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State media
Improving the Spring Festival GalaPosted by Joel Martinsen, February 4, 2008 3:04 PM
![]() Will it be good this year? Just three more days until we can start complaining about the performances at this year's CCTV Spring Festival Gala. It's kind of unfair, really. Months of planning and tens of thousands of person-hours are poured into the program, but with the exception of a standout segment or two each year, people don't usually have anything nice to say about it. But at least they're trying. At the end of January, high-level officials reviewed the dress rehearsals and offered their suggestions for improvements; here are the thoughts of three of them, courtesy of the China News Agency: Ouyang Jian, deputy director of the Publicity Department: Overall, the dress rehearsal came off well. It gave highlighted festive themes, and all the necessary elements were present. There were frequent high points among the rich material. Hu Zhanfan, vice minister at SARFT: Hu thanked the cast and crew for their efforts. He felt that the rehearsal met with expectations. His recommendations:
Zhao Huayong, president of CCTV:
In an article posted at China Elections & Governance, Daniel Bell notes the recent decline in viewership, and suggests that political satire might be the way to restore the Gala's lost luster. But that would be a complete reversal from the current politics of the Gala:
Could political satire be injected into this feel-good atmosphere? The Gala is a cash cow for CCTV; if viewership continues to decline, would the network be forced to adapt to the tastes of its audience? Links and Sources
There are currently 5 Comments for Improving the Spring Festival Gala.
Comments on Improving the Spring Festival GalaWhat wonderfully constructive comments from the gentleman quoted above. with these three stooges in charge, china's TV culture is in safe hands I gave them my list yesterday. Unlike the "high level officials" my instructions will actually be followed to the letter: 1. Presenters should NOT, under any circumstances, be made familiar with the general locations of "Camera 1" and "Camera 2" and should continue to stare down the barrel of either 1 or 2 for several seconds after its light goes into the "OFF" mode, followed by frantic searching for the other camera. 2. No more experimentation with whole-body shots when filming dancers or dancing. ONLY the traditional "waist up" framing to be used. Similarly, filming the sweep of "whole stage" pieces is to be immediately phased out. ONLY ultra-closeups of individual performers during such numbers. 3. Singing, drumming, and audience reaction shots must NEVER be synced with the audio -- this would be totally against the "1 sucks, 1 blows" precept of "live-television-with-Chinese-characteristics". the thing about chunjie wanhui is that its INCREDIBLY SCHMALTZY. why don't they address that fault? I love this headline from this morning's CCTV website: 53.8%的观众认为央视春晚办得很好 Hmm, meaning the other half thought ... >>Hmm, meaning the other half thought... Ingrates! On a more positive note, I see that my instructions were followed to the letter. |
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