Behind the scenes production of the silver empire

This film, like the TV series Baiyin Valley, is adapted from the novel Baiyin Valley by Shanxi writer Cheng Yi, and tells the interest entanglements and emotional entanglements of the noble families of Shanxi merchants in the late Qing Dynasty.

Producer Peggy Chiao admits that he and the director are both from Shanxi, so they have an innate affinity for the theme of Shanxi merchants. Besides, China has experienced a transition period, and people's understanding of commercial warfare is biased. She wants to tell everyone that businessmen should not only "value profits", but also have many ethical and moral things in it.

The film has been prepared for two years, costing10 million dollars, and invited Hong Kong and mainland actors Aaron Kwok, Zhang Tie-Lin and Hao Lei to perform and translate the wonderful stories of this great era. The film was jointly produced by the filmmaker and Christina Yao, and the production team was temporarily selected, with the director of fashion design; Wai Tung is a martial arts coach; Well-known photographer as the chief photographer, well-known producer Zhang; Li Congxi is the executive producer, and the director is Christina Yao, a doctor of drama at Stanford University, a cutting-edge director who has directed nearly 30 stage plays. It's really a golden lineup.

Shooting process

In order to faithfully present the business philosophy of Shanxi merchants, the film crew specially went to Shanxi (Jinzhong area: Qixian, Taigu, Pingyao, Yuci and Lingshi; Yuncheng area: Xiezhou; Jincheng area: Jincheng, Qinshui, Lingchuan), Dunhuang (Hecang, Yangguan), Qinghai (Dangjinshan), Tianjin, Beijing, etc. A total of 22 scenic spots were photographed. I hope to reproduce the past glory of this business empire through the most magnificent scenes.

Yu Dong, the person in charge of the distributor, said that the brilliant commercial civilization displayed in "Silver Empire" is the biggest attraction of the film. Christina Yao said that the whole crew shot 46 scenes in 4 provinces 13 counties and cities, and the post-production traveled to 9 countries and regions, with the aim of promoting this work to promote Shanxi merchants' culture.

Producer joined hands with director Yao as producer. Silver Empire started on September 15, 2008, and shut down on October 3 1 in 2009, which is almost a miracle. During this period, 29 scenic spots spanning six provinces and cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi and Shanxi, were able to complete filming as scheduled, thanks to the support of a group of capable, efficient and talented staff and local government departments. The crew went to many places that ordinary film crews have never been to. They used to shoot in the cold environment of MINUS 20 degrees, and often endured the biting wind and sand, just to follow the footsteps of Shanxi merchants that day.

post production

Compared with the main artists in front of the stage, the cast behind the scenes includes Chung-Man Hai, who was nominated for the Oscar for Best Fashion Director, as artistic director, Anthony Pun, who won the Taiwan Golden Horse Award for Best Photography for Sanchakou, as photography director, Wai Tung, who won the Hong Kong Academy Award for Best Action Design for Seven Swords, as action director, Ching-Song Liao, who edited several films of Hou Xiaoxian and Tian Zhuangzhuang, as recording director, and Tao Jing, who has close cooperation with Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, as production director.

At the same time, many computer image processing technologies are used to erase modern traces in real scenes.

Production and sales

Production company:

Jingpin film company

Bona Film Group [China]

Ocean pictures

Issuing company:

Shanshui international entertainment company

Bona Film Group [China] (2009) (China) (Theatre)

Anle Film Co., Ltd. [China Hong Kong] (20 10) (Hong Kong) (all media)

Special effects production company:

Munk

Basic foreign exchange

Pangzi production company

Oriental Post Limited [Thailand]

Costume props

The men's clothes in the movies are all specially made, but all kinds of decorations, including Yu Pei, jade on the hat, rings and buttons, are real antiques. Women's clothes, especially Mrs. Kang's clothes, are made of antiques and new materials. Women's headdresses are also antiques, some of which fade badly and need to be gilded again. Some props are copied according to historical records, such as teacups, brushes and abacus (copied according to the proportion of the museum's collection). But basically all decorations, porcelain and furniture are real antiques. Because of its high value, all items need to be guarded 24 hours a day. I know very well that the trust of museums and private collectors to allow me to include them in movies comes from our common desire: to record the real atmosphere of ancient life in China with movies.