Shanghai Film Fixer
& Video Production Services

EM Productions operates with an established Mandarin and English speaking crew in Shanghai, with our primary offices and core team based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Our Shanghai crew works on the ground year round and has the local relationships, language capability, and regulatory knowledge that international teams need to operate in China.

From Shanghai we also coordinate with our teams in Hanoi, Da Nang, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, and Cambodia for productions that span multiple countries across Asia.

We work in two ways depending on what you need.

For international production companies, agencies, and film crews bringing their own creative to Shanghai, we provide full production services and fixing. That includes filming permits, crew hire, equipment sourcing, location scouting and management, logistics, talent casting, fixers, and Mandarin translators. We handle everything on the ground so your team can focus on the creative.

For brands and organizations that need video or photography created in Shanghai, we handle the full process from concept through delivery. Corporate video, brand films, commercial production, factory and manufacturing video, customer success stories, and photography across multiple disciplines. Our Shanghai clients include Siemens, WeWork, Louis Vuitton, Buhler, and other global brands who trust us as a creative partner in China.

Over 20 years of production across Asia, with established Mandarin speaking crew in Shanghai, means we know the locations, the regulations, the crews, and how to get things done in a market that does not make it easy for outsiders.

China has one of the most complex permitting environments for filming anywhere in Asia. The short answer is that any professional production in Shanghai requires some form of permit or approval, and the specifics depend on the type of production, the locations, and whether foreign crew are involved.

Commercial video productions, corporate shoots, and documentary projects each have different permit pathways. Location-specific permits are required for public spaces, parks, heritage sites, transport infrastructure, and government-managed areas. Some locations require coordination with multiple authorities at both the municipal and district level.

Filming near government buildings, military sites, or politically sensitive areas carries additional restrictions. Filming dates that coincide with sensitive periods in China’s political calendar may also require advance planning.

Every project is different and the regulatory landscape in China shifts. Contact us early and we will map out exactly what your shoot requires. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Foreign productions filming in China must work with a licensed local production company to apply for permits. This is not optional. International crews cannot apply directly on their own behalf.

The permit application process typically requires a production summary, a detailed filming schedule, a complete crew and talent list (with passport details for all foreign nationals), an equipment list, and location details. For documentary or editorial content, script review may be required by the relevant authorities.

Processing times vary. Straightforward commercial shoots in Shanghai can be turned around in a few weeks with proper documentation. Productions that involve sensitive subjects, government locations, or cross-provincial filming need significantly more lead time. Some productions require three to six months of pre-production planning for permits alone.

EM Productions manages the full permit process for our clients through our Shanghai team. We know which authorities to approach, what documentation they expect, and how to keep things moving. Contact us as early as possible. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

China has some of the strictest drone regulations in the world. Drone filming in Shanghai is heavily restricted and requires careful advance planning.

All drone operations in China must use drones registered with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and operated by CAAC-licensed pilots. Imported drones cannot clear Chinese customs and will likely be confiscated. This means you must use locally owned, locally registered drones operated by licensed Chinese pilots.

A no-fly zone applies across central Shanghai and all major urban areas. Drone flights require activity permits from CAAC and often additional approvals from local public security authorities. Permits must be applied for well in advance and are not guaranteed for every location.

Aerial footage in Shanghai is still achievable in specific areas with proper approvals, but it takes planning and the right local operators. If drone footage is part of your brief, raise it early so we can determine what is feasible and build the permits into your production timeline. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Yes, and the restrictions in China are more extensive than most international crews expect.

Government buildings, military installations, police stations, and their immediate surroundings are restricted. Airports, metro stations, railway stations, and bridges require specific permits and often carry location fees and operational constraints. Street filming with foreign crew near government buildings can attract police attention even without a formal complaint.

Iconic locations like The Bund, Nanjing Road, and People’s Square are filmable but require coordination and permits. Some locations that appear publicly accessible, such as parks and heritage sites, are managed by municipal authorities and require formal approval.

Productions involving foreign crew interviewing people on the street without proper visa credentials (J-2 visa for documentary or editorial) face additional risk. China’s regulations around foreign media activity are strict and enforced.

The key to filming smoothly in Shanghai is having a local team that understands these boundaries and navigates them before they become problems. EM Productions has managed productions across Shanghai and knows which locations are straightforward and which need careful planning. Contact us before you lock a location. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Yes. China accepts ATA Carnets for temporary equipment imports. However, the listed equipment must match exactly what you bring into the country. Discrepancies between your carnet documentation and your actual gear can lead to delays, duty charges, or confiscation at customs.

For camera, lighting, grip, and sound equipment, the process is manageable with proper documentation prepared in advance. However, importing drones is a different matter. Drones brought into China by foreign crews will not clear customs. Productions requiring aerial footage must use locally owned and registered drones operated by CAAC-licensed pilots.

