281 letters

Author: Niu Chaoyang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The 281 Letters tells the youthful story of two beautiful girls and a pair of handsome boys. The two art school graduates travel all the way to Beijing to participate in a singing competition to fulfill their dream of becoming singers, during which a series of intricate, suspenseful, humorous, and touching events unfold. It is precisely because of the compelling plot and profound depth of The 281 Letters that Niu Chaoyang's script was immediately bought out by Liu Xiaoqing's company upon its completion. At 32, Niu Chaoyang is a songwriter and composer, and The 281 Letters is a television series he created based on his own life experiences. Before writing this series, he had also written another script titled The Teenage CEO. In February 2004, when The 281 Letters officially began filming, The Teenage CEO had already entered post-production. However, The 281 Letters gained Liu Xiaoqing's attention through a chance encounter. After writing The 281 Letters, Niu Chaoyang felt he was not a professional in the film industry, so he asked a friend to find someone experienced to review it. The friend then passed the script to Liu Xiaoqing. With numerous scripts waiting for her approval and too many people asking her to read them, she was too busy to go through them all and put the script aside for a while. However, since it was passed on by a friend, Liu Xiaoqing always kept it in mind, wanting to give her friend an answer. In early 2002, when she was heading to Jiaozuo, she casually put the script in her bag, planning to read it on the train and provide some feedback. But she couldn’t put it down once she started. The dramatic plot and vivid characterizations captivated her. Her feelings were expressed at a press conference on February 1, where she said, “I love watching fashion dramas, but I’ve always thought none of them were good. I’ve read many scripts, like eating too much meat, but seeing The 281 Letters was like eating a plate of fresh, green vegetables—it’s so refreshing and appealing. It’s a heartwrenching love story like Ghost and the Darkness or The Blue Bridge. Although I’m not the protagonist, I’ve always been moved by this story. When I was struggling, I often thought, if I ever get the chance to act again and become a producer, the first thing I’d do is make The 281 Letters.” On the noisy train, she finished reading the full 20-episode script and, upon returning to Beijing, immediately had someone find the writer to discuss it. Niu Chaoyang never expected his script to receive such recognition from a big star like Liu Xiaoqing. He came to see her with nervous anticipation. Perhaps to hide his nervousness, or maybe Liu Xiaoqing’s encouraging gaze ignited his creative passion, he spoke passionately about his ideas, concepts, and the social significance and typicality of the characters. Liu Xiaoqing was impressed by his talent. Although she had other appointments to meet, her friend kept reminding her, but she still listened intently to Niu Chaoyang. After he finished speaking, Liu Xiaoqing immediately stated, “We will make this script. We want to turn it into a modern Chinese youth idol drama and challenge Japanese and Korean shows of the same kind.” Due to prior commitments, their meeting ended there, and at parting, Liu Xiaoqing and Niu Chaoyang agreed on a time for their next discussion. Niu Chaoyang is a figure in the music industry, but he dreams of being a director, especially of directing his own written work. Therefore, when he came to discuss the script with Liu Xiaoqing a second time, accompanied by his wife, he directly proposed, “Can I direct The 281 Letters?” Liu Xiaoqing was moved by his sincerity, determination, and confidence. After careful consideration, she finally agreed, jokingly telling Niu Chaoyang, “You wait—once this show airs, your phone will be bombarded with calls.” Although it was a joke, it also showed her high regard for the project. Liu Xiaoqing’s sudden imprisonment made the scheduled June 15, 2002, start date for filming indefinitely, causing Niu Chaoyang great anxiety. Many industry insiders knew The 281 Letters had caught Liu Xiaoqing’s eye, trusting her judgment, and they were willing to pay high prices for it. Niu Chaoyang, unwilling to let it go, kept it in storage, eagerly waiting for Liu Xiaoqing. So, when people admired A Feng’s unwavering love for Liu Xiaoqing, some also joked that Niu Chaoyang was “unwavering” in his support as well. Such a highly regarded drama by Liu Xiaoqing herself was being directed by someone who had never before held the title of director, causing doubts among the cast and crew and the investors from Huabai Century Media Investment Company. However, Liu Xiaoqing remained unfazed. She said, “First, the script is excellent; second, Niu Chaoyang is very talented; and third, I’m here.” People often say Liu Xiaoqing loves to exaggerate, but this time, no one thought she was talking big. Indeed, Huabai Century Media Investment Company was willing to invest heavily in the show solely because of Liu Xiaoqing. They understood that in the film industry, the name “Liu Xiaoqing” is a golden seal of approval. Her artistic, experience, expertise, and dedication give everyone confidence. Thus, in The 281 Letters, Niu Chaoyang made his directorial debut, fulfilling his dream. To ensure the entire crew fully trusted and respected Niu Chaoyang’s directorial vision, Liu Xiaoqing announced at the show’s launch on February 1, “We operate under a director-responsibility system. We must follow the director’s lead.” Niu Chaoyang was deeply grateful for Liu Xiaoqing’s support and worked with extra dedication. According to Niu Chaoyang, his wife is pregnant and is expected to give birth in early April. Therefore, Niu Chaoyang’s shooting plan was to wrap up filming in early April, determined to have his child around the time The 281 Letters was completed. He even had a name in mind for his child: “Niu Xin” ()—in honor of The 281 Letters. Liu Xiaoqing valued this television series not only because she wanted to use it to create a brand for Chinese youth dramas but also because the show dared to explore the depths of the entertainment industry with boldness and depth.