TV drama on top model soldier to start shooting soon

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-05 19:35

BEIJING -- The shooting of a TV serial drama on China's most respected soldier Lei Feng (1940-1962) will start in mid-March and it is expected to be completed by October 1, to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The announcement was made by the TV-drama making team at a press conference at the Beijing Lei Feng Elementary School on Thursday.

The 20-episode series is jointly sponsored by the China Biographical Literature Society (CBLS), the publicity departments of the Communist Party of China (CPC) committees of Liaoning Province and Shenyang City, and the Zhejiang Yongle Film and TV Co. Ltd.

The budget for the TV drama is 8 million yuan ($1.17 million), according to Cheng Lidong, president of the Yongle company.

The hero Lei Feng will be played by Yu Shaoqun, who has become known for his role in "Forever Enthralled," a film about great Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang. "Forever Enthralled" is the latest works by internationally famed movie director Chen Kaige.

Zhao Jin, son of a late popular film star Zhao Dan, will direct the TV drama. Huang Yazhou is writing the script. Wan Boao, chairman of the CBLS, is the producer.

Lei Feng was born into a poor peasant family on December 18, 1940, and he died in an accident in Fushun City, Liaoning Province, northeast China, when he was in service as a soldier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

After Lei died, people found Lei's diary and happened to learn that he had given assistance and made donations to many other servicemen and civilians.

On March 5, 1963, the People's Daily published an inscription of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which reads, "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng."

For decades, Lei has been called the "Great Communist Soldier" and he has remained as one of the most popular role models for Chinese.