Bright Shadow Films » Charlie Moretti

The Insider’s Guide to Shooting in China

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:04:00 +0000

This article is originally from here

Photographers are heading to China in droves right now, whether for the coming Olympics in Beijing (August 8-24), to cover the aftermath of the tragic May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province — or just to shoot stock: China’s ferocious growth and rapidly changing economy have made it a perennially hot news property.

“It’s an unusual time of openness in China, which is traditionally a xenophobic country, thanks to the Olympics and the earthquake, ” says Jeff Greenwald, executive director of Ethical Traveler , a project of the Earth Island Institute. “That openness is a two-way street. People traveling to China, particularly Americans, can try to counteract some of the negative images that China has of us from its media.”

But this is a very politically sensitive country. Attempting to shoot certain subjects—anything to do with say, Tibet, religion, state executions, and disease—can get you in trouble with the authorities. Along with Greenwald, PDNOnline talked to ten photographers who have shot in mainland China to get their tips for those new to the country. Several living in or frequently working in China spoke on the condition of anonymity. Those who spoke to us on the record are:

Monte Isom, a commercial photographer who specializes in portraits of athletes
Catherine Karnow, photographer behind National Geographic Traveler: Beijing
Wayne Liu, a Taiwan-born fine-arts shooter
Mads Nissen, a freelance photojournalist based in Shanghai
Sara Remington, a food and travel photographer
James Whitlow Delano, a Tokyo-based photographer with Redux Pictures and author of Empire: Impressions from China

BEFORE YOU GO

Vaccines: Many photographers recommended getting the Hepatitis B vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control has a Web site for China with a full health briefing.

Visas: Note that your passport has to be valid for at least six more months. The visa situation has changed several times in the past few months. Check the Chinese Embassy’s Web site for the most up-to-date requirements.

Everyone had an opinion on getting a tourist or business visa versus an official journalist visa:

“We went in on a tourist visa to shoot a wedding and pick up stock. The photographer I went with and I had four camera bodies and 10 lenses. But she and I purposefully made ourselves look younger and separated ourselves.”—Remington

“When I was freelancing, I was on a business visa because I wanted to stay completely off the radar. Now, I am staff and on a J-1 (resident journalist) visa, as it is required by my company. There are benefits to being unregistered and registered. Unregistered allows more freedom to move and work on sensitive stories, but you run the risk of being deported, arrested, or having your contacts get arrested. Being registered allows you to do official events and work openly, but it is restricted. Registered journalists are not allowed to visit Tibet unless invited, and the invitation is difficult to obtain.”—Photojournalist based in China

“It depends on how much you have to lose. If you were going to come and shoot a big production with a lot of lights and models, you kind of need to get a proper visa. The police can close your operation down in a second.”—Beijing-based documentary photographer

“The business visa situation was changing constantly this year. Even my local Chinese producer couldn’t get it all put together. We needed a letter of invitation from the company hiring me, proof the airfare was confirmed and booked, hotel confirmed and booked, two passport photos, a letter from me to my assistants saying I was hiring them and they needed a visa, and an official invitation from the correct department. And that’s for one month. For a multiple-entry visa you need to prove why you need to come in and out.”–Isom

SHOOTING

Street/stock photography:

“The first thing to remember about China is that it’s not just one ethnic group. You can’t make assumptions about how people will feel about having their photo taken, or the courtesies involved. People in Beijing on the street might be OK with you shooting without asking, but Muslim Chinese people in the southern regions might react every differently.”— Greenwald

“As a woman, you just look a lot less threatening. Sometimes I wear little open-toed sandal with a pedicure. I wanted to shoot this massive demolition scene from above. There was a hotel nearby overlooking it, but there is no way in China you can just go up to the manager and explain you’re shooting for a National Geographic guidebook and get permission. I pretended I was checking in, looked at several rooms, and then I ended up sneaking in through the kitchen and shooting from the fire escape. I stuck my camera in my nice big Coach purse.”—Karnow

