Our reporter Zhang Jie
Since the beginning of the new year in 2023, the box office of the movie "The Wandering Earth 2" has continued to refresh, and the TV series "Three-Body Problem" has ushered in a double harvest of word-of-mouth popularity.
The two works have gone abroad and successfully "go to sea", allowing the world to see the image charm of Chinese science fiction.
After seven years of polishing, the high-profile sci-fi drama "Three-Body Problem" ended with a high score, but the influence of this domestic sci-fi film and television adaptation is still continuing.
Recently, the TV series "Three-Body Problem" symposium sponsored by the China Television Arts Committee was held in Beijing. Experts participating in the conference believed that "Three-Body Problem" is a milestone in the field of science fiction drama series.
Translating the original in audiovisual language
After several stranded twists and turns in film and television, the series "Three-Body Problem" was broadcast on CCTV and Tencent Video a week before "The Wandering Earth 2". The leading IP of Chinese science fiction literature finally appeared on the screen.
Chief director Yang Lei has been a fan of science fiction since he was a child. When he first read "Three-Body Problem", he knew that he had seen the best science fiction novel in China.
Visual director Lu Beike simulated the three-body world in his head with his expertise. From the moment they received the project, they used their own video language to tell the dream to every audience.
In the three years before the two directors entered, more than 20 versions of the script were made in the early stage. In the face of a super IP like "Three-Body Problem", whether to adapt and how to adapt it is a problem that the creative team constantly faces.
Screenwriter Tian Liangliang said that the team spent a lot of time researching and experimenting: "From the perspective of creation, we actually try to keep the most precious things in the original novel as much as possible. This is a very important aspect in the adaptation of copyrighted novels, especially A very important value lies in the transformation of novel language into video language. I am really grateful to the platform side for their courage and love, which is a basis for this work to be loved by everyone."
During the interview, director Yang Lei joked that he joined the group to "defend" the original work, "I am a heavy book fan, and I don't want the script to be 'magically changed'. What I want to do is to translate the original work in audio-visual language in my professional field. How to sort out the plot into a more reasonable film and television drama logic, Yang Lei said: "We not only used rich animations to illustrate, but also added Shi Qiang's line explanations, hoping to help the audience sort out these scientific knowledge more friendly."
After the TV series "Three-Body Problem" was broadcast, the most commented by netizens was "God Restored". Fantastic form, Guzheng project... How to better and more truly present these brain holes in the original "Three-Body Problem" to the audience?
Yang Lei said that the main creative team invited 60 or 70 scientists as scientific consultants for the filming of the crew, repeatedly discussing scientific instruments, paper data, chart formulas, "As long as the camera scans, try to ensure that the formulas that appear are correct." Even Even the formula that Wei Cheng densely wrote a room in the play has been verified.
"For a three-second picture on the camera, such as a formula, the crew needs to communicate with the scientists for a week. We have studied it for about three months, and kept a large notebook. We filmed this scene as if we went to college again. .”
Due to various reasons, the crew was unable to go to the Panama Canal for on-site shooting. In order to film "Operation Guzheng", they had to find alternatives in China.
The crew found a total of 13 filming locations, and used a combination method to shoot "Guzheng Action".
Lu Beike said: "This means that we have to design clearly before the actual shooting. Which shot will be placed in which picture, and the overall modifiable degree does not exceed 10%." Design expertise.
Lu Beike introduced: "For example, what are the types of marine steel? How will different marine steels behave after being cut? What changes will happen to the internal structure of the ship? Before designing the picture, these must be clearly understood."
During the entire filming process, the crew of "Three-Body Problem" traveled to Beijing, Tianjin, Zhoushan, Hengdian, Hangzhou, Heihe and other places. Except for the interior scenes of the Hong'an base and the combat center, which were built, the other exterior scenes were all shot on location, and even went to Beijing. It was filmed at the Electron Positron Collision Station and the National Nanoscience Center, and it was also the first crew filmed there.
Looking back on the entire filming experience, Bai Yicong, the chief producer of "The Three-Body Problem", described it as "deadly smashed", "We are in the field of science fiction, and everyone is pioneering wasteland. Without past experience and help, we can only go slowly and slowly. trip."
Writing science fiction on the basis of realism
The TV series "Three-Body Problem" not only presents a wonderful sci-fi story, but also focuses on the spiritual portrayal of the "little people" in the play, exploring the sci-fi ideas belonging to the Chinese.
A few days ago, the TV series "Three-Body Problem" seminar organized by the China Television Arts Committee was held in Beijing.
Gao Changli, Director of the TV Drama Department of the State Administration of Radio and Television, took "The Three-Body Problem" as an example to discuss the diversification trend of TV drama creation, affirmed the innovative value of "Three-Body Problem" in terms of subject matter, technology and ideas, and encouraged more dramas like "Three-Body Problem" in the future. The creation of excellent Chinese science fiction works like Body.
Yang Lei believes that the success of "Three-Body Problem" is that it has the cultural background of the Chinese people. "One of the great things about "Three-Body Problem" is that it has the cultural background of the Chinese people. It contains 15 original thought experiments, which describe their own worldview and values. I think that when science fiction lands in China, it must be integrated with China’s own culture and real life. It must use its own historical and practical significance, as well as its own attitude and values, to represent China. vision of the future."
