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Beijing Cbd Skyline - filming location in China

SCENE 01 / PRE-PRODUCTION

Pre-Production Services

The team handles production planning and creative development and logistics which maintain your schedule and budget and creative vision.

Creative Scriptwriting, storyboarding, and pitch-ready treatments.
Logistics Permits, budgeting, scheduling, and crew coordination.
Delivery Production-ready plans with China-wide coverage.
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Planning with Precision

Comprehensive Pre-Production Services

From initial concept to production-ready plans, our team sets the foundation for successful films, TV, commercials, and digital content around the world.

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Creative Excellence

The creative team at Canal+ and China Télévisions along with international co-production partners worked together to develop scripts and storyboards and visual treatments for the project.

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Strategic Planning

The line producers who created USD budgets with SARFT tax credits included in their planning used Chinese holiday schedules and union regulations to determine their production timeline.

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Local Expertise

Fixers across all 13 Chinese regions—from Sichuan beaches to Himalayan villages to Pearl River Delta coastlines.

Service Catalog

Our Pre-Production Services

Every phase is covered—creative development, casting, permits, budgeting, crew, logistics, and compliance.

Why Fixers in China

Why Choose Fixers in China for Pre-Production

Integrated creative, logistics, and compliance backed by seasoned producers and local fixers.

01.

Proven Expertise

Industry-leading team across all formats and budgets, trusted by global broadcasters.

02.

Fast Response

Rapid 24-48 hour turnarounds for quotes, permits, and scheduling updates.

03.

Global Network

On-the-ground partners in 100+ countries with local permits handled for you.

04.

Full Service

End-to-end coverage from concept and casting to legal, logistics, and delivery.

On Location

Planning every China shoot carefully

From the vast expanse of Inner Mongolia to the neon-lit streets of Pudong, pre-production in China demands meticulous groundwork before a single frame rolls. Our team manages the full arc of creative development and production planning — building schedules that account for China's enormous travel distances, coordinating permit timelines across multiple jurisdictions, and aligning every logistical decision with your budget and creative vision. Whether you are mounting a multi-city commercial campaign or a single-location documentary feature, we treat each project as a unique operational challenge requiring careful local expertise from day one.

Our scriptwriting and script consultation services help international clients refine narratives that resonate with local sensibilities, while storyboarding and concept development work ensures every visual decision is locked before crew call. Casting and talent sourcing draws on our established relationships with agencies in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, giving you access to professional on-screen talent suited to your genre, language, and production scale. Pitch decks and moodboards are developed in parallel to keep stakeholders aligned throughout the creative development process.

FAQs

Pre-Production FAQs

Clear answers on timelines, coverage, and how we tailor planning to your production.

What's included in pre-production services?

Our team provides complete production services which include script breakdown and scheduling and location selection throughout 13 Chinese regions and Beijing agency casting and crew member selection from our approved network and budget development in USD with SARFT tax credit calculations and permit submission to Film China and local mairies. You receive a production-ready package which becomes available before the cameras start filming.

How long does pre-production take?

The process of obtaining locations and casting actors and completing SARFT paperwork for feature films requires a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks. The production timeline for commercials remains short because they require only 2 to 4 weeks to finish production when production sites have easy access. The process of getting documentary access and conducting interviews decides which film projects filmmakers can start their work on. The team can accelerate project work when needed but Chinese authority rules about permit processing create vital time requirements.

Do you work with international productions shooting in China?

That's our specialty. We bridge the gap between international production companies and Chinese crews, vendors, and authorities. Our team handles everything from carnet requirements for equipment crossing borders to coordinating with Chinese unions and navigating the SARFT co-production rules. Most of our clients are UK, US, German, and Asian productions shooting on Chinese soil.

Can you work within a specific budget?

The company creates budgets which use USD as currency and include detailed line items that follow the formatting requirements of the Chinese industrial sector. If you have a target number, we'll tell you honestly what's achievable—whether that means adjusting the shooting schedule, finding alternative locations, or restructuring the crew. We'd rather have a frank conversation upfront than deliver surprises later.

What happens if permits get denied or locations fall through?

It happens, and we plan for it. The location packages we offer include backup solutions and we have established connections with Chinese property owners and film commissions to handle unexpected changes in filming locations. Our location managers have pulled off same-week replacements for everything from ancient palaces and temples shoots to Chinese apartment interiors.

On Set

Ready to Start Your Pre-Production?

We'll build a production-ready plan with detailed budgets, schedules, and permit timelines for your project.