You Xiaogang talks about the general rules for TV drama production: "Draw the road clearly in advance"

Let's emphasize again that the General Principles are not laws, but the industry reference basis. We remind everyone in the General Principles of what is in the regulations and what may not be allowed by the broadcast platform. If you weren't clear enough before, now you will be clearer when you look at the general rules. You can think about it yourself.

Recently, a "General Rules for the Production of TV Series Content" caused an uproar on the Internet. This general rule stipulates in detail the specific content that cannot appear in TV dramas, involving homosexuality, extramarital affairs, puppy love with minors, etc. This general rule was jointly formulated by the China Broadcasting Federation Television Production Committee and China Television Drama Production Industry Association. The reporter then contacted the famous director and President of China Television Drama Production Industry Association, and conducted an interview based on the content, nature, and some controversial focuses of the "General Rules for the Production of TV Drama Content."

"Like highways, draw roads clearly in advance."

Reporter: When was this general rule initiated and formulated? Why? Who is involved in its formulation process?

You Xiaogang: Last year, around September, we (China Television Drama Production Industry Association) and the State Administration held a meeting and proposed to draft a thing that combined the current basic principles of TV drama censorship to provide everyone with a reference for creation, so as to save everyone from producing it and having to change it when it comes time to review it, which will increase the burden on the producers and cause losses, and will also help everyone create better content under the current conditions. Senior producers from industry associations participated in this formulation process. These producers all have deep industry experience. They are more experienced in areas that work and areas that don't work.

Why do we have to implement this general rule? The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Production has many regulations. Regulations are norms formulated by the state in the form of a legal system and are the bottom line. The general rules are public order and good customs formulated by the association based on industry self-discipline and creative laws for everyone to pay attention to and abide by, and are in line with our working principles. This is a kind of care for practitioners and reminds practitioners to avoid losses caused by mistakes in creation and production.

From an industry perspective, we hope to treat what is involved in the review standards as industry standards and tell everyone to avoid encountering problems in the future. Therefore, the general rules are basically consistent with the current censorship standards for TV drama broadcasts. Of course, there will be some changes in the review standards, but everything remains the same. The general rule is to tell everyone in advance what is appropriate and what is not appropriate based on our country's national conditions. Like a highway, mark the road clearly in advance.

Reporter: So won't the general rule be a mandatory norm?

You Xiaogang: The association is not a law enforcement agency. The general rules do not have legal benefits, but our industry, such as members of the association, should consciously abide by them. If you don't follow this, if you can't get through the review, you can find a way yourself. I have made the purpose of the association very clear before, and it is also to protect everyone. Then if you don't believe me, try it. If you don't pass it, you won't doubt it. This is very simple. The general rule is to tell everyone from the perspective of practitioners that what works and doesn't work. First, whether the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television can let you register, but if you can't, the creation will be in vain; second, if you create it, whether you will let you play it or not, it will be in vain. The producer is you, and the association considers it from an industry perspective. There is such a thing for everyone. This is a summary of many years of creative experience, so as not to waste your efforts.

Reporter: Netizens expressed doubts that "homosexuality" and "incest and sexual abuse" were classified as "abnormal sexual relationship" in the detailed rules. They believed that there was any suspicion of discrimination?

You Xiaogang: I can't talk about it. I don't want to talk about whether (homosexuality) is allowed or not in society or not. Anyway, such content will not pass on broadcast now. The general rule is aimed at the manufacturing industry, and there is no need to extend it. Is it "non-discrimination" to know that it cannot be broadcast but still insist on producing it? Why bother with money? Why bother with creation?

"There is no need for TV dramas to be curious or grandstanding in this regard."

Reporter: In many specific clauses of the General Rules, there are degree restrictions such as "excessive","specific" and "excessive". How to control this "degree" standard?

You Xiaogang: The general rules have no content at all. They are new restrictions that have emerged on a whim now, but the rules of creation over the years. It's all happened. It's nothing new, it's just like a traffic rule. This is okay, that is not okay. Then when "no" becomes "okay", then "yes" is okay. So, everyone is the same. Didn't they also watch "Monster Hunt" and "Flower Thousand Bones"? This is what has now been approved. Or suddenly you have to adjust and pay attention, so everyone should pay attention. Anyway, this is because the benevolent see benevolence and the wise see wisdom, so everyone should take care of themselves.

Taking "soul possession" as an example, it should not be promoted in a superstitious and illusory attitude, but should be treated with a scientific attitude. For example, if you take pictures of the reincarnated soul boy in Xizang and talk about reincarnation, how do you behave? Very simply, respect the religions and customs of Tibetan compatriots, do not treat them with curiosity, and do not describe them casually in other types of themes, so as not to cause unnecessary ethnic misunderstandings and affect ethnic unity.

