Huzhou revitalizes film production with digital technology

A crew shoots a film at the Versatile AI Virtual Film Base in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

In a studio of the Versatile AI Virtual Film Base in Deqing county, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, a sci-fi movie is currently in production.

Traditionally, film creation involves meticulous planning, shooting, and post-production. However, in Deqing, these processes are being revolutionized.

"Our digital asset library contains over 150,000 digital assets," said Niu Cong, project coordinator at Versatile Media, a media company based in Zhejiang. "We can build customized scenes by selecting elements from this library to create environments tailored to the film's era."

Previously, any issue with lighting or props during filming caused delays. Now, at the Versatile AI Virtual Film Base, the final shot can be achieved immediately and set adjustments can be made in real-time. Scene changes occur in mere seconds, special effects can be previewed instantly, and actors can interact seamlessly with virtual environments.

In a studio, a dance segment for Xizang TV's Spring Festival Gala is currently being filmed. The massive screen displays realistic snow-capped mountains and caves from Xizang's Ngari prefecture, and dancers perform gracefully. Director DukarTserang said, "The studio's near-realistic settings offer greater creative freedom and a safer environment for dancers."

Deqing has launched China's first "Virtual Filming Pre-production Fund", with an initial scale of 100 million yuan ($14.41 million), to support high-quality projects.

To date, Deqing has attracted 43 companies involved in virtual filming and AI film production.