In addition, he said that when doing science fiction, you must have a sense of Chinese substitution, and you must not be fascinated by the foreign science fiction coat. "We put forward a very important principle at the beginning of creation, which is to use realism and realism to create We shoot sci-fi, so we have always insisted on live-action shooting. The "Three-Body" crew has made 12 large-scale transitions across the country, involving more than 200 scenes, spanning more than half of China. We feel that only by using real scenes can we maximize the Express the charm of realism."
Screenwriter Tian Liangliang believes that although sci-fi themes are suspended, they must also adhere to the practical significance and uphold a consistent and rigorous attitude, "Although we are adapting a sci-fi work, we have chosen a realistic creative idea to create a credible situation. , starting from this point to make plays, this method makes our characters more real and full of emotions, and it is easier for the audience to empathize with the characters in science fiction. Although it is science fiction, it does not levitate and has a stronger sense of realism. At the same time, we In the process of creation, I actually hope to convey a more positive theme and values at all times."
Tian Liangliang said that when reading novels, he can feel the Chinese characteristics of the works, such as Zhou Wenwang, Mozi and Fuxi in the play, as well as Qin Shihuang's computer. A restrained, restrained and implicit way of expressing emotions makes this work unique, so when adapting it, we also hope to present these characteristics, so that the filmed work has a kind of national power."
Lu Beike said that the theme of the original "Three-Body Problem" has multiple levels, including the enterprising spirit of science fiction in the golden age, and the humanistic reflection on the power of science and technology. enthusiasm.
He said: "After seeing the negative problems of science and technology, this kind of temperament that is still full of objective spirit towards science and civilization, and the unique enterprising spirit of the Chinese people deeply moved me and influenced me. In the realism creation of Director Yang In terms of tone, I try my best to express China's independent thinking on the relationship between science and itself, express the charm of science with comprehensive digital technology, and convey the feelings of the Chinese people." He also expressed the hope that this drama will make More audiences appreciate the positive meaning brought by excellent science fiction literature and science fiction film and television works, so that more teenagers can look up at the starry sky, reduce their arrogance, and keep making progress.
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Xiang Yunju, vice chairman of the China Literary Critics Association, vice chairman and secretary general of the China Literary and Art Foundation, believes that the TV series "Three-Body Problem" has a unique artistic achievement, presenting a sci-fi realism style, and skillfully handling the relationship between sci-fi and reality .
Let the reality of the series surpass the previous sci-fi films, but the sci-fi attributes are not restrained, which has become a turning point for Chinese sci-fi TV dramas.
A Brave Attempt to Go Out of Science Fiction Series
While the TV series "Three-Body Problem" has gained high popularity and reputation in China, it has also won the recognition of overseas audiences. Relying on Tencent Video's overseas station WeTV and Tencent Video's official Youtube channel, "Three-Body Problem" has received warm responses and praise from overseas audiences.
Amidst the ever-emerging positive reviews, "The Three-Body Problem" led Chinese science fiction to go abroad and opened up a new overseas track.
At the seminar, Sun Modi, executive editor-in-chief of the "International Communication" magazine of the China International Publishing Group and director of the Journal Publishing and Academic Exchange Center of the Institute of Contemporary China and the World, said, "The Three-Body Problem has opened up a new track for China's online film and television dramas to 'go global' , new space, and new atmosphere." In his view, the "going out" of the TV series "Three-Body Problem" is aimed at the wider international community and dilutes the color of heterogeneous cultures. At the same time, it is also of profound practical significance and actively demonstrates Chinese wisdom. "The success of the TV series "Three-Body Problem" in 'Going Global' will become a new highlight of my country's digital culture going overseas in 2023."
Bai Yicong said frankly that the TV series "Three-Body Problem" lasted nearly 7 years from its launch to its broadcast. It is a high-risk, long-term, and low-return project.
He believes that sci-fi film and television will help the film and television industry to a certain extent, which is also the meaning of making sci-fi works.
"The most important thing about industrialization is to have a set of industrial processes and systems that can ensure that all production is within a controllable range."
He believes that China's film and television industry is still a long way from industrialization, but this drama has made audiences believe that China has its own team and is capable of challenging science fiction. This is a very good start and will continue to challenge the sequel of "Three-Body Problem" .
According to the copyright owner Three-Body Universe, the sequel "Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest" and the extra drama "Three-Body Problem: The Great History" are in full swing. The fourth season of the animation "My Three-Body Problem" is already in production and is expected to be launched next year. More forms of products such as movies and VR interactive narrative works have also been included in the plan and will be introduced to the public one after another.
In addition, according to incomplete statistics, there will be nearly 10 sci-fi film and television works on various platforms, including "Stars", "Abyss of Time", "Ball Lightning", "Love's Metaverse", "Bionic World" and so on.
Bai Yicong hopes that more diverse sci-fi works will emerge in the future, and that audiences will be more tolerant of such themes. He is looking forward to the next film and television dramas such as "Ball Lightning" and "Orphan of Mars". The broadcast effect, "Only when everyone gets better, can this industry have hope."
"The Three-Body Problem" is the first adaptation of a hard-core sci-fi IP in the form of a live-action drama. Broad, to achieve high-quality development of the film and television industry.
On a more fundamental level, whether China can create its own sci-fi universe depends to a certain extent on the continuous enrichment of sci-fi literature.
At least, Chinese science fiction has gradually broken the circle. The success of film and television has attracted more people to pay attention to this circle, and gradually made people pay attention to more creators. Perhaps this is the story of the next stage of Chinese science fiction.
("Tianjin Daily", page 10, March 7, 2023)