Guangzhou Film Production

Bilingual crews, permits, casting and gear—night-friendly ops along the Pearl River and Zhujiang New Town, with coverage from Shamian Island to Baiyun Mountain and Pazhou.

Zhujiang New TownCanton TowerShamian IslandPazhouLiwan/Old Canton

Why Shoot in Guangzhou with Us

Night-first logistics

Optimized routing for Pearl River waterfront, bridges and skyline plates with safe night moves and parking plans.

Permits & compliance

Road-use approvals, park/scenic access and private interiors coordinated with detailed risk and crowd plans.

Local kit & casting

Studios and gear near set; equipment rental and casting across Cantonese & Mandarin markets.

Need national coverage? See China Video Production Fixer.

Permits & Approvals — Practical Matrix (Guangzhou)

ActivityAuthorityReference Lead TimeNotes
Road use / sidewalks (tripods, lighting, traffic mgmt.) Guangzhou PSB Traffic Police Within 20 working days (no fee listed) Temporary road occupation requires a traffic-safety review; file early for riverside and CBD moves.
Parks / riverfront / scenic District park/riverfront offices 5–15 working days Usage fees/supervision may apply; riverbank crowd plans needed on weekends and holidays.
Private interiors (offices, malls, towers) Property/asset management 1–7 working days Access letter, insurance and elevator/parking holds required.
UAV flights (urban) CAAC UOM platform 3–10 working days typical Real-name registration; controlled airspace and >120 m true altitude require approval via UOM.

City fixer pathfinding: Guangzhou Video Production Fixer.

Pearl River Night Ops — 1-Day Plan

  1. 14:00 Crew in / permits check / gear split; interior interviews at Pazhou or Zhujiang New Town.
  2. 17:00 Move to riverside; golden-hour gimbal plates and bridge POVs.
  3. 19:30 Night skyline + river traffic B‑roll; Canton Tower hero shots.
  4. 21:00 Optional approved UAV window in suitable airspace.
  5. 22:00 Wrap; media handoff; returns near CBD.

Seasonal Planner — Guangzhou

WindowWeatherProduction Note
Mar–MayHumid, warmingGreat for exteriors; prep dehumidification for interiors.
Apr–JunRainy seasonHold indoor alternates; canopy for riverside.
Jul–SepRain + typhoon riskPad contingency days; monitor advisories.
Oct–NovCrisp, stablePeak demand; book early around National Day.
Dec–FebMild, dampShorter days; prioritize interiors and factories.

Crew Build & Gear

Typical Crew

  • Bilingual Producer / Line Producer, 1st AD
  • Director/DP, 1st AC, 2nd AC, DIT
  • Gaffer, Best Boy, Key Grip, Grip
  • Sound Mixer / Boom
  • HMU / Wardrobe / Props
  • Drone Pilot (UOM-registered)

Coordinated by Production Coordination.

Gear Notes

  • ARRI Mini / Sony FX with compact zooms
  • RS3 Pro / Ronin 4D for mobile moves
  • LED key + tubes; low-profile grip
  • On-set data: RAID + LTO/Cloud

Local kit via Equipment Rental and locations via Location & Permits.

Also see: Casting.

Mini Case — Old Canton x New Skyline

We paired heritage textures in Liwan with Zhujiang New Town neon. Unit A handled interiors and interviews; Unit B captured bridges and river traffic plates. A road-use filing covered tripod and lighting on the promenade; UAV shots were planned in suitable airspace via UOM. Delivery: one brand film + 16 social cutdowns in two languages.