Photojournalism and sensitive topics

“Sometimes the political situation is dominant (anti-NATO riots 1999, the annual party congress), and sometimes it fades. But during the Olympics you can be sure it will be forefront. It’s not like there are cops everywhere telling you not to shoot, but subjects might get touchy about mildest things during times of political stress. Be subtle and act innocent. —Documentary photographer

“There is a saying in China that it is easier to ask forgiveness than for permission (read: access). Act first, and chances are if you are mild mannered, good natured, and wear a smile, even authorities will forgive a photograph of a bridge, soldier, or some other moderately sensitive subject in this often loosely controlled one-party state.”—Whitlow Delano

Commercial photography

“Chinese clients typically do not pay the agency and have them pay you. If they did, it would cost them about 12-15 percent more because of invoice taxes etc. So the client pays you directly—except the client does not want to pay anyone outside of China because that incurs a 15 percent tax; there is a loophole in Hong Kong. So the best way to go about doing a job there is to find a local production, hire them to produce your job, and then they pay you. They will charge a premium, but it makes the Chinese company more willing to hire you. Also, negotiating with Chinese clients is much different than in the United States. They want a deal. Doesn’t matter where the starting price was, they want it to be lower. “—Isom

LOGISTICS

“Skype is great for calling back home. With an unlocked cell phone, you can get a local SIM card, put $50 on it, and SMS back and forth to your local clients and back to the States. People in China text a lot and won’t like paying international fees to text you while you’re just across the city.”—Isom

“For those of us who are accustomed to uploading and downloading via FTP, you will realize as soon as you get to China that FTP speeds are nowhere near where it once was.”—from Nissen’s handy posting on
Lightstalkers.org for using the Internet in China

“It’s easy to find cheap hostels; I used Lonely Planet. Don’t pay until you see the rooms. They might be sketchy, dirty, rat infested. I felt safe leaving my film and extra camera equipment in the hostels I stayed in.”—Liu

“The bathroom situation is interesting for women. Pack your own toilet paper —and hand sanitizer is good, too.”—Remington

FOOD

“I basically eat what the locals eat. But if I’m doing a pollution story on, for example, in a ‘cancer-village,’ I’ll bring my own food or eat instant noodles, though it can be pretty boring for a whole week. “—Nissen

“I always have antibiotics on hand because my experiences is that one gets sick at 2 a.m. not 2 p.m.”—Delano

“The person I was traveling with was allergic to gluten, which was impossible to explain to people. So if you have food sensitivities, bring plenty of protein bars, almonds, etc.”—Remington

PEOPLE

“If you don’t speak Chinese, find a hip and friendly bilingual local assistant. It’s pretty easy to chat young people up, but older folks feel more comfortable with a local person talking to them. Avoid the scams where English-speaking ‘art students’ try to show you ‘their works’ that you buy because they are so friendly, or take you to a tea shop where each cup is practically $50.”—Documentary photographer

“A good guide, a good ‘fixer,’ is absolutely critical. Smart, tireless, their English has to be good but not necessarily great. When I am shooting portraits, for me to be able to coax the expressions and gestures out of people, I need almost simultaneous translation.”—Karnow

ETHICS

“Be aware that your actions when uncovering sensitive issues may bring heavy consequences upon people who can not leave the country. Do not post names, photograph faces of people who are quoted commenting on sensitive topics that are contrary to government policy. The story is not worth ruining a good person’s life. Period.”—Delano

“If I were covering a sensitive story I would hire a translator who is not a Chinese national—who has a foreign passport, but who speaks Chinese fluently. I would try not to use a minority, like a Tibetan, to work on these issues. Because they’re already in a politically sensitive situation. As the photographer I do what I can do to protect the people I work with and who I photograph, but in the end it’s a really messed-up situation.”—Beijing-based documentary photographer

Freelance writer Bonnie Azab Powell lives in Oakland with her husband, portrait photographer Bart Nagel . She would like to go to China someday — but maybe after the Olympics.

http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003815876

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The People of Republic Desire Update-20090925

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:29:48 +0000

Hey Guys, here is a quick update about our film “The people of Republic desire”

We are currently working on the audition, finalize the big roles in the film, it’s going quite well and we are hoping to finish everything soon, but we are also searching for the small role cast, if you have a Chinese face with fluent English, feel free to send us your bio with previous work, we would love to send you some info regarding the audition.