Shanghai has a strong equipment rental market with professional rental houses stocking cinema cameras, lighting, grip, sound, and specialized rigs. For many productions, renting locally avoids the cost and customs complexity of shipping equipment into China.

If you are unsure what to bring versus what to rent, contact us and we will help you make the most cost-effective decision for your project.

In Shanghai, and in China more broadly, a local production partner is not a convenience. It is a requirement. Foreign productions cannot apply for filming permits independently. They must work through a licensed Chinese production entity.

Beyond the regulatory requirement, the practical reasons are just as strong. The permitting process involves coordination with multiple government agencies. Location management requires relationships and Mandarin communication. Crew sourcing depends on local networks and trust. Equipment logistics, talent casting, and on-set coordination all require someone who operates fluently in the local system.

China is not a market where you can figure it out on arrival. The regulatory environment is complex, the language barrier is real for most international crews, and the consequences of getting it wrong range from delays to having your shoot shut down.

EM Productions provides full fixer and production services in Shanghai with a Mandarin and English speaking team. Over 20 years of production experience across Asia means we bring operational discipline and established relationships to every project in China.

Shanghai delivers one of the most dramatic visual contrasts of any city in Asia.

For modern and corporate settings, the Lujiazui financial district in Pudong offers the iconic skyline with the Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Oriental Pearl Tower. The Bund provides the counterpoint, with its colonial-era European architecture looking across the river at Pudong’s glass towers. Jing’an and the former French Concession deliver tree-lined avenues with art deco buildings, boutique shops, and cafe-lined streets.

For heritage and character, the old city around Yu Garden and the shikumen lane house neighborhoods offer traditional Shanghai textures. Tianzifang gives you narrow alleyways and creative studios. Suzhou Creek and the M50 art district provide industrial and creative environments.

Beyond the city, the water towns of Zhujiajiao and Zhouzhuang are within 90 minutes and offer traditional Chinese canal architecture. The manufacturing corridors of the Yangtze River Delta provide factory and industrial settings for productions that need them.

EM Productions has location scouted extensively across Shanghai and the surrounding region. Contact us and we can match locations to your visual brief. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Shanghai is China’s commercial production hub and has a mature studio infrastructure to match.

Options range from large sound stages with cycloramas and full lighting grids to smaller interview studios, green screen facilities, product photography studios, and flexible creative spaces. Many studios offer full support including equipment rental, makeup rooms, client viewing areas, and catering.

Shanghai is also home to emerging virtual production facilities with LED volume stages, which are increasingly used for commercial and brand content that requires controlled environments with dynamic backgrounds.

For productions that need something more specific, Shanghai offers a wide range of practical locations that can serve as controlled shooting environments, including modern offices, heritage buildings, hotel suites, and loft spaces.

Contact us with your brief and we will match you with the right facility. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Shanghai has four distinct seasons, which gives it more visual range than tropical Asian cities but also means weather is a real factor in planning.

Spring (March through May) and autumn (September through November) are the best windows for filming. Temperatures are moderate, skies are generally clear, and the city looks its best. Autumn in particular offers the most reliable conditions.

Summer (June through August) is hot and humid, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. The plum rain season in June brings extended periods of heavy rain and overcast skies. Winter (December through February) is cold and grey, with temperatures dropping close to freezing.

Chinese New Year (usually late January or early February) effectively shuts down production across China for one to two weeks. Many crew, talent, and service providers are unavailable during this period and for several days on either side. National Day Golden Week in early October also reduces availability.

We help clients schedule productions around weather patterns and Chinese holidays to avoid disruptions and make the most of the available windows.

Yes. Visa requirements for filming in China are strict and vary by project type.

For commercial and corporate video production, foreign crew typically require an M visa (business visa). For documentary, editorial, or journalistic content, a J-2 visa (journalist visa) is required. This distinction matters. Filming editorial or interview content on a business visa can result in serious legal consequences including fines, equipment confiscation, and detention.

All foreign crew members need to be listed in the production’s permit documentation with full passport details. For longer projects, a Z visa (work visa) may be required.

The visa application process should be started well in advance of your production dates. Processing times vary by nationality and Chinese consulate.

EM Productions advises our clients on the correct visa pathway for their project type and ensures all crew documentation is aligned with the permit applications. This is one of the areas where getting it wrong carries real consequences. Contact us early. Reach out at info@em-production.com or use our contact form.

Send us a message at info@em-production.com or use our contact form. Tell us what you are looking to achieve, where and when you want to shoot, and any requirements you already know. We will set up a call to discuss your project, timeline, and budget. No commitment required.

For Shanghai and China productions, we recommend reaching out as early as possible. The permit and visa timelines in China are longer than most other markets in Asia, and early planning makes the difference between a smooth shoot and a stressful one.