Another example is how to set specific standards for normal love plots such as kissing and caressing? How to shoot to pass? The key is to grasp the measure. It is okay to give healthy, beautiful and moderate performance to normal love behavior, but deliberately pursuing stimulation is probably to be avoided.

Including restricting the expression of "puppy love among minors" and minors smoking, drinking and fighting, which can happen in real life. Puppy love is not illegal, but it is not encouraged, right? In TV drama creation, such phenomena and plot suggestions are downplayed to avoid backfiring, right?

Another example is that "we will not overturn the verdict of historical figures for whom a final verdict has been reached."(The criterion is) Whose verdict does this verdict refer to? Is there a specific age and character? Then I would like to say that our TV dramas are disseminated in the mass media. There is no need to overturn the verdict on events and characters that have been settled in history and accepted by the public. There is no need for TV dramas to be curious or grandstand in this regard. That is the work scope of historical researchers. You TV drama workers do not have this research task or this research level.

TV dramas are disseminated in mass and public media. There must be a standard. This standard should be in the hearts of the creators. They must be upright in their three views and grasp their own limits.

Reporter: There is a very popular paragraph on the Internet that if we strictly abide by the general rules, then "You can't watch Journey to the West because of reincarnation; You can't watch Dream of the Red Chamber because of close relatives getting married and having early love for homosexuality; You can't watch the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, You can't watch the Water Margin because of feudal superstitions and violent jokes about history." None of the four great classics can be photographed. How do you feel about this statement?

You Xiaogang: Can "Journey to the West" be done? Aren't we doing it? "Return of the Great Sage" is based on "Journey to the West", right? Doesn't everyone watch it? Isn't "Dream of the Red Chamber" also publicly released? There are both versions 87 and 09. Moreover,"Dream of the Red Chamber" was not puppy love at that time. It reflected that feudal era. At that time, people were considered marriageable. Therefore, this kind of statement is meaningless, and there is no need to use general rules to argue with it.

"Just like food management, it gives manufacturers an industry norm."

Reporter: The general rule is to only restrict the creation of China TV dramas. Will it have reference value for the import of foreign dramas?

You Xiaogang: Foreign dramas will be managed by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Whether they are allowed or not has nothing to do with the production industry. Anyway, if you don't approve it when you enter, you won't be able to enter. What others are willing to do is their business. Our general rules are limited to the issues that need to be paid attention to when producing TV dramas in China, and provide a basis for everyone to refer to. Of course, this basis may also be continuously adjusted, added, and deleted.

Reporter: At present, everyone is hotly discussing that the online drama creation policy is gradually tightening."What TV stations can't broadcast can also be broadcast online." I wonder if the news is true?

You Xiaogang: If this is news from the State Administration, then it is the attitude of the State Administration. I don't need to talk about it. However, I feel that there is no tightening or not tightening, only norms and non-norms. It used to be not standardized enough, but now it is standardized.

Reporter: So for the online drama creation environment, will this give creators less room to make new attempts?

You Xiaogang: You can also try it now. Within the scope allowed and within the scope of public social order and good customs, you can certainly do experiments, including TV stations and the Internet. But there is one thing that reminds you. It's better than not reminding you, right? Greetings are given in front, giving the creator a yardstick in mind.

It is a good thing for the State Administration to tell everyone these opinions, so you can adjust them. If you are unwilling to adjust and you think "I have to write this way", then write it. You are free to write how you write, but there are rules if you want to spread it. Then everyone follow the rules. Of course, rules may also be changed and adjusted, so wait until the time for adjustment. This is very simple. This is an inevitable law of the development of things.

Reporter: So what do you want to tell everyone about the high attention and doubts from netizens and viewers on the Internet?

You Xiaogang: This general rule is for the industry, not for the audience. It is a procedure we need to use in production. Just like food management, manufacturers are given an industry norm. As for whether consumers eat or buy, that is another matter. There is no need for everyone to overreact. It has been implemented in this way since the past. If you want to make a TV series, you follow the general rules and watch it; if you are just an audience, choose the one you like.

Is the TV series produced by netizens? Our general rule is the general rule for production, and netizens are the viewing group, right? This general rule has been formulated in full communication with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television to prevent producers from "bumping into the wall" by playing some "edge balls". Netizens cannot see the (TV series) that have already "bumped into the wall", so what is there to question? We do not live in the United States, nor do we live in South Korea, we live in China. What China's media broadcasts must of course be consistent with the current system and society of China.

Editor: yvonne