Location Managers
Professional on-set location management keeping your Chinese locations running smoothly from Beijing, Shanghai, Hengdian.
Location management in China requires professionals who understand the country's multi-layered permit system — from the China Film Administration's national requirements to provincial film bureaus and local government approvals. Our location managers facilitate the mandatory local partnerships and navigate the complex regulatory framework foreign productions need.
We connect you with location managers experienced in China's unique filming environment. Our network includes professionals who manage shoots from Beijing's imperial landmarks to Shanghai's modern cityscapes, Hengdian's massive studio complex, and Yunnan's natural landscapes — providing the essential local expertise and connections your production needs.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete Location Management
From tech scouts through wrap, our location managers handle every aspect of your filming locations—so you can focus on making your production.
01
On-Set Management
- Daily location supervision
- Crew coordination on site
- Safety management
- Noise & crowd control
- Access management
Site Control
02
Permit Coordination
- Filming permit management
- Road closure coordination
- Authority liaison
- Compliance monitoring
- Documentation handling
Legal Compliance
03
Property Relations
- Owner communication
- Access negotiations
- Damage prevention
- Neighbor relations
- Community liaison
Relationship Management
04
Location Logistics
- Tech scout coordination
- Base camp setup
- Parking management
- Wrap & restoration
- Multi-location coordination
Smooth Operations
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Location Managers
01.
Local Permit Expertise
Expert navigation of Chinese permit systems through the China Film Administration and local film bureaus. We facilitate the mandatory local partnership arrangements and multi-agency approvals required for foreign productions.
02.
Location Knowledge
We understand the extensive advance permit requirements for filming at the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and other heritage sites managed by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
03.
Community Relations
Our location managers build productive relationships with property owners, local officials, and community stakeholders across China. We navigate cultural protocols and ensure positive community relations.
04.
Logistics Mastery
From Beijing's imperial landmarks to Shanghai's modern skyline and remote Yunnan locations, our managers coordinate the complex logistics of filming across China's vast territory.
On Location
Location managers running Cultural Relics Bureau heritage permits
Location management in China is a permit-routing discipline first and a logistics discipline second. The Cultural Relics Bureau gates filming at every protected heritage site — Forbidden City, Great Wall sections at Mutianyu and Jinshanling, the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang, the Terracotta Army at Xi'an, the ancient walled town of Pingyao, the Hongcun and Xidi villages in Anhui, the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven in Beijing — and approvals run alongside the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Radio and TV, the Shanghai Film Bureau and the provincial film bureaus that hold local jurisdiction.
Here is how this works in practice. Our location managers come out of the Beijing and Shanghai production-management community that services Huayi Brothers, Bona Film Group, Wanda Pictures, Alibaba Pictures, Tencent Pictures and iQIYI Pictures features along with the international units that route through CFCC, and they hold the named contacts at the heritage-site administration offices, the Public Security Bureau coordination desks and the Comune-equivalent local government offices that sign road closures, parking suspensions and crowd-control orders.
The picture on the ground is more specific. They know which Forbidden City courtyards open to camera and which never do, which Great Wall sections accept drone work under CAAC permits and which sit inside no-fly buffers, and how the Tibet, Xinjiang and military-adjacent zones need special-area permits that take extra weeks.
On the floor the location manager holds the day. Our managers run daily site supervision through the long twelve to fourteen hour Chinese shooting day, coordinate department access through the gate, manage Public Security Bureau presence for crowd and traffic work, monitor permit-compliance windows at each heritage site, and keep noise and access protocols clean against neighbour and community relationships that affect future shoots.
A few details matter here. Property owner liaison runs in Mandarin with CNY contracts and full VAT invoicing, damage prevention and restoration walks the location back to pre-shoot condition with photographic paperwork, and basecamp setup, parking management and multi-location coordination run alongside the CFCC content-review touchpoints that the local film bureau monitor checks on set. When the schedule shifts — a Cultural Relics Bureau time-slot recheck at the Great Wall, a Beijing air-quality red alert, a provincial bureau callback on a sensitive sight line — our location managers absorb it inside the shooting day and recover the day's page count before wrap.
ACT 03
FAQ
Location Management Expertise
What does a location manager do during production?
The location manager oversees all aspects of your filming locations—from arrival to wrap. This includes supervising crew on site, managing access and parking, coordinating with property owners, monitoring permit compliance, controlling noise and crowd issues, and ensuring the location is restored properly.
Do you handle permits and permissions?
Yes, our location managers coordinate all filming permits through the China Film Administration and regional film bureaus. Foreign productions require a Chinese production partner and multi-agency approvals. We handle all documentation, liaison with local authorities, and compliance requirements.
What about heritage sites and protected locations?
We specialize in managing complex locations including the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and other sites under the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. These require extensive advance permits and local partnership. Our managers navigate the multi-layered approval processes efficiently.
How do you handle neighbor and community relations?
Our location managers proactively communicate with neighbors before filming, address concerns during production, and ensure positive relationships. This community approach protects your production and maintains good standing for future shoots.
Can you manage multiple locations simultaneously?
Yes, for productions with multiple locations, we provide location management teams coordinating across all sites. Our managers communicate to ensure consistent standards and seamless company moves between locations.
What are typical location fees?
Location fees in China vary significantly by site and region. Heritage sites like the Forbidden City require substantial permit fees and advance arrangements. Our managers negotiate rates and handle all administrative requirements, with transactions typically in CNY.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need Location Management?
Tell us about your locations and we'll provide experienced managers for your production.