With a contemporary urban background and a "latent spy" perspective, the TV series "Opponent" revealed the difference from traditional spy dramas at the beginning of CCTV's eight sets. This difference comes from the creative pursuit of screenwriter Wang Xiaogun all along - innovation. With the hit "Rival", the novel of the same name was published by Writers Press. The novel "Opponent" is another spy war work launched by Wang Xiaogun after "Mask", "Secret Messenger" and "Pursuer". The novel uses realistic techniques to show the struggle between spies and counter-espionage in peacetime, not only revealing the common routines of spies, helping to popularize counter-espionage knowledge, but also praising those national security guards who guard national security. A few days ago, the reader reporter exclusively interviewed Wang Xiaogun and asked him to talk about the story behind "Opponent".
When he came out of the Hujialou subway station, Lao Wei subconsciously stopped for a moment and raised his hand to block the blinding sunlight. But after staying for such a moment, a polite but extremely impatient voice came from behind him: "Trouble let me go." Before Old Wei could completely let go, several figures had already hurried past him. Obviously, it has passed the busiest stage of the morning peak, but the people here have no intention of slowing down. Old Wei was only a second or two slower at the elevator entrance, and he had already become a stumbling block for the flow of people.
This rhythm makes Lao Wei both strange and familiar—the city he lives in is not as turbulent as Beijing, but his work is like an underground undercurrent, quiet, tortuous, turbulent, and even dangerous. However, these words that make people feel nervous must not reveal half a point on the surface. Just like his appearance at the moment, his appearance is not proud, he is dressed ordinary, his reaction is a little sluggish, he was pulled by someone at the elevator entrance, and he did not have any temper, slowly out of the subway station, towards the Chaoyang Theater next to the station entrance.
So, who would have thought that Lao Wei was actually a police officer from the Xiamen State Security Bureau?
……
Writer Wang Xiaogun at the beginning of the novel "Opponent", with a series of actions by Lao Wei, restores the fast-paced sense of urgency in the noisy big city, and also sets the tone of the story for the whole work. The novel tells the story of how the national security police officers discovered the clues of enemy spies in their uneventful lives, and with wisdom and courage, they fought against cunning opponents all the way to win the victory.
Wang Xiaogun has won the Zhao Shuli Literature Award, Huading Award for Best Screenwriter nomination, etc., wrote a number of spy dramas, after writing the first spy drama "Secret Envoy", writing "The Pursuer" to try to mix espionage and comedy, writing "Mask" to unfold the narrative from the perspective of an enemy agent. In "Opponent", he continued to look for new perspectives, from the story to the characters, the original intention of writing is only one: to write differently.
The novel "Opponent" subverts everyone's stereotype of the theme of espionage warfare, and the spy image portrayed in many film and television dramas is either a bold and beautiful woman with a variety of styles and self-restraint, or a man with eight-pack abs, agile hands, melancholy and alert eyes; many spy war type novels, full of doubts, mysterious characters, experience thrills, and make people watch their hearts beat faster. But "Opponent" tells everyone that the sense of luxury and coolness seen in the past is slightly contrived, a talking taxi driver husband and a wife who has hyperthyroidism and emotional instability, two people are careful about life, quarreling for children, complaining about money, fireworks become protective covers, and two spies live in peace for eighteen years.
Swim between warmth and cruelty, between reality and ideals. The weeping ones have a warm heart, the runners hold roses in their hands, the grateful ones search up and down — all looking for their opponents.
Compared with the public security police, the people do not know much about the people's police of the state security organs. As an important part of the people's police force, cadres and police officers of state security organs have always been unknown because of the particularity of their work content. They have inherited and carried forward the red gene and fine traditions of the party's hidden front, are not afraid of sacrifice, take risks and make difficulties, fight with wits and courage, dare to show their swords, and have played an important role in defending socialist state power, maintaining social harmony and stability, and protecting the safety of people's lives and property. In the novel "Opponent", we can see that they will also have troubles, family and work can not be taken care of; they will also be hurt, close people around them may have ulterior motives; they will also lose their temper because their children do not write homework, they will complain when they have no time for weddings, and they will be lonely when they see their former lovers have a new life. These national defenders also have fireworks, but they are more cute and respectable.
【Dialogue with Wang Xiaogun】
◆ Reader's Daily: What is the origin of the creation of "Opponent"?
Wang Xiaogun: Three years ago, CCTV News broadcast a lot of news on National Security Day about Taiwan spies being arrested on the mainland. It's an opportunity to open up creative ideas.
◆ Reader's Daily: Compared with your previous spy works, what is the innovation of "Opponent"?
Wang Xiaogun: In essence, it is all about depicting a special profession, some people that we usually can't reach. Spies and counter-spies are both very special characters, espionage is only a coat, the character is the core. Modern espionage is closer to the audience, zero distance, relatively speaking, the every move of the people in the play is easier for the audience to empathize. Spiritual difficulties are a different manifestation.
◆ Reader's Daily: What is the biggest problem you encountered in the creation?
Wang Xiaogun: The advantage is that the theme is scarce, and the audience watches the drama is like the new and tired of the old. Correspondingly, the obstacle is also related to this, there is no reference to anything, you can only feel the stones to cross the river.
◆ Reader's Daily: In the works, in addition to the mystery of the national security police, how to make readers resonate is crucial. How do you think about that?
Wang Xiaogun: An excellent spy drama, the standard is definitely that the plot is not conventional, the rhythm is bright, and on the basis of these two, a group of attractive characters are created. The type is actually not important, finding a person with brilliance is the key. In the final analysis, character development is the most critical and the most important.
▲ Stills from the TV series "Opponent"
◆ Reader's Daily: You are the novel author of "Rival" and the screenwriter of the TV series of the same name. What are the emphases or differences in content presentation?
Wang Xiaogun: The novel is actually more personal, there are more things for self-expression, and the psychological state of the protagonist and some details in the plot are also richer. The script and the final film, for various reasons, will certainly make some necessary deletions, which are preserved in the novel.
Novels are actually more complete in terms of self-expression.
◆ Reader's Daily: Under the premise that many readers already know the ending of the novel, how to attract more TV drama viewers is a difficult point. Did you consider this during your screenwriting process?
Wang Xiaogun: I personally think there is a difference between the group that reads books and watches TV dramas. They are two different groups of people. In today's fast-paced society, there are not many people who can calm down and hold a book, and there are not many people who read quietly, these people are scarce. I have a lot of respect for them. In the novel, the characters' hearts will be richer, and these subtexts and psychological activities are actually a kind of communication between the author and the reader.
◆ Reader's Daily: For you, what is the appeal of spy writing?
Wang Xiaogun: The first spy drama I wrote was called "The Secret Envoy", about 12 years ago. Spy drama is actually a variant of detective drama, which has a natural commonality with mystery novels, detective novels, and police dramas in essence. The plot tension, the special relationship between the characters, the rich inner world, and the dilemma of each character are all elements that attract the interest of the audience and readers. Domestic spy TV dramas have always been a type with a large audience group, and many high-grossing movies abroad are also this theme.
◆ Reader's Daily: Nowadays, many readers' tastes are becoming more and more tricky, in your opinion, how can spy works meet this evolving demand?
Wang Xiaogun: Good works will have a golden thread. The requirement is that the plot is not conventional, the rhythm is bright, and on the basis of these two, a group of attractive characters is created. The type is actually not important, finding a person with brilliance is the key. Character is the top priority.
◆ Reader's Daily: In addition to spy works, do you have any plans to try other themes next?
Wang Xiaogun: In a "Meritorious Service" broadcast in 2021, I created the unit of "Unsung Hero Yu Min" in it. This is also a new attempt. What I am working on now is a main theme called "The Compound of the County Party Committee", which depicts the story of a county party secretary and his colleagues. I had never thought of such a genre before, and it would have made me feel fresh. Freshness is especially important for creators.
In addition, in peacetime, I like to read some historical novels, and I can't spy every day.
(Readers' Daily All-Media Reporter He Jian)
Editor: Wang Xin Responsible Editor: Dong Xiaoyue Review: Zhou Hua