Do we need a permit for tripods or lighting on the Bund or other public sidewalks?

Yes. Shanghai lists two items: filming on elevated roads and occupying ground roads for filming. Applications should be filed in advance (e.g., 15 working days is specified for elevated roads), with district Traffic Police handling. We map the right authority and file the plan.

Can we fly drones downtown?

Flights must follow CAAC UOM rules. Real-name registration is required and operations in controlled airspace require approvals via the UOM platform. Many inner-city zones are controlled; we align legal corridors and windows.

When is the best season for exteriors?

Spring and autumn are most stable. Shanghai’s Meiyu (plum-rain) typically arrives in June–July; late Aug–mid‑Sep can be typhoon‑prone—build weather contingencies.

Can you provide bilingual crews?

Yes. Producer/AD, DP/ACs, sound, DIT and department translators on request. We manage English–Mandarin handoffs across client, agency and vendors.

Do you handle casting, studios and gear?

Yes. We run casting sessions, block studios near set, and source local camera/G&E to reduce transfers. See our service links below.

Shanghai Camera Crew

Bilingual producer/AD, DP/ACs, sound and DIT—engineered for dense urban moves and night‑friendly waterfront ops from the Bund to Lujiazui, Jing'an and the West Bund.

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Bund / Nanjing RdLujiazuiJing'an / Suzhou CreekFormer French ConcessionWest Bund

Why Our Camera Crews Work in Shanghai

Metro‑scale pathfinding

We plan clusters (Bund↔Lujiazui, Jing'an lanes, West Bund) to reduce unit moves and parking friction.

Permit fluency

We file the right item—elevated roads filming vs ground‑road occupation—with realistic buffers.

Local kit & studios

Studios and equipment rental near set; bilingual ACs and DITs align with your camera brand.

Nationwide escalation available: China Video Production Fixer.

Camera‑Led Crew Matrix

Dept	Roles	Notes
Production	Producer/Line Producer (EN/CN), 1st AD, PM, PA	Permits, call sheets, traffic & pedestrian plans.
Camera	DP, 1st AC, 2nd AC, DIT/Data, Utility	Lens tests, wireless video, color‑managed proxies.
G&E	Gaffer, Best Boy, Key Grip, Grip	Low‑profile LED packages for elevators & riverfront.
Sound	Mixer, Boom Op	Dual‑system with multilingual interview workflows.
Talent	HMU, Wardrobe, Props	Street selects and casting as required.
Aerial	UAV Pilot + VO	UOM registration and controlled‑airspace filings.

Route Planner — 1‑Day, 2‑Cluster Shoot

07:00 Load‑in Jingan interior; interviews + B‑roll.
11:30 Cross‑load to the Bund; tripod‑only plates (permit filed).
15:00 Move to Lujiazui; skyline gimbal, then sunset setup.
19:00 Night plates / optional UAV in a legal corridor.
20:30 Wrap; data handoff; returns near CBD.

Transport & Access Notes

Freight/outer‑plate vehicles face restrictions on elevated roads and inner‑ring streets during daytime; we plan night/off‑peak load‑ins.
Parking bays and freight elevators are booked with property managers; marshals and cones for riverfront moves.
Backup interiors for rain and typhoon windows (Jun–Sep peaks).

Permits & UAV — Practical Matrix

Activity	Authority	Reference Lead Time	Notes
Filming on elevated roads	PSB Traffic Police (Elevated Roads item)	Apply ≥15 working days before activity	Strict safety basis; supervised windows only.
Occupying ground roads/sidewalks for filming	District PSB Traffic Police	File in advance (commitment decisions can be rapid once materials complete)	Tripods, lighting, frames on public way require approval.
UAV flights (urban)	CAAC UOM platform	3–10 working days typical	Real‑name registration; controlled airspace approvals via UOM.

Need a permit strategist? Shanghai Video Production Fixer.

Camera & Movement Kits

ARRI Mini/Mini LF · Sony FX line · RED V‑RAPTOR/KOMODO‑X
Primes (Signature/Supreme/etc.) + compact zooms · macros
Ronin 4D / RS3 Pro · slider · vehicle isolation

DIT & Data Workflow

Checksum backups (RAID) with logs; LTO/Cloud on request
Color‑managed proxies (ACES/camera‑managed) for edit
Remote review with timecoded comments and version stacks

Seasonal Planner — Shanghai

Window	Weather	Production Note
Mar–May	Mild, flowering	Prime for exteriors; plan wind cover on bridges.
Jun–Jul	Meiyu (plum‑rain)	Canopies/alternates; protect cables and distro.
Late Aug–Mid‑Sep	Typhoon‑prone	Pad contingency days; monitor riverfront closures.
Oct–Nov	Crisp, clear	High demand around National Day (Oct 1–8).
Dec–Feb	Cold, damp	Short daylight; prioritize interiors.

Holiday Load (2025)

Spring Festival: Jan 28–Feb 4
Labor Day: May 1–5
Dragon Boat: May 31–Jun 2
National Day/Mid‑Autumn: Oct 1–8

Crew demand and rates tighten near these dates—soft‑hold early.

Safety & Risk Controls

Public‑way protection

Cones, barricades, cable ramps and signage; marshals for crossings.

Weather hardening

Rain covers, sandbags, waterproof distro; lightning and typhoon thresholds.

Access & crowd

Crew badges, vendor NDAs, call‑and‑hold for extras/talent.

Mini Case — Two Banks of the Huangpu

Brief: contrast heritage façades with modern skyline. A‑unit ran interviews and interiors in Jing'an while B‑unit captured Bund plates and a legal corridor for aerials. Road‑use filings covered tripods and cones; we wrapped on schedule with bilingual deliverables.

Plan My Shanghai Camera Crew

Related Shanghai Pages

Services: Location & Permits · Production Coordination · Equipment Rental · Casting · Aerial / FPV · Post‑Production