China-made film production equipment has been increasingly used by filmmakers at home and abroad, with several blockbusters during this year's Chinese New Year holiday relying on domestic technology to achieve ambitious visual storytelling.
Top-grossing titles such as "Pegasus 3" and the spy thriller film "Scare Out" incorporated Chinese-made film equipment to execute ambitious action sequences and atmospheric effects.
In those blockbusters, stabilizers and drones were used for high-speed chase sequences and horseback tracking shots.
"The Ronin 4D stabilizer adopts the 4-axis stabilization, which makes it possible to capture very steady footage even in challenging settings such as staircases or running. In 'Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert,' one shot was filmed from horseback. Thanks to the 4-axis stabilization and the system's versatile design, the cinematographer is able to hand-hold the Ronin 4D while riding, making filming horses from horseback possible," said Zhong Yiqi, a professional imaging market manager of DJI, a Shenzhen-based drone maker.
Apart from the stabilizer, DJI's drones also featured prominently in films screened during the Chinese New Year season. The drones were used to replace cranes and cable rigs in high-speed chase scenes and large-scale action sequences. Their obstacle-avoidance and multi-directional tracking functions enabled crews to capture complex explosions and one-take shots with greater precision.
"The cost has dropped significantly and efficiency has improved greatly. With the upgrade of film equipment, the entire system and our products and service, and the industrial chain have been exported, so that we can have a voice heard abroad, which greatly increases the influence of Chinese films," said Sun Jiashan, a researcher at the Central Institute of Socialism.
Lighting is central to cinema and visual production.
Today, Chinese-made lighting equipment is helping directors simulate a wide range of settings. In the period drama "Decoded," the fixtures simulated realistic sunsets; in sci-fi epic "Resurrection," they rendered striking rain effects; and in "Blades of the Guardians," they captured precise sword flashes during a fight.
Most of the lighting equipment comes from a Chinese company based in South China's Guangdong Province.
"Our lamps are all independently developed. We've achieved big breakthroughs in recent years. The first breakthrough lies in higher power output. Our light fixtures now meet film-industry brightness standards, while offering durability, flexibility and energy savings. The other one is the superior light quality. We have achieved a global first in the skin tone reproduction and color saturation of LED lamps, providing an excellent option for delicate skin tone reproduction," said Lin Biguang, president of Guangdong Nanguang Film and Television Equipment Co., Ltd.
To ensure the lights can withstand the rigors of film production, the company has tested its products under extreme conditions -- high heat, cold, sandstorms and underwater.
The company also emphasizes flexibility, producing lights ranging from pocket-sized units to large arrays powerful enough to replicate daylight.
In addition, crews can adjust color, brightness, and positioning via tablets rather than manual changes.
"Compared with traditional fixtures, Nanguang's lighting offers greater convenience, higher quality and more flexibility. That makes a big difference from the previous ones. So the production efficiency has increased significantly, and it gives creators much more freedom," said Dong Jinsong, photography director of the film "Resurrection."
Thanks to good performance, the company's lights have been adopted on Hollywood sets, appearing in productions such as "Barbie," "Wicked," and "One Battle After
China-made film gear shines in domestic and international blockbusters
