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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Off to China --->

Rick Darge

Rick Darge

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I'm headed to Beijing for 10 days to shoot a short film as well as some stock footage.

Just wanted to hear peoples' experiences here when traveling to China. I was planning on taking a few afternoons and running around the city, armed with my Red and lenses and shooting some serious stock. Anything I should be aware of before I do this? I know the Chinese have different laws about certain things and I just wanted to make sure I don't cross any of them while over there.

Thanks,
 
Hi Richard!

Once you traveling to Beijing, you may can contact Jason Wong,
here's a DIT came back from LA last month, and he's study the Mandarin right in Beijing now.

Cheers

Perry Ho
Dop - Mainland China & Hong Kong
Red #4964
http://www.vimeo.com/2739823
 
Richard,

Many of my co-workers went to the Olympics and really liked Beijing..

Have a safe trip & post your stuff when you return!

Dave
 
There's a nice photographic market at metro stop Wukesong. Prices in China for electronics are not that great though so you may not want to pick anything up unless you forget something or have a need you didn't anticipate. Metro stop Wanfujing has a huge shopping area and outdoor food vendors selling chinese bbq and other "delicacies" things we won't mention.

You'll probably want to get an interpreter if you need to do anything serious as English is not all that common here especially in some areas. Beijing is about as sophisticated in China as it gets but I still need someone to interpret all the time when I go there for meetings and such.
 
I spent three weeks in Shanghai last year and I was really quite surprised to find out what a friendly and relatively safe place it was. Most of the time people didn't have a problem of their pictures taken or even being filmed like in some other big cities I've been to, say Berlin for example.

It is a different, fascinating culture and a visually stunning country for any kind of documentary work. Have a great trip!
 
Rick,

I spent a week in Sujho a few years ago (most beautiful women in China, as goes the legend.)

Have fun in Bejing but;

Do not buy any duty free liqour on the airplane if you are going to make another hop. They take it from you on the next flight! I will always remember that bottle of Chivas that I never got to drink! In my opinion, the whole country of China still owes me a bottle! :)

Really, have fun and send me some stills!

Alan
 
richard,

have a great time. i would like to see your stuff when you get back. particularly the stock shots of the region that you get. i have a potential project that also involves that kind of stock shooting in saudi arabia. i was already thinking of you as a possible candidate, and this china footage could help move that along i think. get in touch with me when you get back and we will have a chat.

have a great time, and happy shooting.
 
Things to be aware of: right turning cars! The traffic rule is that cars can always turn right, even if the light is red (unless it's a red right arrow). :)
 
For your camera, the main thing is having the paperwork done properly so you don't get it confiscated. And if you are walking around unescorted and filming you might get pulled aside by lots of police. That and camera security would be your main concerns I think.

I went to Beijing and Mongolia in June and it was lots of fun!

HTH

Paul
 
Thanks everyone! I'm really looking forward to this trip and will share frame grabs as soon as I return. Hopefully a little video will follow.

Paul, what proper paperwork are you talking about? The Visa? I was going to bring copies of my actual Red invoice in the even that I have to prove that the camera is mine. Other than that, I'm going to try to blend in and look like a tourist as much as possible.

Thanks
 
Oh!

Really look into the paper work required. I have had gear held up for almost a week as the paper work was not right.

Are you carrying, checking or shipping the gear?
 
Officially declaring yourself as "foreign journalist" requires a different Visa. If you are on a tourist visa then you might want to say that Red is your tourist camera, but I'm not sure if that will fly. By the way, professional video equipment rental rates in China are dirt cheap.

Have a look at this document:

http://www.aipsmedia.com/allegati/How_to_go_through_the_customs_1_.doc
 
The gear is being carried on by me. I'm not checking any camera gear, just clothes. I applied as a tourist as that's what I was told to do. The director recently arrived with a HVX, Redrock M2 and a case of lenses and wasn't bothered. The Red looks too pro so if I get any guff, I'm just a wealthy tourist who likes using the best equipment & I'm only traveling to visit and to take pretty pictures.
 
Stock shooting in China is what I would call a "target-rich environment." There are tons of interesting things going on at every intersection and on every back street. Go out at night... that is when China becomes beautiful and even more interesting.
 
hi richard,
have you set off for the big BJ yet/mid-trip/back home?

any attempt to visually ensure security at PEK that you are just a tourist with a silly thing in a bag (not pelican case) is always much appreciated. any attempt to ensure that you are a serious filmmaker will receive some problems.

do not shoot national monuments "when a PLA soldier can see you"
ask permission from the proprietors, smile, be friendly, and purchase something to bring back to the kids

oh and don't drink the baijiu.
 
Just got back! What a wonderful country! Lots of nice footage. I'll share when I can! Thanks for all the tips
 
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