China
Overview:
Shanghai is China’s financial capital and is also the main centre for advertising.
Beijing is the cultural capital of China and focuses more on TV and Film production.
Most multinational companies have their China headquarters based in Shanghai
therefore you will find most China head offices of international advertising
agencies also based in Shanghai. Beijing agencies tend to look after the domestic
brands. Beijing budgets are smaller than Shanghai budgets but the volume of
work is much larger.
The advertising industry in Shanghai was mostly built by industry professionals
from Taipei and Hong Kong. The Beijing advertising industry is dominated more
by local industry professionals. Tapping into either the Shanghai or Beijing
industry therefore requires a markedly different approach.
Of the main Chinese advertising centres – Shanghai, Beijing Taipei and Hong
Kong, Beijing is in many ways the least established and the fastest growing.
Signs of Beijing’s rise as a creative centre can be seen in examples such as
District 798, an East-German designed factory complex that has become home
to dozens of contemporary art galleries, lofts, restaurants and creative companies.
Guangzhou is another Chinese production centre worth mentioning. The set construction
capability in terms of quality and cost is very impressive. It is also located
only one hour from Hong Kong so access to Hong Kong’s production resources
is easy and inexpensive.
Shooting in China:
Locations. China offers some of the worlds most stunning
modern architecture, turquoise white sandy beaches, rice paddies, traditional
villages, breathtaking car roads, deserts and salt plains, Himalayan peaks,
undiscovered forests and rivers and of course the world renowned Great Wall
and Forbidden City. At present it is not possible to shoot in the Forbidden
City but fortunately there is a life-sized Forbidden City back lot located
not far from Shanghai. We are also able to film more restricted locations, such as an aircraft carrier.
Location Restrictions. It typically takes four days for a location permit to shoot in a major city.
Shutting down streets in a major city is next to impossible.
A no-fly-zone applies to all major cities. Helicopter footage can be shot
elsewhere but it can take up to three weeks to get clearance for this.
Rules, regulations and procedures for setting up a production are different
for every part of China. It can take a bit of planning so choosing a service
company that has a strong nationwide on the ground network and established
operating procedures is essential.
When to shoot? China is a large country with a diversity of climates. In Shanghai the wet season is from May and June. Southern China is more tropical and northern China has very cold winters. It’s best to plan your shoot around Chinese New Year in February
and the first week of the month for May Day and October Labour Day. During
these periods it is next to impossible to shoot anything. Light pre-production
work is still possible.
For monthly weather statistics please see: http://www.gaisma.com/en/dir/cn-country.html
Please contact us for more specific weather and sun path information.
Costs. Competitive exchange rate. Chinese government currency controls keep the Chinese
Yuan undervalued and therefore the purchasing power of foreign currencies strong. Labour costs in China are very low. On average shooting in China costs about 25% less than shooting in the US.
Talent is non-union and costs are very low and flexible to the needs of every
production. If need be talent can also be hired at an hourly rate. Worldwide buyout and session fee costs approximately 5000USD.
Typically China has a shortage of good multicultural talent and western talent
brought in from Hong Kong can be expensive. In these instances talent can be
quickly and easily brought in from abroad. We maintain a strong international
network of casting agencies for exactly these situations. Street casting isn't very popular in China.
Please click here to view a list of talent agencies in China. http://www.kmodels.com/China-modeling-agencies-links2.htm
Creative talent. China has a small pool of local english speaking directors, directors of photography and stills photographers.
Please contact us for recommended directors, DoP's and photographers for your project.
Crew non-union. Rates and hours of work are negotiable and flexible to budgetary
requirements. Labour on the whole is abundant and very inexpensive in China.
There are no standard rules for crew fringes and they vary from region to region.
Most commercial production companies pay workers compensation insurance and
payroll tax.
Although crews understand the language of film most are not fluent in English.
Translators are provided to help jobs run smoothly. Production support is of
course fluent in English.
Premiums. No 6th or 7th day, weekend or night premiums with crew or talent.
A 30 - 50% surcharge does apply if you are going to shoot during Chinese New
Year or on the first week of the month of May Day and October Labour Day.
Equipment. China is Arri based with Panavision equipment easily imported from Hong Kong. China has a good stock of locally available equipment exists such as Arri
435, 535, Pegasus Crane, Libra Heads, Panther Dollies. For the more complicated
shoots requiring equipment such as Fly-Cam, Motion Control, Steady-Cam or Tracing
Car that can be easily accessed from Hong Kong suppliers.
Art department and set construction is innexpensive and quite good. China has played host to several feature films including Empire of the Sun, Last Emperor, Lust Caution, Mummy 3 and Hero.
Studios exist in all the major cities with the best facilities being in Shanghai
and Beijing.
Backlots. Forbidden City Backlot in Hengdian near Shanghai. Please see here for images - http://shanghaiist.com/2007/10/07/hengdian_world.php. There also exists a backlot of 1930's Shanghai that was built for Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun.
Tax. All business transactions within China incur tax up to 15% of total production
cost. Providing the commercial is to be aired outside of China and your payment
is made to the service company’s overseas bank account, you will not incur
this tax.
Most experienced service companies will have established financial procedures
and a Hong Kong bank account.
At present no tax incentives exist for foreign commercials or features to shot in China.
Post Production. Basic animation is available and cost efficient but it is
recommended to do more complicated post work outside of China. The main post production houses in Shanghai are Digital Vision, Fly Cool and PoP Post.
Film Stock. Kodak and Fuji stock is available in China. To avoid official delays
many chose to take film stock out of China as carry on luggage.
Visas and Work Permits. Visiting crews are not required work permits. Most
arrive under a tourist visa. Problems with government officials only start
when you are bringing in considerable amounts of equipment. Contact your local Chinese embassy / representative for more information.
Transportation Infrastructure. Roads are quite developed in the cities and most rural areas have at least two lane highways. Most major international airlines have flights into China. The best carriers for domestic flights are Air China and China Eastern.
Accommodation. Depending on the time of year a standard 4 / 5 star hotel room
costs around US$110 per night. It is less expensive to book hotels through
travel websites than from within China. For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Communication. Basic web posted casting, scouting and videoconferencing exists
in China. Bandwidth in China can be unreliable. Some websites are also blocked
from access.
Safety. With the right service company China is a safe, reliable and film friendly
shooting destination.
Our producing partner in China provides the highest standard of production
service.
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer in China, please contact us.
We are able to provide you with answers, bids and references quickly.
