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Shanghai · Corporate film production

Temasek Connection

Shanghai production support for stories about technology, well-being and everyday life.

In 2016, Freeflow Productions brought in Alchemist Films to support the Shanghai production of two internal corporate films for Temasek. Our producer and Yanran Li researched contributors and locations, working through changes to the brief with Freeflow’s Singapore team and Temasek’s Shanghai colleagues.

A mother and daughter beneath the trees. Film still.
A mother and daughter beneath the trees. Film still.
Production partner
Freeflow Productions · Singapore
Client
Temasek
China production
Shanghai · 2016
Alchemist’s role
Local production support

Finding contributors and locations.

A contributor interviewed at home. Film still.
A contributor interviewed at home. Film still.

The films looked at shopping, home life, health and the use of technology. For each proposed scene, the director needed to see who could take part and where filming could work. Our producer and Yanran developed local options as Freeflow revised the scripts and shot list.

A contributor’s home had to suit the story and give the camera team room to film. One early house option felt too high-end for the brief, so we sent alternatives. The director reviewed the space and asked whether belongings could be moved to make room for the camera.

After meeting candidates or reviewing their videos, our producer sent photographs to the production. We revised the options in response to the director and client, working through the proposed participants, actions and settings before the visiting crew arrived.

A contributor interviewed in a grocery shop. Film still.
A contributor interviewed in a grocery shop. Film still.
Choosing produce in the shop. Film still.
Choosing produce in the shop. Film still.

Two hours in the supermarket.

Yanran confirmed a two-hour morning window at the supermarket. Freeflow planned a small number of setups for that slot and asked if it could be extended. We checked the possibility while continuing to plan around the two hours available.

We suggested scheduling a restaurant and a home scene together because the locations were close, and identified nearby parks that could fit into the same part of the day. The producer could then weigh travel time against contributor availability when refining the schedule.

For the call sheets, Freeflow requested addresses, travel estimates and restrictions at the other locations. We also discussed transport for the crew and client as the day’s schedule took shape.

A mother and daughter introduced in the film’s on-screen titles.
A mother and daughter introduced in the film’s on-screen titles.

Phones, props and the local crew.

Freeflow had difficulty downloading the required phone apps from Singapore. We proposed using locally available phones and agreed to source the fitness band selected for the script. What appeared on screen mattered for these technology scenes, so the props, phone content and wardrobe had to follow the latest script.

The local crew and equipment requirements changed during preparation too. We updated the production breakdown to include a gaffer and grip, along with camera and lighting equipment.

When Freeflow revised the rental periods, we confirmed that separate equipment runs were possible. This allowed the production to plan camera requirements and lighting days individually.

An environmental activity banner among the trees. Film still.
An environmental activity banner among the trees. Film still.

The films

Everyday lives.
A wider picture.

The Shanghai brief covered two films for Temasek’s internal use, exploring technology and well-being in China. The stills shown here follow the well-being themes through food, health, the environment and family life, with interviews and scenes of everyday activity.

The film title: Sustainability & Well-being for China’s Future Generations.
The film title: Sustainability & Well-being for China’s Future Generations.

Food and the environment · Film imagery

Rows of crops inside a greenhouse. Film still.
Rows of crops inside a greenhouse. Film still.
Wind turbines against an evening sky. Film still.
Wind turbines against an evening sky. Film still.

Temasek Connection

Project
Temasek Connection · Internal corporate films
Client
Temasek
Production company
Freeflow Productions · Singapore
Shanghai production support
Alchemist Films · Yanran Li
China filming
2016
Temasek Connection portfolio cover: China’s technology trend and lifestyle
Temasek Connection portfolio cover.

Planning a China shoot

Planning a contributor-based shoot in Shanghai.

Tell us what you want to film with each contributor, including the actions or interview topics and any camera requirements. Crew size and planned setups affect which homes, shops or parks are suitable, so include those details when we start researching options.

If a scene changes, let us know before the local arrangements are fixed. We can check whether it affects the contributor, location, props or time needed on the day. Alchemist Films can help with that research and preparation for your China shoot.

Production support in China

Bring us your Shanghai filming brief.

Tell us about your stories, proposed dates and visiting crew. We can discuss the contributor research, locations and local production support your project needs.

Discuss your China shootExplore our documentary work →