The inaugural Neutron Star Fiction Monthly Film & TV Adaptation Value Potential List was unveiled on Nov. 1, awarding 10 works that could be adapted into either films or TV series. Taking place in Beijing, the event also promoted the close connection between literature and film.

Renowned screenwriter Chen Yu, chairman of Neutron Star Films, speaks at the Neutron Star Fiction Monthly Film & TV Adaptation Value Potential List release ceremony in Beijing, Nov. 1, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Neutron Star Films]

Neutron Star Films, Yida Media alongside Baihua Literature and Art Publishing House jointly announced the list to forge stronger connections between distinguished authors and film and TV producers. 

According to organizers, the initiative seeks to display literary works' potential to become film and TV adaptations. This provides a more diverse variety of compelling storytelling blueprints for film and TV creation, thereby fostering reciprocity and co-prosperous development between sectors of the media and entertainment industry.

Organizers spent a year gathering over 370 literary works from issues of Fiction Monthly, and its various versions, as well as Science Fiction Cube. All publications are distributed by Baihua Literature and Art Publishing House. After three rounds of evaluations by experts and industry leaders, five short stories and five novellas were chosen. The final 10 works were selected based on having the highest potential for film and TV adaptation.

For best short stories, the five works selected were "Night Wanderer," "Birds Fly into the Forest," "The Case of the Missing Shepherd," "1993" and "Going to the Future for Shopping." For best novellas "Land of No Name," "Architecture Ethics," "Remain Silent," "Mutual Hunt" and "High Building in the Northwest" were chosen as potential source material for film and TV adaptions. The selected works cover topics such as romance, martial arts and contemporary urban life. Among them, "Night Wanderer" and "Land of No Name" were the highest-voted works in the short story and novella categories, respectively.

The organizers promised that they will deliver these literary works to production companies within the film and TV industry. This initiative aims to fully meet the market's demand for a diverse range of film and TV content while also addressing the various needs of streaming platforms and their audiences.

Organizers of the event pose with the shortlisted works' writers for a photo at the Neutron Star Fiction Monthly Film & TV Adaptation Value Potential List release ceremony in Beijing, Nov. 1, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Neutron Star Films]

"The profound expression of classic literature is still needed in the fragmented viewing atmosphere of the short video era, thus adaptations of classic literature into films and television series have 'essential' value in this age," veteran screenwriter Chen Yu pointed out during the event to announce the 10 literary works.

Chen Yu, also a professor at Peking University and a famed director, is responsible for several blockbusters that were directed by China's prominent filmmaker Zhang Yimou, such as "Under the Light" and "Full River Red." Chen Yu founded Neutron Star Films and has served as its chairman since last year.

He noted that the film and TV industry's lack of original content makes the search for excellent stories urgent. For the 10 shortlisted works, Chen Yu not only highlighted their textual values but also offered guidance on potential methods to develop them into film and TV projects, providing project references and discussing their relevance to contemporary values.

Speakers pose for a photo on stage after a forum themed "How film and TV works draw nutrients from literature," held following the Neutron Star Fiction Monthly Film & TV Adaptation Value Potential List release ceremony in Beijing, Nov. 1, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Neutron Star Films]

A forum themed "How film and TV works draw nutrients from literature" was held following the announcement of the list, with six heavyweight speakers joining the panel to share their insight and experiences. 

During the session, Chen Yan (no relation to Chen Yu), vice chairman of the Chinese Writers Association and the China Theatre Association, emphasized that even short literary works should convey a grand theme and delve into the finer details of life, focusing primarily on a rich depiction of human nature. Regarding cinematic adaptations, he noted that while film and TV versions of literary works should respect the original work's intent, scriptwriters should also have the freedom for creative interpretation.

Chen Yu believes that to determine whether a novel is worth adapting into a film or TV drama several criteria should be considered, including whether the work possesses contemporary relevance and originality as well as features distinctive characters and character relationships.

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