Crew: Same as the casting, we are finalize the main crew member these days, if you willing to join the production, here are the available position:

Intern: For both pre-prod and prod

Assistant for different department: Art, Location, Equipment, Logistic, Talent Management, etc

prdthemovie@brightshadowfilms.com

Pic From here

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People’s Republic of Desire

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:34:52 +0000

The People’s Republic of Desire hits Shanghai

Local film production company Bright Shadow Films is preparing to start filming on their debut feature-length film, The People’s Republic of Desire, an adaptation of Annie Wang’s 2006 novel. The shoot is scheduled for the middle of next month.

The novel has been dubbed a “Sex in the City for Chinese women” – centering on four female friends, just as in the TV show. “It’s about single women and love, but that’s not the only thing,” says Lucy Brydon, who co-wrote the script with Jenny Hammond. “It’s not quite so directly about romance – the book has a lot to offer in terms of Chinese culture as well.”

Although the original story is set in modern day Beijing, the film adaptation will be set in Shanghai. “Shanghai’s just a sexier city, no offense to Beijing,” Brydon says with a laugh. Author Wang was on hand during the adaptation process, and has given her approval of the treatment. “[Wang] kept tabs, but she didn’t have any strict guidelines. She’s a ball of energy – very smart, very cool,” says Brydon, also mentioning the challenge of adapting the book, which was originally comprised of columns, into a cohesive film narrative. “We basically started by taking all the dialogue and went from there,” she says.

Bright Shadow’s managing director Charlie Moretti, who will also act as the film’s producer, reveals – without giving too much away – that the film will be shot on location, all over the city, including scenes at “the Hyatt, 1933, Chinatown – all the famous landmarks that Shanghai residents will recognize.” The shoot will last six weeks, he says, beginning at the end of September and lasting through the fall.

Already attached to the project is UK actor Andrew Lincoln, who has previously appeared in 2003’s Love, Actually (which Moretti likens to PRD), Scenes of a Sexual Nature and numerous British TV shows. “It’s an ensemble piece – but Andrew is our male lead,” says Moretti, highlighting that the production will involve over 30 crew members. Also confirmed for the project is director Alexei Berteig and director of photography Mark Pugh. Bright Shadow is currently working to confirm several additional actors, including the film’s four female leads, who will be of Chinese descent.

The film will be shot in English, although Moretti confirms that there will be dubbing for a domestic Chinese release. Bright Shadow has big hopes for the film, with a multi-million RMB budget and plans for an international release. “We’re aiming for April 2010,” says Moretti. “[Coinciding with the Expo] is part of the point, but realistically, we always knew it would be in the second quarter April, and we want to release it as early as possible to get as many viewers as possible.”

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The 12th Shanghai International Film Festival 2009 concludes

