1979 Golden Age

Ministry of Culture.

Ding Qiao came early in the morning, brewed a cup of tea in the office, and read today's morning newspaper first. The whole page was full of news about Thatcher's upcoming visit to China, and the two sides started consultations on the Hong Kong issue.

"What is there to negotiate? Hong Kong must return!"

"If it weren't for multiple factors, we would have taken Hong Kong back long ago."

He used to be a journalist and knew a lot of inside information. He was mumbling in the room, and suddenly someone walked in and said with a smile: "Old Ding, you are early enough!"

"You are also early!"

Ding Qiao stood up quickly. The person who came was none other than Zhu Muzhi, the head of the Ministry of Culture. He was 66 years old this year and should have retired, but he was well-qualified and experienced, and the organization still needed him to continue working.

"I met with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. They meant that they were responsible for the food, accommodation and entertainment of Hong Kong personnel in Beijing, and they would not be responsible for the TV gala, and we had to do it."

Zhu Muzhi said.

"I have also held meetings and studied it these days. It is really not easy to hold a unique evening party. Most of the comrades are still old-fashioned. They start with political tasks. What is the difference from before?"

Ding Qiao is in charge of movies. It is not his job scope, but who made this matter proposed by someone under his command and is being implemented?

The leader is benefited by his subordinates.

"So I plan to let Xiao Chen do it. He is young and has a flexible mind. He is familiar with Hong Kong people. It is the best choice."

"Well, that's the reason. The evening party must be unique. Otherwise, we will become a joke if we fight for this leading power!"

Zhu Muzhi nodded and was also very emotional. Who would have thought that the Ministry of Culture would produce such a talent? The movie is well made, it can also earn foreign exchange, and it can also be united front. One fish has three uses...

Seeing that the time is almost up, one person carried a large pot of tea and went to the meeting room.

…………

Huang Yihe is in his 40s this year.

He joined the army in 1949 and joined the art troupe. In 1950, he went to the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. After demobilization, he joined CCTV as an editor and director.

He just received a task. The station assigned him to be the director of this evening party and to cooperate with the Ministry of Culture. It was a bit puzzling. How come the TV evening party was not decided by the TV station, but also had to cooperate with the Ministry of Culture?

But since the organization had arranged it, he had to obey.

In the morning, he rode his bicycle to the Ministry of Culture, hurried upstairs, and found the meeting room.

…

Chen Qi was already familiar with the Ministry of Culture.

In the past, every time he came, he almost always caused trouble, and he had to argue with the scholars. Later, as his achievements gradually became more and more impressive, he had fewer and fewer troubles, and more and more people stood on his side.

Maybe everyone figured it out, why oppose Chen Qi?

He is young, has no room for promotion, has no conflict of interest, and his achievements are the glory of the entire system. Why oppose?

“Xiao Chen!”

“Xiao Chen is here!”

Many people took the initiative to greet him, and he responded with a smile one by one, found a seat and sat down. People came one after another, and they were a little surprised to see Zhu Muzhi. The full-time leader personally participated?

"Everyone is here, be quiet!"

Ding Qiao, the host, said: "Let me introduce a comrade first. This is Huang Yihe, the director of CCTV, and also the director of this evening party. Everyone, please cooperate well."

Huang Yihe stood up and nodded.

Chen Qi glanced at him. This man is very capable. He has been the director of five Spring Festival Galas in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1990.

After a few polite words, Ding Qiao said: "Xiao Chen is in Hong Kong. I called him back from afar. The capable should do more work. The organization decided to give this task to you. What do you think?"

"I accept the task!"

"Well, everyone is here today. You talk about your ideas first?"

"Okay!"

Chen Qi took the lead. He turned his head and looked at Huang Yihe. Huang Yihe was also looking at him, with some dissatisfaction in his eyes - CCTV has not been tortured by Chen Qi. It is natural for the old director to cooperate with the young people.

"..."

Chen Qi smiled and said, "Director Huang, how big a studio can CCTV provide?"

The other party was stunned. He didn't expect to ask this first, and said, "About 600 square meters!"

"Stage scenery, lighting, microphones, etc., the station has them, right?"

"All!"

"What about costumes?"

"The station didn't give any funding, no costumes and labor fees, the actors provide their own costumes. Or if you have sufficient funds, you can allocate some money."

Chen Qi didn't take it up, and continued: "Put up round tables, seven or eight people at a table, how many tables can be put up?"

