On September 10th, a seminar on the TV series "Growing All Things" was held in Beijing, co-hosted by the China Television Art Committee, the Publicity Department of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Shandong Provincial Radio and Television Bureau. Bai Yugang, member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Minister of the Publicity Department, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Over 70 people attended the meeting, including officials from the National Radio and Television Administration's Television Drama Department, the China Media Group's Film and Television Drama and Documentary Center, the China Writers Association, the Shandong Provincial Party Committee's Publicity Department, the Radio and Television Bureau, the Shandong Provincial Writers Association, as well as experts, scholars, creative representatives, representatives from production and broadcasting organizations, and media representatives. The meeting was chaired by Yi Kai, Secretary-General of the China Television Art Committee.
Seminar site
Bai Yugang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department, fully commended the achievements of "Giving Birth to All Things," noting that the play's creation, dissemination, and significance have further strengthened Shandong's confidence and resolve in fostering literary and artistic creation in the new era. The line "Live life to the fullest" expresses the local people's yearning for a better life and resonates with contemporary audiences. The play's depiction of scenery, customs, and lifestyles evokes a yearning among young people for their hometowns and their ancestors, embodying an artistic expression of cultural confidence. Furthermore, the play's top-tier development, from novel to screenplay to film production, has resulted in a masterpiece of both ideological and artistic quality, offering valuable insights for the creation and production of high-quality literary and artistic works. Furthermore, the play's reflections on the core Chinese spirit possess value and significance for international communication.
Li Yiming, member of the Party Leadership Group and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Writers Association, stated that literature and film and television complement each other, highlighting and enhancing each other. "The Creation of All Things," from a literary masterpiece with profound historical significance to a blockbuster television series, is a successful example of creative self-awareness, rediscovery, and the transformation of experience. It offers three insights into the adaptation of literary IP into film and television: the original is fundamental, the key to transformation lies in "transformation," and "intimacy leads to understanding."
At the conference, An Ning, Deputy Director of the TV Drama Project Department at the Film, Television, and Documentary Center of China Central Radio and Television, presented the series' broadcast status, stating that it achieved impressive ratings, achieving both the highest average annual ratings and the highest single-day ratings for CCTV-8. New media engagement further fueled the series' phenomenal success. Wang Xiaohui, Chief Content Officer of iQiyi and the series' Executive Producer, stated that "Giving Birth to All Things" broke through genre boundaries, captivated a wide audience, and achieved astonishing broadcast success. Furthermore, the series holds significant value, not only assembling the contributions of diverse stakeholders and radiating the glory of the land and literature, but also demonstrating the unique charm and irreplaceable nature of long-form series.
The director of the play, Liu Jiacheng, said that the success of "Give Birth to All Things" is inseparable from strong backing, including the coordination and assistance of the guiding unit, the platform's quality assurance, literature providing "quality assurance" in artistic creation, and the continuous pursuit of excellence by all the actors.
Zhao Defa, the original author of the play, expressed his respect for the creative team's hard work and brilliant performance. He noted that the original novel's vast time span, numerous characters, and complex relationships made adaptation challenging. However, the team skillfully selected chapters, preserving the original's spiritual core and storyline while also catering to the aesthetic preferences of contemporary audiences. The director and screenwriter's meticulous pursuit of excellence, coupled with the actors' dedication and passion, have resulted in a critically acclaimed drama.
Wang He, the playwright, reviewed the play's development from a single seed to a blossoming flower, stating that the play is a brilliant blossom nurtured by the collective efforts of many. She also thanked the audience for their understanding, stating that seeing the audience's response to a work is the most fulfilling moment for an artist.
Yang Mi, who plays Ning Xiuxiu, expressed her honor in the series, sharing her journey and growth. While she learns how to live life to the fullest, she, as an actress, is also learning how to portray her role well, conveying the strongest emotions to the audience through her performance. "Giving Birth to All Things" is more than just a play for her; it's a reminder, a call, that no matter how far I travel, I must never forget the ground beneath my feet and never forget to pay attention to the real and resilient lives we lead.
Chi Peng, who plays the character "Big Foot Lady," said that this production not only allowed her to leverage her experience portraying Shandong women but also allowed her to subtly transform her previous roles. She was deeply impressed by the hard work and dedication of the creative staff. While filming was arduous, she relished the atmosphere on set, finding it a constant source of self-purification and a sense of the sacredness of labor and the acting profession.
Experts including Zhong Chengxiang, a member of the Central Academy of Culture and History and a renowned literary critic; Yuan Xinwen, Director of the Literature and Art Department of the People's Daily; Hu Zhifeng, Vice Chairman of the China Television Artists Association and Professor at Beijing Normal University; Li Yeping, Member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Professor at Shandong Normal University; Li Chunli, Editorial Coordinator and Senior Editor of the Literature and Art Department of Guangming Daily; and Lü Fan, Associate Research Fellow and Director of the Audio and Video Office of the Media Integration Center of Peking University, praised the drama's profound meaning, embodying the nation's roots and cultural memories. Its organic integration of grand themes with individual destinies evokes a primal memory of "roots" among contemporary people. The adaptation demonstrates innovation and vitality, skillfully incorporating elements from the original novel, capturing the complex and nuanced relationship between land and people, and successfully incorporating the fast-paced, explosive elements favored by young audiences. This is a successful example of a literary IP adaptation for film and television. The drama's success has positive implications for the revitalization of the long-form video industry, demonstrating its immense potential and vitality, capable of satisfying the breadth, depth, and breadth of people's cultural needs.
The TV series "Giving Birth to All Things" is adapted from the People's Literature Award-winning novel "Tenderness and Determination" by renowned author Zhao Defa. Set in Tianniumiao Village in southern Shandong Province, the series depicts the intertwined fates of the Ning, Feng, and Fei families, showcasing the inspiring and enduring lives of the people of this region. The series premiered on CCTV-8 and iQiyi starting August 13th, receiving widespread acclaim.
