Things were very quiet on my recent visit to the China Film Group Production Base in Huairou, outside Beijing. Ten years ago this site was at the center of a seeming boom in Hollywood-China coproductions, hosting films like Man of Tai Chi (2013) with Keanu Reeves and The Great Wall (2016) with Matt Damon. But that enthusiasm seems to have cooled following the COVID pandemic and a deteriorating relationship between the US and China. China Film Group has also led large budget Chinese productions as well, of course, including the Wolf Warrior films, The Wandering Earth, and The Battle of Lake Changjin.
But as I wandered through the grounds, only one of the 16 studios showed signs of activity, where workmen were constructing an interior set for a martial arts film. The expansive back lot sets are mostly gone. Possibly a result of decreasing demand as film production moves to locations further south and Huairou’s new digital production studios replace the need for real-life sets. A neighboring film park, which housed historical period film sets, has been bought up by a private investor and is currently closed. While both sites used to be open to visitors, they are now closed to the public. The site may show more signs of life in April, when Huairou hosts the Beijing International Film Festival.