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:33:10 +0000

Award for Best Feature Film
ORIGINAL directed by Antonio Tublén / Alexander Brøndsted
Jury Comments: Using this title for a film is dangerous, almost suicidal. But the film more than met the challenge the title lays down. A light, touching and subversive study of mental illness that is compassionate and never sentimental. From the opening image of a fish tank being peeled open to the Mexican wrestlers tumbling in the heroes’ mind we know we had found the best film …… ORGINAL!
Jury Grand Prix
THE SEARCH directed by Pema Tseden
Jury Comments: The most challenging film we saw, almost a meditation in patience as well as an exercise in it for the viewer, uncompromising but funny and humane too. We look forward to many more films from Tibet.
Jury Award
EMPIRE OF SILVER directed by Christina Yao
Jury Comments: To the director and her cast and crew for the detail and craft on such an epic scale and in such extraordinary locations. And for reminding us, especially at this time that bankers should be kind and righteous.
Award for Best Director
Julius Sevcik for NORMAL
Jury Comments: A dazzling and technically bold director in command of all elements delivering his challenging vision of the serial killer genre.
Award for Best Actor
Sverrir Gudnason in ORIGINAL directed by Antonio Tublén/Alexander Brøndsted
Jury Comments: Is he acting, fantasizing, fooling everyone – and himself – or is he simply crazy – we never really know. What we know is that this young actor’s brilliant, sensitive, humorous and vulnerable performance is absolutely mesmerizing.
Award for Best Actress
Simone Tang in ACHING HEARTS directed by Nils Malmros
Jury Comments: For the control and clarity of complex emotions perfectly captured by a performance that lures us in until we find ourselves, like the young hero, repulsed.
Award for Best Screenplay
Fabio Bonifacci/ Giulio Manfredonia for WE CAN DO THAT
Jury Comments: Their screenplay documents with wit and clarity – a true story of the way political philosophy can intersect with social need and build something truly transforming
Award for Best Cinematography
Nicolas Guicheteau / Hans Meier for NOWHERE PROMISED LAND
Jury Comments: This is the most contentious decision. It is not in the classical tradition but more an acknowledgement that cinematography in the modern era can be about ways of seeing; what you look at and how it looks back at you.
Award for Best Music
Hyoung-woo ROH for ROUGH CUT
Jury Comments: Modern, pulpy, deliberately undermining and enlivening the gangster genre

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The Shanghai Film Festival 2009 Market Session is Finished

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:44:49 +0000

Hello Everyone, it was nice to meet everybody during the Shanghai Film Festival 2009, the market session is coming to an end, but our manager Charlie Moretti still busy with meeting up old contacts and new friends. Did we mention that we met Halle Berry?

We need to thank all the visitors who been to our booth during previous days, this year’s festival is bigger than last year, and we managed to meet a lot more people than before, we hope that you found the opportunity during the film market as well, just in case you missed our booth, here is a picture of it.

We will have a lot more info updated these days, stay around!

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Suggestions for Fresh Film Directors

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:25:23 +0000

This Post Originally from here.

Yu Nan, one of the jury members for the Asian New Talent Award during the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, had an exclusive interview with correspondent from Daily News yesterday. As a jury member, Yu Nan expressed her excitement to see so many spirited works, and she hoped these fresh film directors could stick to their own style, not to be distracted by material gain. Besides work, for the first time, Yu Nan replied to questions related to love in her real life and confessed that she was hoping for true love.

Yu Nan has already had some experience of being a jury member on International Film Festival overseas ahead of the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, but she told the reporter that this time she felt very familiar and a sense of achievement. “I feel honored, because to be a jury member means that people already recognized my acting; and I feel very familiar, because I can speak native language to communicate with people and meet so many old friends. The get-togethers are most exciting.”
As for the evaluating criteria to this Asian New Talent Award, Yu Nan laughed and continued, “Each jury member has his own taste, but we will get together and discuss over it. The exchanges of ideas are valuable.” Yu Nan indicated that she had viewed four pieces of works so far to compete for the award, among them two were very impressive. However, being a jury member, she declined to reveal those names. She went on to comment, “I am so glad to see vitality and creativity all over these works, and each piece of work has its own style. I hope these fresh film directors could stick to their own style and not to be lead by material gain, including the awards. I firmly believe these film directors are the promising ones on international film festivals in the future.” As for the debate on “art or business” by Wang Xiaoshuai and Lu Chuan during the forum the day before, Yu Nan smiled and said, “maybe different directors have different perspectives towards films. But from my point of view, whether it’s business film or art film, the key lies in its good quality.”

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Welcome to Visit our booth during SIFF!

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:40:21 +0000

Just a quick update for you guys who will come to Shanghai International Film Festival, we will have our booth in Shanghai International Film Festival Market Area, Our film booth number is 221, hope to see you in the Festival.

Our manager Charlie Moretti will join this festival, same time our distribution manager Gregory will show up in the festival, too. Feel free to contact us for the visit! Hope to see you there!

clark@brightshadowfilms.com

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How To Make it In China

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:16:30 +0000

Arriving on foreign soil, where everyone speaks a different language and the tastes, smells and sights are all so unlike anything you are used to, can be a daunting experience. An experience that immediately hits expats on arrival in modern, cosmopolitan Shanghai.

Then magnify this feeling if you are starting a business. And more people are starting businesses because Shanghai is hot and its rapid rate of growth makes it a very desirable place to set up shop.

Four expats — from Canada, France, the United States, and Germany — explain how they started their own unique and successful companies. And an Australian is getting ready to start his own.

They are thrilled at the opportunities, while citing regulations as inevitable but not unsurmountable to those with drive, ingenuity and often a Chinese partner.

“My approach was a lot more speculative,” says Charlie Moretti, Bright Shadow Films managing director.

Starting his Shanghai-based film production company in 2004, the French producer explains, “I threw myself in at the deep end. Only buying a one-way ticket here, I thought, ‘I am at an age when I can take a risk so I may as well do it now in a place that is growing and where there is not yet much competition.”

Moretti has been invited to be in the “Who’s Who” guide to Shanghai and his company is starting to be recognized internationally as a small facilitator to the Chinese movie industry.

He sells footage to US filmmakers and organizes China shoots for international clients. He can arrange footage of imperial sagas evocative of the film “Hero” — or whatever a client desires. He is also working on his own films.

“I chose to set up my company here, after spending time in Hong Kong. I saw the potential in China and it was clear Shanghai was to be the next big thing.”

Moretti has a background in UK films and worked on productions such as “Layer Cake,” starring Daniel Craig, the new James Bond. “I always had in my mind that Shanghai is where I would start up my company,” he says.

Before setting up Bright Shadow Films, Moretti spent one year learning Mandarin, researching the Chinese film industry and selling his project to potential investors.

With two documentaries now under his belt and two films in active development, he says, “I am so pleased I took the gamble.”

“Initially moving out here was a daunting concept as it meant leaving everything behind, but there are so many more opportunities here that I would not have in Europe,” Moretti explains.

“I saw so much potential with many lavish sets and blockbuster films being made.”

At the time Moretti moved here, there were no foreign set-up film production companies in China.

“It is still forbidden for foreigners to wholly own media companies. However, I got round this by making a strategic partnership in China.”

The immediate future for Bright Shadow is about keeping the momentum going. “Film-wise, it is about managing to mix Chinese talent with our production and distribution capabilities in the hope of gratifying and promoting further the Chinese movie industry,” says Moretti.

“I feel very positive about what the company has achieved. It is very exciting to be part of such a diverse culture that makes every day an adventure, reminding me how lucky I am to have chosen Shanghai as my business and my home.”

For more information, visit www.brightshadowfilms.com.

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China Daily: Get a Peek at ‘The World’s Largest Studio’

admin — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:23:45 +0000

If you guessed California or Florida or Canada or Romania, you’d be off by a few thousand miles. The World’s Largest Studio is a new documentary that promises to provide a picturesque view of Hengdian World Studios, located a few hours’ drive south from Shanghai in the eastern part of China. Producer Charlie Moretti t old Shanghai Daily that the film “looks at the lives of the businessmen who started the studios with just 2,000 yuan (US$261), the gardeners who tend the grounds, the actors and actresses and everyone else in between.”

Construction on the gigantic studios, which now cover more than 800 acres, commenced in 1996 when director Xie Jin wanted to recreate 1850s Canton for his film The Opium War. Businessman Xu Wenrong got the job done in just three months and the filmmaker was so impressed he recommended the location to Chen Kaige for his next project, The Emperor and the Assassin. That film required a huge new palace set, and Xu was happy to oblige. “We used up more dynamite than this county had used in its whole history,” he later told People’s Daily Online. A few years after that, Ang Lee filmed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the studios and Zhang Yimou shot Hero. It’s notable that both Chen (The Promise) and Zhang (Curse of the Golden Flower) returned to work at Hengdian with their bigger-budgeted pictures.

The World’s Largest Studio screened for the first time in Shanghai this week. According to Moretti, a 27-year-old Frenchman who co-directed with Matthew Clarke, “people should soon be able to watch the documentary on international channels. We are also exploring the possibility of making an extended DVD.” A handsome-looking teaser, jammed with clips from films shot at the studio, is available on the production company’s web site.

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