingzhang said, "In this process, you can see what each actor is really good at and what he is not good at. When I understand each actor An actor knows how to use his strengths and avoid weaknesses in subsequent work based on his acting style."
Comedy performance is recognized as difficult. Neither Chen Xingxu nor Zhang Ruonan are comedians. How to give them good comedy performances in an idol drama that emphasizes the characteristics of light comedy? Chen Mingzhang has a mature method. He found many excellent comedians with theater backgrounds to play supporting roles in the play. "The performance coordination between actors is very important. Using excellent comedians for the leading actors who are relatively inexperienced in comedy performances will make the film very elastic." The 'net' allows them to 'bounce' higher."
Therefore, in "You Too Have Today", you can see a lot of excellent comedians. Chen Mingzhang said with a smile that in the few days of practice before the start of filming, the two leading actors were already shocked by their comedy performances, which also made The two leading actors worked even harder. "After you click on the first episode, if you watch the next dozen episodes directly, you will find that their acting methods have changed a lot, and they are growing as they act. "
On January 14, the popularity of "You Too Have Today" exceeded 9000 on Youku.
Chen Mingzhang, who has not directed an idol drama for a long time, why did he decide to film "You Too Have Today"? This depends on the relationship between him and Fang Ningmeng Film and Television, the producer of the show. Talking about fate.
In 2009, he came to the mainland to film "Du Lala's Promotion" and worked with a team within SMG. The cooperation was very pleasant. This team later established Ningmeng Film and Television together. "We have a deep relationship. Revolutionary emotion. " Chen Mingzhang said. He said bluntly, "I have held meetings with many companies, and meetings with them are the most efficient and informative. At that time I said: ‘This group of people can make it’. "
The TV series "Du Lala's Promotion"
However, over the years, and due to various coincidences, Ningmeng and Chen Mingzhang have not been able to collaborate again. Finally, Ningmeng is now expanding its works in all categories, including urban romance. For the important part, I once again found Chen Mingzhang, who is very experienced in the idol drama industry.
Why "opening up a track" moved Chen Mingzhang is because the word "idol drama" is gradually becoming a derogatory term, "As a I feel very sad for the director of idol dramas," he said. "'He is just a performer in idol dramas' and 'He is just a guy who shoots idol dramas'. Creating idol dramas has become a derogatory term. "This is the most painful thing for Chen Mingzhang as a senior idol drama director.
In the golden age of Taiwan's idol dramas, the creation of idol dramas represented the high level of Taiwan's film and television industry at that time, from stories to characters, from art to music, and even to Costumes are all at the forefront of the times, leading the trend and becoming the memory of generations. Chen Mingzhang emphasized in the interview: "The lines are as separated as mountains, and there are great differences between different dramas. It's not just two actors spreading sugar. It's an idol drama. "
" Therefore, if an excellent company like Ningmeng can produce high-quality idol dramas and urban romance dramas in a long-term and stable manner, I will be very happy. If they want to find someone to make the first film, I think I must come and show what the complete production process is like from text to production, from distribution to packaging, plus art and music, from upstream to downstream. "In our interview, Chen Mingzhang talked a lot about his experience and opinions on the creation of idol dramas.
""You Too Have Today" is more like an unexpected beauty in my work plan. "
[Dialogue]
The Paper: What do you think of idol dramas, a very mature category in domestic dramas?
Chen Mingzhang: Idol dramas are a very difficult category to operate. Each link must meet the standards before they can be called idol dramas. .
More than ten years have passed, but the OSTs of classic works such as "Lavender", "The Prince Turns into a Frog", "Destined to Love You" and "Sheep-Herding Star" only need one eight beats to take the audience back to that era. So The plot, characters, music, peripheral products, etc. of idol dramas are actually a very complete business system.
Idol dramas are completed at the audience's end, from the initial release to the final sale of peripheral products to the audience's homes. A closed business loop. Then these products will accompany the audience for a long time and will become a piece of history in the audience's growth.
Stills of "You Too Have Today"
The Paper News: The production of idol dramas is about finding the audience with the greatest common denominator and the greatest common denominator. In order to achieve these two points, what level must idol dramas reach in all aspects?