"Leave the stage space, can seat more than 100 audiences!"

"If it's live broadcast, can you meet the live broadcast standards?"

"..."

Huang Yihe pursed his lips, He was not used to the other party's straightforward and condescending style, but he couldn't lose face for CCTV, so he said, "It can be achieved!"

"Okay!"

Chen Qi expressed his understanding, paused, and said, "Let's do it one by one!

First, determine the name. Since it is during the Spring Festival, why not broadcast it on New Year's Eve and call it "Spring Festival Gala"!

The tone should be joyous and happy. We don't do serious things. This gala is to make the people happy.

But it can't be too casual. There must be big ideas. For example, the host must say at the beginning: "We wish a happy new year to the people of all ethnic groups in the country, our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao, our compatriots in Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and the Chinese people all over the world!"

Hiss!

The whole audience took a deep breath at Director Ha Wen.

Someone said: "Xiao Chen, it would be great to include compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao. Aren't compatriots from Taiwan a little sensitive?"

"Why are you so sensitive? Today I am looking for Hong Kong stars, and next year I will look for Taiwanese stars. Isn't it appropriate to talk about Taiwan compatriots? And we can distribute the video of this party to Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas. How many Chinese people are there out there? !”

Chen Qi continued: "In the format of the party, I want to interact with the audience. I will set up several phones on site. The audience can call in to request programs, leave messages, express opinions, and set up a few riddles for the national audience to guess. If they guess correctly, they will be given small gifts. .

It doesn’t have to be expensive, anything like a notebook or pencil case will do! "

“Depending on the specific content, depending on the characteristics of the venue, we can’t do big shows, such as chorus, group dance and other multi-person group projects, so we have to be small but precise, with a hundred flowers blooming.

For those who like to listen to singing, solos and small choruses will be arranged; for those who like to watch dancing, solo dances and duets will be arranged; for those who like language, crosstalk and sketches will be arranged; for folk arts, magic, acrobatics, and opera..."

"Wait a moment, what is the skit?" Huang Yihe was confused.

"It's just a short drama that a few people perform for less than 20 minutes. The theme can be positive, or it can criticize current ills, but the form must be mainly amusing."

There is no concept of "skit" in China now. It was the Spring Festival Gala that gave birth to this program format.

“In terms of staffing, we need to find the most popular actors in various fields.

For singing, go to Li Guyi, for cross talk, go to Ma Ji, for filming, go to Li Lianjie, for singing, go to Yuan Shihai, and so on.

There will be 4-6 hosts tentatively. There will be a main host who will be responsible for following the process and grasping the tone, and a deputy host who will be responsible for joining the show and not leaving any gaps between programs..."

Chen Qi said a lot in one breath.

Everyone was dumbfounded, including Huang Yihe. When he received this task, he racked his brains to think about how to come up with something new. He did have some inspirations, and some of his ideas coincided with each other.

But these things seem to have been in Chen Qi's mind for a long time, and they are more complete and thoughtful.

"The organization assigned me tasks, and I tried my best, but to be honest, I really don't have much time. I still have a lot of things to do in Hong Kong, and I have to leave in a few days."

After Chen Qi finished speaking, he added: "Let's finalize the big picture first, and then study the details later. Director Huang has to worry a lot about this."

"..."

There was silence for a moment, and then Zhu Muzhi suddenly spoke and joked: "It seems that everyone is not used to this speed. Xiao Chen is very efficient in doing things. Let's not hold back. We must set the framework today and everyone can express their opinions on what they think is not appropriate." , let’s discuss it together.”

It became lively in an instant, you said something to me.

Since there are no specific programs, there are not many things targeted, and the focus is mainly on "entertainment." Everyone agrees that it should not be too serious, but this scale must be grasped.

Overall, I really didn’t hold back this time and basically agreed with Chen Qi’s idea.

After coming out of the Ministry of Culture, Chen Qi found Huang Yihe and said, "Director Huang, how about this. You and I each come up with a program list, we pair up, and then we start preparations immediately. The framework is easy to figure out, the process is easy to figure out, and the program is the core ”

"Okay, when will we discuss it?"

"Tomorrow!"

"tomorrow???"

Huang Yihe was startled. Chen Qi's accelerated working state made everyone unaccustomed.

"I'll be leaving in a few days, I really don't have time!"

"Okay, let's meet tomorrow."

He had no choice but to agree.

(There will be more tonight...)