Jonathan Browning

Portrait and storytelling Photographer
 
China's Hollywood
Public Project
China's Hollywood
Copyright Jonathan Browning 2024
Date of Work Dec 2019 - Jan 2019
Updated Jan 2021
Location Hengdian, China
Topics China, Documentary, Editorial, Essays, Film Stills, Hengdian, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics
Welcome to Hengdian, aka 'Chinawood' The TV and film factory of China in Zhejiang province, East China. Billed as the worlds largest film studios its scale is impressive, a whole area of the province is dedicated its resources to the film industy; from the massive filming parks themselves with tourism to the numerous costume + dress factories and an army of extras available. Its so big that there is a life-size replica of Beijing's colossal Forbidden Palace.   All films made here have to pass China's strict censorship, however many of the films are commissioned and/ or state-funded and are simply propaganda for the CCP,  featuring  anti-Japanese and anti-kuomintang themes, Coming across a set of 'killed' kuomintang soldiers is not so uncommon.    With an audience of 1.3 billion, its not surprising to see the scale or volume of films Hengdian makes, or why Hollywood increasingly ensures its films are suitable for the Chinese government as the economic benefits often outweigh the story.

The majority of these images were shadowing a film called, 'Until Dawn' A pro CCP film made to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the party. I have detailed captions and contact with the director of the film for interviews.  Please get in touch for further info and images.  Thank you, Jonathan
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China's Hollywood by Jonathan Browning
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