The Global Media Site for Entertainment.
Menu
Before discos, clubs and video rentals arrived in China, which they inevitably did, there was very little in the way of entertainment, and it was especially sparse for foreign residents.
As in most homes across the world, television was the most popular medium and as such was used, in the 1980s at least, as a means of conveying the ‘Party Line’. Programmes, with the exception of an occasional documentary about another region of China, were full of Communist ideals and not-so-subtle propaganda. When we, back home, would have been watching ‘Soaps’ here we had ‘Electricity Part 13: electromagnetic force’ followed by ‘Radio for Amateurs: simple measuring of transistors’. Prime time slots were occupied by documentaries extolling the virtues of great military leaders or great Party members, or films about love of family and country conquering all. The news featured a great number of reports of wonderful increases of food production by ‘model’ communes. Sometimes a criminal trial would be reported on, the accused, head shaved and in manacles being roughly forced by two policemen to bow to the Court. Further footage showed a police van driving out into the country to the execution site. There was little light relief in the adverts either, which mostly featured tractors and heavy machinery.
Over the years a news bulletin in English appeared, along with more drama (although always moralistic), but the finer points of presenting were still missing: just as the final programme of the day was ending, a disembodied voice would say an abrupt “goodnight” and transmission would end – no music, no “thank you for watching”, just an instant blank screen. This would often be as early as 10.30 p.m., as everyone went to bed and arose much earlier than we were used to.
As more and more popular entertainment appeared on television, one Spring Festival the Chinese Television Company decided to put on the largest extravaganza ever staged, hosted by the famed Zhang Kun (the Terry Wogan of Beijing). Two foreign children were invited to take part (my daughter Anna and a French boy) in a sketch about a child’s birthday party and a money box. Despite the many comic lines, the basic moral of saving money (preferably with the sponsoring bank!) came across loud and clear.
Anna was needed ‘on set’ at 11.30 and we were invited to make ourselves at home and “rest awhile”. The hour came and went, only punctuated every ten minutes or so by someone putting his head around the door and encouraging us to “rest awhile”.
By 12.30 we felt we had rested quite enough – we had no books, drawing paper, games for the children and we were all feeling very bored. At last we were summoned, but not to start filming but to have lunch; a very tasty meal shared with a girl who juggled with her feet and a comedian. Assuring our hosts that we had indeed eaten well and sufficiently, we hoped to get on with the show as it were but our expectations were dashed when we were ushered in to a guest room of the hotel where there were two beds, a television and a bathroom, and where we might better “rest awhile”. It was ‘siesta’ time for the Chinese, so no hope of anything moving for a couple of hours, so when in Rome…
The afternoon drifted by, but at least we had television and we went for a walk around the small grounds of the hotel to relieve the boredom, until at last we were collected. A quick run-through of Anna’s lines, a brush of her hair and off we went – to the restaurant for dinner! By that time we were having serious doubts that we had maybe gone on the wrong day, especially as yet another “rest” was to be had after we’d eaten, but at last, at 10 o’clock in the evening we were summoned (perhaps we’d muddled am with pm). For the first time we met the other children taking part – not at their best either and the French boy kept falling asleep. They were taken off for a quick rehearsal and makeup, while Anna’s younger brother Tom kept the rest of us amused by throwing up all over the floor, which fortunately wasn’t carpeted.
Finally ready to go, except Zhang Kun wasn’t, so we all moved to another room bedecked in lights, backdrops and plastic grape vines to watch him complete the filming of a 5 minute comedy sketch, whereupon it was back to the ballroom we’d first seen those many hours before. Whilst the audience were rearranged so that the best dressed and most attractive were at the front, a team of electricians dismantled all the lights, but fortunately not the plastic grapes, from the other room and rewired them ready for use. I never did discover why they didn’t just use one room for all the filming.
One final run-through was called for by the producer, which seemed to go smoothly enough until the cameraman complained that the gold logo reflected the bright lights so much that all the camera could pick up was a white glare. Yet another delay while from somewhere were found a stepladder, a pot of matte varnish, a paintbrush and a man to use all three to tone down the glossy gold. To our amazement, when filming finally started at 11.45pm, it only took two takes: no one forgot their words and the children somehow managed to look fresh and awake.
By one in the morning they had each been given a commemorative coin from the bank and a rather expensive toy and had devoured most of the large creamy birthday cake ‘prop’ from their sketch – a messy affair as the kitchen was closed for the night and hands had to take the place of plates.
Sometimes boring, very tiring, but mostly a fascinating experience with fascinating people – a most entertaining way to spend 15 hours.
Also on TheatreArtLife:
6 Ways To Avoid Procrastination: Just Get It Done!
Patricia Farr was born in London and trained as a teacher, but opted out of state schools and taught English as a Foreign Language in London. She then worked in London for five years as a proofreader of film and cinema scripts and occasional novels. In 1975, Patricia married and spent one year in Rhode Island, where her husband attended the Naval War College after which she returned to Scotland to start a family. From 1981-1983 and 1985-1989, Patricia lived in Beijing where her husband served as the British Naval Attache. Following the appointments abroad, Patricia and her family returned to Scotland, where she and her family collected a large number of rescued or orphaned animals. Still desiring great adventures- our idea of a family holiday was driving a Land Rover from the north of Scotland to the Sahara Desert and back! After her husband's death in 2000, Patricia stayed in Scotland until moving in 2006 to Taipei. She then spent two years in Auckland, New Zealand followed by seven years on Rarotonga, Cook Islands serving as a volunteer Home Support Worker and working for an NGO setting up Caregiver, Palliative and Disability Support services. Following a brief interval back in Scotland to kick Breast Cancer up the a***, she now spends summers in Scotland and the rest of the year in Taipei where Patricia volunteers with the Tzu Chi Buddhist Compassion Relief Society. Patricia’s philosophy has always been to follow your dreams and see where the wind takes you. Never, ever let an opportunity pass you by because you fear it might not work out - don't be afraid of the opinions of the "dreamstealers": if it doesn't work out, admit it proudly, change direction and move on. As her husband always said "if it seemed like a good idea at the time, then it was a good idea".
Read Full Profile
© 2021 TheatreArtLife. All rights reserved.
Thank you so much for reading, but you have now reached your free article limit for this month.
Our contributors are currently writing more articles for you to enjoy.
To keep reading, all you have to do is become a subscriber and then you can read unlimited articles anytime.
Your investment will help us continue to ignite connections across the globe in live entertainment and build this community for industry professionals.
