Shanghai Video Production Agency

Bilingual producers, permits, casting, crews, gear, and end-to-end coordination for international shoots in Shanghai.

At a glance:

Agency workflow built for Shanghai

1) Creative & bid

We localize boards, scout look‑alikes, and advise on local talent usage fees. We also validate feasibility for permits, night exteriors on the Bund, and any aerial work.

2) Pre‑production

Permits & notifications filed, casting held (actors & models), crewed with bilingual HODs, and gear locked via equipment rental. We build a day‑by‑day shoot plan with travel buffers for cross‑river moves.

3) Production

Lean units for street work; larger units for stage and road control. Typical core: Producer/PM, Director, DP, 1st AC, Gaffer, Grip, Sound, HMUA, PA/Drivers.

4) Post

On‑set DIT and backups; offline/online in China or handoff. We also provide post‑production in Chinese/English workflows.

Location stylebook: classic Shanghai looks within 30–45 minutes

Bund & Lujiazui

Iconic riverfront skyline. Crowd control and tripod use require approvals; road closures need traffic police authorization. Best at dawn/blue hour.

Nearby: Nanjing Rd Pedestrian St, Huangpu ferry piers.

Former French Concession

Plane trees, lilongs, cafés. Great for lifestyle pieces. Narrow streets: small unit advised.

Suzhou Creek & Rockbund

Restored warehouses and bridges; textured night reflections, strong lines.

West Bund & Museum Mile

Contemporary façades and open promenades. Permits needed for staging/lighting.

Yu Garden & Old Town

Classical architecture; timing and permits crucial due to footfall.

Qibao Old Street

Watertown vibe within the city; manage tourist hours; tight alleys.

Tip: Many landmarks along the Huangpu (The Bund, Lujiazui, Nanjing Rd) appear frequently in film/TV—permits and timing matter.

Seasonal production planner

WindowWeather & lightProduction notes
Mar–May Mild, greener streets; spring showers possible. Great for exteriors and talent comfort. Pack rain covers and dehumidifiers for gear rooms.
Mid‑Jun–early Jul (Meiyu) Frequent rain; humidity spikes. Favor interiors or covered exteriors; build weather‑hold days; mold control for wardrobe/props.
Late Jul–Sep (Typhoon risk) Hot & humid; occasional extreme rain/wind episodes. Keep contingency locations; avoid aerials on short notice; schedule night shoots for comfort.
Late Sep–Nov Generally the best light and stability. Peak window for street pieces and skyline magic hours.
Dec–Feb Cold, damp; shorter daylight. Cozy interiors; add heaters and anti‑condensation protocols for lenses.

Permits, road control & public spaces

Public areas

Filming in public streets, parks, and riverfront areas requires permission. Tripods, lighting, or crowd management trigger permits/notifications.

Road & elevated roads

Any on‑road filming or lane control requires applications to the Shanghai traffic police. Elevated roads are a special category and must be cleared with the municipal traffic police HQ; district roads go via the local traffic police brigade.

Government & cultural sites

Museums, historical blocks, and waterfronts have separate site permissions in addition to city procedures. Build lead time for multi‑agency sign‑off.

Note: Unpermitted road filming is actively enforced in Shanghai—plan for proper approvals and rolling control when needed.

Drone & FPV in Shanghai

We provide aerial & FPV services and can advise on feasible routes and safe alternatives.

Gear & crew manifest (typical commercial unit)

Camera & grip

  • ARRI Alexa/Amira or Sony cinema (FX9/FX6); primes + lightweight zooms
  • Handheld gimbal, sticks, sliders; compact car rigging kits

Lighting

  • Aputure/ARRI LEDs (600–1600w class), diffusion, frames
  • Battery solutions for street work; quiet generators for bases

People

  • Producer/PM (bilingual), Director, DP, 1st AC, Gaffer, Grip, Sound, HMUA, PA/Drivers
  • Add fixer & permits lead for street scenes and road units

Lock gear via our equipment rental network and assign bilingual HODs through our Shanghai production crew bench.

Mini case study — 3‑day fintech brand shoot

Brief: “Future‑ready Shanghai” brand film with day/night skyline, street lifestyle, and office scenes.

Plan: Day 1 Lujiazui offices → twilight Bund; Day 2 Former French Concession lifestyle; Day 3 West Bund + studio pack shots. No‑drone option (gimbal + rooftops) to avoid airspace delays.

Outcome: Delivered hero 60s and 15s cut‑downs in two languages; stills pulled from 6K master for OOH. Permits covered public spaces and limited curbside loading; zero shutdowns.

Practicalities for international crews

For multi‑city runs beyond Shanghai, our China video production fixer team handles national filings and logistics continuity.

Related Shanghai services & siblings

Explore more options tailored to Shanghai: production company partners, studio & house support, field crews, camera rental, and post‑production.

FAQ

Do we need permits to film on the Bund or Nanjing Road?
Yes. Public areas and landmarks generally require permission; tripod/staging triggers approvals, and crowd‑heavy areas need careful timing and site coordination.
What months are best for outdoor shoots?
Late September–November and March–May offer the most stable weather. Meiyu (mid‑June–early July) is very wet, and late summer can bring typhoons.
Can we fly drones downtown?
Only with CAAC registration and local PSB filing via the Suishenban app; many central corridors are restricted. We’ll confirm feasibility case‑by‑case.
Should we carnet gear into China?
China accepts ATA Carnets for professional equipment. Depending on scope and schedule, local rental can be faster for parity gear.
Plan your Shanghai shoot

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