Providing 'natural studio' with one-stop convenience in city

Zhuhai, a coastal city in South China's Guangdong province, is extending a warm welcome to production crews and filmmakers as it strives to become a top destination for both domestic and international film and television shooting.

Elevating its commitment to the industry, the city announced the official creation of the Zhuhai Film and Television Industry Service Center on Friday night during the second Chinese Documentary Film Festival. Founded by Zhuhai Media Group, the new center will offer one-stop services covering the entire industry chain for film and television institutions.

Tan Jing, head of Zhuhai's publicity department, emphasized the unique advantage of the city as being a "natural studio" with its stunning sea views and picturesque landscapes. She said the local government is dedicated to prioritizing the development of the filmmaking industry, including ramping up efforts to consolidate resources, strengthen the industry chain, enhance cooperation, and attract and cultivate talented professionals.

"Local resources in Zhuhai will be integrated thoroughly to establish a more influential film and television park, providing filmmakers with diverse shooting locations and professional production equipment to support their creative endeavors," Tan said at the center's unveiling ceremony.

According to Qiao Yu, general manager of Zhuhai Media Industry Operations, which runs the center, the facility aims to integrate social resources to create a model of "one cloud, two centers, and three bases", referring to a service cloud specially for the film and television industry, two shared service centers for equipment rental and post-production, two bases for film and television shooting and shooting location recommendations, and one smart audiovisual industry development base.

The industry wasted no time in responding to the opportunities presented by the new center. At the unveiling ceremony, Zhuhai Media Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the China Television Drama Production Industry Association.

You Xiaogang, president of the association and also a director, screenwriter, and producer, expressed his excitement about the collaboration with Zhuhai.

"What we bring to Zhuhai is a shared mode and platform for integrating content and broadcasting resources, as well as plans to establish a vocational college for convergent media combining production and education," Yu said. "Zhuhai is our gateway to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We hope to set sail from here and let Chinese stories sail overseas and draw a bigger blueprint for Chinese TV dramas through iterative upgrading and shared interaction."

In addition, the center has entered into agreements with film and television institutions from Beijing and Shanghai, along with Zhuhai, and it's anticipated that several projects will be established in the new center within the upcoming months.

Visiting documentary film directors said they were impressed with the city's favorable environment and its dedication to the industry. Director Song Kunru praised Zhuhai as a clean and peaceful city with an excellent climate and environment — an impression he got the first time he shot a film in the city many years ago. "If I need a place to seclude myself for creative work in the future, I may choose to reside in Zhuhai," he told the media. "People in Guangdong have an inherent respect for tradition and a pursuit of modernity, and the people of Zhuhai are no exception."

Documentary director Chang Xiuqin described Zhuhai as vibrant and warm, and said she admired its efforts in promoting documentary films. "A city that can wholeheartedly participate in hosting an important Chinese-language documentary film conference shows the vision and courage of Zhuhai. It reflects the city's dedication to and passion for promoting documentary film culture and polishing its reputation," Chang added.

Guo Yeqi, deputy director of international business at China Intercontinental Communication Center, expressed great interest in Zhuhai's cultural industry and said he hopes to have more opportunities in the future to collaborate with its film and television creators and institutions.

chenhong@chinadaily.com.cn