A group of Chinese filmmakers entered the TV and online series market to create something special: an online series about the youth of the 1980s in a northern city in China.
A promotional picture featuring five friends from the online series "Burning Years." [Photo courtesy of Youku]
Wen Muye, the director known for blockbusters such as "Dying to Survive" and "Nice View," along with his longtime team and collaborators, was eager to explore new realms in his career.
One day, Wen and Han Xiaohan, the scriptwriter and B-team director of Wen's films, discussed their shared interest in gritty stories about brotherhood in the gangster world. They keenly recognized the rarity of such content and genre in the market, fueling their desire to create a drama with the style of a gangster movie.
That moment led to the creation of the online series "Burning Years," a drama portraying the lives of five young individuals with distinct personalities. As they navigate a rapidly changing era, their diverse choices steer them onto divergent paths, ultimately turning former best friends into adversaries who part ways. The series captures the essence of passionate, poignant, and struggling young people.
"Burning Years" recently completed its broadcast on the Youku video streaming platform in early December. It has received an impressive 8.1 out of 10 score on Douban, China's leading review aggregation site. Many viewers have hailed it as "one of the best online series" broadcast in 2023, offering a rare opportunity for the audience to enjoy a cinematic experience within an online series.
Wen served as executive producer and art director for the series, while Han took on the role of director. "Before I started directing, I didn't anticipate the immense pressure that comes with the role. You must stay focused on the creative process while constantly handling numerous trivial matters," Han shared with China.org.cn.
Han added that his collaboration with Wen was marked by strong rapport. Throughout the process, Wen provided valuable advice, helping him see the bigger picture and strengthening his skills in shooting and selecting materials to create the most effective edit for storytelling.
"One piece of advice he gave me that I found incredibly useful was, 'When filming, you need to capture everything and be insatiable, but when editing, you need to be ruthless,'" the director recalled.
A promotional image of Wang Lei, portrayed by actor Jia Hongxiao, in "Burning Years." [Photo courtesy of Youku]
The director also mentioned his experience watching Wen Muye's earliest short film, "Requiem" (2014), in which Jia Hongxiao played the lead role. "Jia's portrayal of a reserved and stoic character impressed me. So, we decided to cast him in this series and develop the character's personality and details based on the actor himself," he explained.
Han noted that Jia also contributed his own ideas during the script's creative and polishing process. "Jia made significant contributions to this drama, and we communicated extensively. He provided some excellent insights to incorporate into his role," Han said.
"The role I played represented a unique individual, an extreme example. He experienced things that we would never encounter in reality. Ultimately, I hope this drama will prompt caution and reflection in everyone," Jia told China.org.cn.
The actor praised the director's dedication and his all-out effort to make and perfect the online series. He also recalled the immersive atmosphere during the making of the drama. "Everyone was fully dedicated to their roles, even during our downtime. The chemistry between us was so natural."
Director Han said he hoped that his online series could depict genuine emotions that touch people's hearts, evoke nostalgia, and deliver powerful warnings to society.
"I hope this series prompts those who have lost themselves or strayed onto the wrong path to reflect, renew themselves, and move forward in their lives," Han said.
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