Shanghai Video Production Crew

Bilingual producer/AD, camera, G&E, sound, DIT, drone, HMU—optimized for dense urban moves from the Bund boardwalk to Lujiazui towers and leafy lanes of the Former French Concession.

Bund / Nanjing RdLujiazuiFormer French ConcessionWest BundJingan / Suzhou Creek

Why Alchemist Films for Shanghai Crews

Bilingual departments

Producer/AD, camera team, and sound mixers experienced with international clients and procurement.

Permit pathfinding

Road use, parks/scenic, riverfront, heritage, campus—mapped by district with realistic lead times.

Logistics & kit

City-friendly load-outs, studio blocks near set, and local equipment rental to minimize transfers.

Typical Crew Matrix

DepartmentRolesNotes
ProductionLine Producer (EN/CN), 1st AD (EN/CN), PM, PABilingual call sheets; client comms & permitting.
CameraDirector/DP, 1st AC, 2nd AC, DITMobile data wrangling; multi-cam sync; coordination.
G&EGaffer, Best Boy, Key Grip, GripCompact power plans for high-rise and riverfront moves.
SoundMixer, Boom OpDual-system; multilingual interview workflows.
TalentHMU, Wardrobe, PropsLocal styling options; casting and street selects.
AerialUAV Pilot + VOCAAC UOM registered; drone/FPV options.

Crew Packages (Examples)

Docu Mini

Producer/AD, DP, 1st AC, Sound Mixer, Gaffer/Grip swing. Ideal for interviews + B-roll in two proximate zones.

Commercial Unit

Producer/AD, Director, DP, 1st/2nd AC, Gaffer + 2, Key Grip + 1, HMU, Wardrobe, PA, DIT.

Split Unit Day

Second team for parallel coverage (e.g., Lujiazui timelapse vs. interiors), unified media and color pipeline.

Rates vary by season, weekend/holiday load, and notice period. We hold alternates during national-level fixer requests and Golden Weeks.

Shanghai Permits & Approvals — Practical Matrix

ActivityAuthorityReference Lead TimeNotes
Road use / sidewalks (tripods, lighting, traffic mgmt.) Shanghai PSB Traffic Police (by district) Decision commitment as fast as 2 working days once complete; statutory window up to 20 working days Formal approval required for any road occupancy; plan marshals & cones; elevated/expressway handled separately.
Elevated roads / expressways Elevated Roads Brigade Apply >= 15 working days ahead Strict safety basis; no approval fees listed; expect early AM windows and police supervision.
Parks / riverfront (Bund/West Bund) District park/riverfront offices 5–15 working days Usage fees/supervision may apply; heritage façades need extra review.
Private interiors (offices, malls, towers) Property/asset management 1–7 working days Access letter, insurance, risk plan; coordinate freight elevators and parking.
UAV flights (downtown) CAAC UOM (airspace) + local coordination 3–10 working days typical Real-name registration; baseline 120 m AGL without special authorization; controlled zones require UOM application.

Need the city fixer’s view? See Shanghai Video Production Fixer or escalate nationwide via China Video Production Fixer.

Call Sheet Timeline — 12-Hour Urban Day

  1. 07:00 Crew in / safety & traffic brief; gear split by elevator zones.
  2. 08:00 Establishing exteriors (ND windows); alternate indoor coverage on rain.
  3. 10:00 Interviews (quiet room) + B-roll pickup.
  4. 12:30 Meal; data check; cross-load for PM location.
  5. 14:00 Movement to riverside or tower; sunset setup.
  6. 18:30 Night city plates / aerial window (approved zone).
  7. 19:30 Wrap; media handoff, LTO/cloud, returns.

Seasonal Planner — Shanghai

WindowWeatherProduction Note
Mar–MayMild, bloomingPrime for exteriors; hold rain covers in April.
Mid-Jun–Early JulMeiyu (plum rain)Extra interiors and canopies.
Late Aug–Mid-SepTyphoon-pronePad contingency days; monitor riverfront closures.
Oct–NovCrisp, clearHigh demand around National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–8).
Dec–FebCold, dampShorter daylight; prioritize interiors.

Urban Load-Out Recommendations

Camera & Movement

  • ARRI Mini / Sony FX series
  • Cine primes + compact zooms
  • RS3 Pro / Ronin 4D / slider

G&E, Sound & Data

  • LED key + tubes; low-profile grip
  • Mixer with boom + lav pairs
  • DIT cart, RAID, LTO/cloud options

See also: Location Scouting & Permits · Production Coordination · Equipment Rental · Casting

Mini Case Study — Two Banks of the Huangpu

A global brand briefed us to contrast heritage façades with modern skyline. We split into two units: A‑unit interviews and interiors in Jingan, B‑unit timelapse and plates from Lujiazui and the Bund. Road‑use approval was filed in advance; aerials were flown in a legal corridor with UOM coordination. Delivery: 1 brand film + 12 social cutdowns in two languages, on schedule.