A TV?talent show will start on the Zhejiang Television in
December, aimed at choosing leading actors and actresses in a newly
TV series adapted from the famous classic Chinese novel Journey
to the West.
The talent selection will last no longer than two and half a
months. It will move into the final stage next February, finally
ending in May.
Legal Evening News reported on Monday the reality show
has been issued a permit by the national authority, the State
Administration of Radio Film, and Television (SARFT).
Zhejiang Television, who is to broadcast the program, has
pledged that it will strictly abide by regulations issued by SARFT
on October 1.
Du Fang, vice-director of Zhejiang TV's Program Department
revealed that the entire national selection process will not be
broadcast, only necessary video clips edited into the news. The
program will be confined to 10 editions and with each shorter than
90 minutes. What more, the show will not be broadcast at prime
time.
The top contestants in the selection show will snatch the
coveted roles in the new TV series called Journey to the
West. Those roles are the monk Xuanzang, who is determined to
travel west in search of Buddhist sutras, and his three disciples,
the capable Monkey, greedy Pig, Friar Sand and some smaller
demons.
Organizers of the show have expressed that they will keep their
promise to the champions selected in the show and give them a role
in the new TV series. However, it is still not decided what role
they will assume and how big a part they will have.
Before this, Beijing TV broadcast a similar reality TV show
about another classic Chinese novel, A Dream of Red
Mansions. Unfortunately it turned out that some winners were
not guaranteed a role in the final production.
Reality TV shows like "Super Girl" and "Happy Boy" have become
quite popular in China of late causing a viewing frenzy.
?
(CRI.cn November 13, 2007)