Playwright calls for originality in TV dramas

A renowned TV series writer has called for originality in dramas, saying TV dramas are a number one productive force and the only outlet for industry growth, Chinanews.com reported Sunday.

Gao Mantang, also a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), will present his proposal on encouraging and protecting originality in TV dramas.

According to Gao, 90 percent of television productions in the Hengdian film production base were creating dramas set during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and most of them were copying from each other.

Statistics show more than 70 out of 200 TV shows on China's main TV stations during primetime were war-themed in 2012. Sixty percent of the 300,000 extra actors in Hengdian have played Japanese soldiers.

Speaking of The Legend of Zhenhuan, the most popular Chinese TV series last year, which has hit overseas screens and will be shown in the United States, Gao said such success is a dream shared by everyone working in his field.

"It is a very good beginning, but it will still take time for China to create more original work," said the writer.