Commercials, branded content, corporate films and documentaries—delivered by a bilingual China production team with permits, crews, kit, casting, drones and post under one roof.
We secure locations and crews across Tier-1/2 cities and key industrial belts. Interpreter support and partner studios keep days efficient.
Public-area shoots, heritage venues, factories, road work, UAV operations—we map the correct authority, lead time and documents for each city and district. See our Location & Permit Service.
Smart local hire, consolidated kit lists and realistic day plans. Transparent quotes and bilingual paperwork for procurement and finance.
| Phase | What we do | Your inputs |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Day Window Outline & Holds | Creative translation, location shortlists, permit pathfinding, crew & studio pencilling, risk register, route & weather checks. | Script/board, schedule target, brand/agency guardrails, reference films. |
| 60-Day Window Lock & Permits | Location tech recces, authority submissions, traffic/road occupancy plans (where applicable), kit spec & rentals, casting, UAV planning. | Approvals, talent specs, product/shipping details, insurance requirements. |
| 90-Day Window Shoot & Post | Call sheets, bilingual ADing, safety briefings, data & dailies, rough-cut path, remote review, versioned deliveries & subtitling. | Feedback windows, legal lines, brand review, distribution specs. |
Every city has its own coordinators and timelines. Below is a practical overview (exact requirements depend on district and activity):
| Activity | Typical Authority | Lead Time (ref.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public streets / sidewalks | Public Security (Traffic Police) / District Authorities | 2–20 working days | Stands, lights on public way, or traffic control require a formal approval. Small, unintrusive shooting on purely private property is simpler. |
| Parks / scenic areas | Park/Scenic Management Office | 5–15 working days | Usage fees and supervision may apply. Some A-grade heritage sites restrict commercial filming without explicit permission. |
| Government facilities / campuses | Facility Admin + District Propaganda/Foreign Affairs as required | 10–20 working days | Requires detailed script, schedule, crew/equipment list; additional oversight expected. |
| Factories / offices (private) | Property Owner / Park Admin | 1–7 working days | Access letter, liability language and EHS compliance typically suffice. |
| Road closures / drones | Traffic Police + Airspace/UAV coordination | 7–20 working days | Traffic plans, safety marshals and real-name UAV registration needed where applicable. |
City-specific pathfinding available. For Shanghai, see our Shanghai fixer permit guidance. Prefer a national fixer? China Video Production Fixer.
| Window | North & Northwest | East & Central (e.g., Shanghai) | South & Southwest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Very cold, dry | Cold, occasional rain | Mild | Chinese New Year week impacts crew/location availability—book early. |
| Mar–Apr | Warming, clear | Pleasant shoulder season | Comfortable | Great for exteriors and factory tours. |
| May–Jun | Windy/dry | “Plum rain” showers | Humid | Build weather cover into schedules. |
| Jul–Sep | Hot | Hot; typhoon risk on east coast | Wet season in south | Coastal shoots require contingency days; interior stays safer. |
| Oct | Clear, cool | Prime season | Prime season | National Day Golden Week affects bookings and rates. |
| Nov–Dec | Cold returns | Crisp, good visibility | Mild | Strong for cityscapes/architectural B-roll. |
| Day | City | Focus | Logistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanghai | Interviews + city B-roll | Studio block AM; waterfront B-roll PM; night aerial plan (legal zone) |
| 2 | Shanghai → Suzhou | Factory floor coverage | Unit moves by van; safety & PPE brief; owner releases |
| 3 | Suzhou | Process macro + product shots | Macro kit + motorized slider; controlled lighting |
| 4 | Suzhou → Shenzhen | Transit + scout | Late call to absorb delays; backup interiors held |
| 5 | Shenzhen | R&D lab + casting selects | Tech-lab access; audition room with prompter (Casting Service) |
| 6 | Shenzhen | Hero sequence + establishing aerials | Sunrise exterior; drone ops in approved zone; wrap & media handoff |
Routes adapt for Beijing/Guangzhou/Hangzhou/Chengdu, keeping transfers short and maximizing shoot hours.
Need extras? See Equipment Rental in China.
Crewed by our Production Coordination team.
For a global brand’s China launch film, we covered a 3-location build: a Suzhou factory (process story), a Shanghai flagship (brand story) and sunrise aerials (context). We secured factory access, mapped a safe drone corridor and split the unit to keep talent and engineering coverage parallel. Result: two hero films plus 18 social cuts delivered in two languages, on schedule.