Chen Mingzhang: In the past, idol dramas would produce original sound CDs, behind-the-scenes DVDs, peripheral products, photo books, clothing and other products. Idols The costumes in the drama must also be able to lead the trend of the times. Therefore, all aspects of idol dramas must meet the high standards of each product type.
The Paper: Is there anything that cannot be discarded in the production of idol dramas, such as classic narratives and classic characters?
Chen Mingzhang: In fact, there is no . It mainly depends on the audience’s preferences. Audiences of idol dramas prefer to bring themselves into the drama, so usually the heroine cannot be a particularly perfect girl, and needs some girl-next-door settings to make the audience feel that it is close to their own lives.
Because in real life, Daoming Si would not like Shancai. He would have his own life circle and would not meet Shancai. So I hope that the audience can be happy and dream during the dozens of hours they watch the show, because when they turn off the TV and go out, they will find that the world may not be like this. But the creators hope the world is like this, so they hope the audience can have hope too.
The Paper: In idol dramas, there is a certain degree of homogeneity in filters, lighting, aesthetics, etc. Are there any explorations and thoughts in this regard?
Chen Mingzhang: What I care about more is people. Everything serves the role. I will think about what kind of environment this person should live in. For example, when they rent a house together, I feel that there must be a balcony and some flowers and plants. This is what I insist on. I changed many scenes to the balcony, which will be very romantic and pleasing to the eye.
Stills from "You Too Have Today"
The Paper: Comparing the past and present, what thoughts and observations does have on the expression of love in idol dramas?
Chen Mingzhang: Compared with the creation of previous idol dramas, first of all, society now widely recognizes feminism. In current idol dramas, the female protagonist does not need to be protected by the male protagonist all the time, but must be independent and strong, and solve problems by herself. Like "You Too Have Today", you will slowly see the growth of the female protagonist, and even defeat the male protagonist in the last lawsuit.
The second thing is that, like in traditional idol dramas, the male protagonist usually controls the main rhythm of emotional development, how to protect and pursue the female protagonist. In today's idol dramas, the audience hopes to see a two-way relationship. Both people have to work hard for the relationship, each taking a half-step.
The Paper: Mainland drama production is different from Taiwan’s simultaneous filming and broadcasting. There is a certain time period between filming and broadcasting. How to accurately grasp the audience’s needs and reactions?
Chen Mingzhang: I am the first audience of "You Too Have Today". I will look at it from the perspective of the audience to see whether it is good, whether the rhythm is good, whether it is funny or not. I believe it or not... I truly regard myself as an audience. , rather than treating yourself as a creator.
If the audience can’t understand it, it’s certainly the director’s fault. If the audience doesn't like it, it's certainly the director's fault. The creative method must be closely connected with the audience, and only then can the market response be relatively good. Of course, treating yourself as an audience does not mean just trying to please the audience.
The Paper: Can give an example of the difference between caring about the audience and pleasing the audience?
Chen Mingzhang: For example, in "The Prince Turns into a Frog", Mingdao's character got into a car accident and became stupid. He forgot that he had been in love with Chen Qiaoen's character. The audience was very anxious and hoped that he would regain his memory quickly.
Stills of "The Prince Turns into a Frog"
The creator knows that the audience is anxious, so I will discuss with the screenwriter and maybe let the audience see them hugging each other in the preview next week. In this way, everyone thinks that he has recovered his memory (in fact, he has not), and he has the motivation to follow the drama again, and will not abandon the drama directly. This is because he cares about the audience.
blindly pleases the audience by asking them to hug each other this week and then arrange to kiss and have sex the next week. This is not possible and will not work.
Stills from "You Too Have Today"
The Paper: Does have any observations on the production industry and market of mainland TV dramas?
Chen Mingzhang: Before filming "You Too Have Today", I spent nearly ten years focusing on originality. I hope that there will be a good original idol drama on the market every year. I believe that in a progressive film and television industry, originality should be the main focus and adaptation should be the supplement. I just want to stop making IPs, and I also want the industry to see that the original work will be well received.
Although "You Too Have Today" is an adaptation, it is very different from ordinary idol dramas. It uses cases one by one to explore many hot social issues related to the relationship between men and women, marriage and love. It is a foundation, and we hope to pass it through Various social issues arouse more resonance and thinking.
In the film and television industry, I am just a small individual and strive to be original. After more than ten years of filming in mainland China, I have gained a lot, and I hope to contribute to this market.
