Drama Series Production

Here is the breakdown. Chinese drama series production sits at the heart of one of the world's largest scripted-television markets, anchored by Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang — the largest backlot complex on earth, with a Forbidden City replica, Tang Dynasty Imperial Palace, Qing Dynasty Palace, Republic of China Street and Hong Kong Street standing for the costume dramas that dominate iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku and Mango TV — alongside the Qingdao Oriental Movie Metropolis Wanda complex with the largest soundstages in Asia, the Huayi Brothers studios in Suzhou and Hainan, and the China Film Group Huairou base outside Beijing.

Here is how this works in practice. We give production support for scripted series shooting in China, working with department heads from the Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama graduate pool that delivered Empresses in the Palace, Story of Yanxi Palace, Nirvana in Fire, Word of Honor, The Untamed, Joy of Life and the Tencent Three-Body Problem adaptation through Linmon Pictures.

Here is what that looks like on the ground. Period drama is China's signature scripted export. We set up with the costume houses, prop suppliers and historical consultants around Hengdian and Beijing that specialise in Han, Tang, Song, Ming, Qing and Republican-era authenticity. Modern urban drama shoots through Shanghai's Bund and Pudong, Beijing's CBD, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Ode to Joy, Nothing But Thirty and the slate of office and family dramas that move ratings on Dragon TV, Hunan TV and Zhejiang TV.

Here is how the picture comes together. The picture on the ground is more specific. Global co-productions are processed through NRTA pre-script approval and CFCC permits. This bypass the thirty-four-foreign-film theatrical quota when co-production status is granted, and our team supports the bilingual crews, sensitive-content review around PLA, religion, ethnic minorities, time-travel and supernatural elements, and the localisation work Chinese TV networks and streamers need. Post-prod runs through Chinese VFX houses including Base FX and More VFX, with audio post and DCP finishing for streaming sites delivery.