Guangzhou Cinematographer

DoP-led, bilingual cinematography for commercials, branded content, and documentaries in Guangzhou—and across the Greater Bay Area.

Built for Guangzhou productions:

Cinematography workflow

1) Look development

We align color references, contrast curves, and diffusion choices with your brand and distribution. For Pearl River nightscapes, we plan flicker‑safe exposure at 50 Hz mains (e.g., shutter angles yielding 1/50s or 1/100s when appropriate) to keep LED signage clean.

2) Lighting plan

Humid subtropical air gives soft sky wrap but raises haze—great for depth if controlled. We spec LED/HMI with high CRI/TLCI, soft boxes, large diffusion, and negative fill for shape. For crowded promenades, we keep units compact and battery‑friendly.

3) Camera & glass

Alexa Mini LF / Amira, Sony Venice/FX9, RED V‑Raptor / Komodo‑X, with anamorphic or clean s35/large‑format looks. Stabilization via gimbal + sticks/sliders; lightweight car rigs for Zhujiang New Town loops.

4) Crew & continuity

Bilingual DoP and 1st AC, local gaffer & key grip, DIT/data wrangler, sound, HMUA. Cantonese/Mandarin coverage for interviews; English‑speaking HODs available.

Gear pipeline & availability

Guangzhou’s rental market is strong and reinforced by Shenzhen/Hong Kong. Same‑day swaps are realistic via high‑speed rail. Typical packages below; ask for full manifests.

BodyUse caseCommon builds
ARRI Alexa Mini LF / AmiraPremium commercial, natural colorLF + Ultra Primes / Sigmas; Amira + zoom (24–290 or 30–80)
Sony Venice / FX9Flexible TVC/doc hybridVenice Rialto for car interiors; FX9 + E‑mount cine zooms
RED V‑Raptor / Komodo‑XHigh‑speed, compact rigsLightweight anamorphics; gimbal‑oriented builds

Overflow gear can be sourced from Shenzhen or Hong Kong if local stock is tight; fast rail legs enable late adjustments.

Power & flicker control

Mains & distro

China mains is 220 V/50 Hz single‑phase and ~380 V three‑phase. We provide licensed electricians, RCD/GFCI protection, and film‑quiet generators when tie‑ins aren’t possible.

Flicker‑safe settings

Under 50 Hz lighting, we target frame‑rate/shutter combos that land on 100 Hz exposure windows (e.g., 25/50/100 fps or shutters ≈1/50s, 1/100s) and coordinate with PWM‑dimmer settings on LEDs.

Permits & compliance (Guangzhou)

Public/road use

Street filming needing staging, traffic control, or significant crew footprint may require temporary road occupancy permissions with municipal departments. Lead time is essential when traffic impact is involved.

Drone/FPV

CAAC real‑name UAS registration is mandatory. Guangzhou also issues time‑bound notices restricting “low‑slow‑small” aircraft during major events (airport zones, sensitive corridors). We file and advise alternatives when airspace is constrained.

Visas & import

For foreign teams, we’ll guide appropriate business/filming travel categories and recommend ATA Carnets for professional equipment—or build equivalent local packages.

For China‑wide shoots, coordinate national filings with our China video production fixer.

Language & interviews

Cantonese and Mandarin are both widely spoken in Guangzhou. For on‑camera interviews, we provide bilingual producers and interpreters, and can capture dual‑language slates and transcripts for faster post.

Indicative crew day & add‑ons

RoleTypical base dayAdd‑ons
Cinematographer (DoP)10–12 hoursPrelight, look dev, tech scout
1st AC / Focus Puller10–12 hoursWireless focus/monitor package
Gaffer + Best10–12 hoursTruck package, generator
Key Grip10–12 hoursRigging, safety supervision
DIT / Data Wrangler10–12 hoursOn‑set LUTs, ACES pipeline

Overtime, night premiums, vehicle units, and specialty rigs (cranes, cablecam) are quoted per project.

Mini case study — 2‑day automotive B‑roll

Brief: Dynamic lifestyle B‑roll with city textures and Pearl River night passes.

Approach: Day 1 Zhujiang New Town exteriors → interiors in Panyu studio; Day 2 dusk‑to‑night Pearl River run. DoP shot 25p with flicker‑safe shutters and lightweight car rigging; rooftop sunrise for skyline cutaways.

Outcome: Delivered a 75s hero cut + 6x socials; clean signage with no flicker; zero weather delays using flexible interiors as cover.

Related services & sibling pages

Explore: Guangzhou camera crew, Guangzhou equipment rental, Guangzhou production services, Guangzhou filmmaker, Shenzhen cinematographer, Chengdu cinematographer.

Need permits, casting, or gear? See location scouting & permits, equipment rental, actor & model casting, aerial & FPV, and post‑production.

FAQ

Can you source an Alexa Mini LF or Venice in Guangzhou?
Yes. We maintain Guangzhou stock and can pull overflow from Shenzhen/Hong Kong the same day via high‑speed rail.
How do you avoid LED flicker downtown?
We choose 50 Hz‑safe frame rates (25/50/100 fps) or shutters (≈1/50s, 1/100s) and coordinate PWM settings on practicals and fixtures.
Do we need a road permit for on‑street shots?
If you’re occupying lanes, staging lights, or managing crowds, temporary road occupancy permissions may be required—plan lead time.
Can we fly a production drone?
Aircraft must be registered in China and flights must respect local restrictions. We’ll file and advise safe alternatives where needed.
Book a Guangzhou DoP

Last updated: