Australia secures filming for first Chinese drama

The show is scheduled to film 15 episodes in and around Adelaide over the next three weeks, and is being serviced by local company 57 Films, reports local media outlet The Advertiser.

“The success of this production will attract further co-productions to the state and cement the growing production relationship with China,” said Annabelle Sheehan, chief executive of South Australian Film Corporation, which is supporting the shoot, in comments to The Advertiser.

South Australia was chosen as a filming location over Italy, Canada and California, according to comments from 57 Films.

China and Australia are developing closer production bonds. Creature horror Nest filmed in Queensland early last year as the biggest ever Australia-China co-production and Jackie Chan’s feature film Bleeding Steel recently become the largest Chinese movie ever to have shot in Australia.

The two countries have had a co-production agreement since 2006 and in that time have made five co-production features with budgets totalling just under AU$90m.

Australia is keen to attract more Chinese productions to boost inward investment through location filming and Chinese tourism.