Coinciding with the launch of the State Administration of Taxation's annual Taxation Law campaign, which started on April 1, the shooting of China's first TV sitcom series -- Stories in the Taxation Office (Shuiwusuo de Gushi) featuring the work and life of the local taxation officers, started last weekend in Beijing.

The 40-part series, scripted by Ying Zhuang and Bai Zhilong, is produced by the Beijing Yings Productions Inc affiliated with the Beijing Poly Asia Union Films Co, Ltd, and the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau, and is being invested in by the Beijing Emily Trading and Investment Co.

Starring Ying Da, Mei Ting, Jia Ni, Ding Xiaohan and Zhao Yi, the sitcom tells the story of the reform of the country's local taxation policy and its impact upon ordinary tax payers, and the joys, sorrows, frustrations, hopes and dreams of average local taxation collectors and their families, said director Ying Da, chairman of Beijing Yings Productions Inc.

Ying and his team have produced a couple of hugely successful sitcoms over the past 11 years. Among them are I Love My Family and Sister Ma, the Idler.

"I hope this TV comic series, which delves into the inner world of the tax collectors and tax payers, will be another hit. The viewers will find that the sitcom is filled with humorous sub-plots full of suspense and fully-grown, solidly portrayed characters. The viewers will also be surprised to see an unfamiliar side of the usually serious-looking taxation officers," he said.

Ying and his production team have tried a different approach to tell the stories in the taxation office.

For instance, he has hired a group of actors and actresses who have had little TV or film experience.

Ying Da himself will make his TV screen debut playing Chen Shengli, a former military officer and now older member of a local taxation office in the western suburbs of Beijing.

His younger brother Ying Zhuang, the famed comic scriptwriter, plays Zhong Ming, head of the local taxation office.

Many famous film stars such as actress Xu Fan will play cameo roles in the comic series.

"Acting in this TV series about local taxation officers is also part of my job," she said, because Xu herself is the spokesperson of the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau. She often participates in publicity campaigns to promote public awareness of the importance paying taxes on time.

(China Daily April 5, 2004)