Chinese TV drama filming in South Australia

Big-budget Chinese television drama series If Time Flows Back is due to wrap this week on three episodes set and shot in South Australia.

Locations from North Terrace to the Barossa Valley will be showcased to an audience of more than 90 million people via Chinese television and streaming platforms.

Based at Adelaide Studios the production has an estimated spend in the state of $1 million and has created 146 jobs for local cast and crew, including seven South Australian Heads of Department.

Originally from Shandong, writer / director Zhang Jiandong has written South Australia into three of the 45 episodes of the script because of its “Sister Status” with Shandong Province. The series stars some of China’s biggest stars, Jin Dong (The First Half of My Life, Ode to Joy) and Jiang Xin.

If Time Flows Back is the latest Chinese production to be secured by Adelaide-based 57 Films following the first Chinese drama series shot in Australia, Speed, and 57 Films’ Chef Exchange.

57 Films Managing Director Paul Ryan said,“57 Films has been building good respectful relationships with our Chinese friends and partners over many years and our working together serves to deepen those ties. Respect and understanding of culture is the cornerstone to doing business with China.”

South Australian Film Corporation provided a Production Investment Grant for the SA-production elements and a paid Producers Attachment on the series for emerging filmmaker and Flinders University Postgraduate, Yuan Wei, who speaks Mandarin.

CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation Courtney Gibson said “57 Films have been a pioneer in Chinese production in Australia and they continue to grow this business, now delivering episodes within the biggest-budget Chinese TV series ever made. This is great for South Australia, great for our topline heads of production and our emerging female producer attachment, and fantastic to see the streets of Adelaide playing host to some of China’s biggest stars.”

Minister for Industry and Skills, David Pisoni, said “China is South Australia’s largest export partner and a key target market for tourism and South Australia is a great place for China to bring film and television production. Our world-class crews and facilities combined with our attractive production incentives and PDV (post production, digital and visual effects) rebate are strategically crafted to lead to growth, jobs and skills for South Australia.”

The news follows the announcement last week of Adelaide-based VFX company Rising Sun Pictures completing its first Chinese production for international release in fantasy adventure feature film Animal World.