Dalian Wanda, China’s giant property to entertainment group, today took the wraps off its now-under construction studio complex in Eastern China.
The Wanda Qingdao Studios, which are set to open their doors in April 2017, made their bow as the only Chinese exhibitor at the AFCI Locations Show in Los Angeles (March 5-7, 2015).
Targeting international and local productions, Wanda said the 200 hectare (494 acre) site will be the world’s largest film production facility.
"Upon completion, the development will house 30 purpose-built production stages, China’s most advanced temperature-controlled underwater stage, and the country’s largest exterior water tank, a combination of natural scenery and custom-built locations, in addition to world-class facilities for post-production,” Wanda said in an updated description of the complex.
"Such state-of-art facilities will allow WSQ to serve both the Chinese and overseas markets as a world class production base with offerings spanning the entire film and television industry.”
Financial incentives will also be on offer. Wanda Group and the Qingdao Municipal Government last year announced a film and TV development fund, which Nancy Romano, COO of Wanda Studios Qingdao, described as “extremely generous.”
This dynamic and ground-breaking incentive program will provide significant financial support to qualifying projects from Chinese and international production companies,” Wanda said in a statement. “Film and television companies that register and operate on the studio lot will also receive competitive tax rebates for qualifying productions.”
The facilities and incentives together “will allow Wanda Studios Qingdao to successfully compete on a global scale,” said Romano.
The studios were given a huge send-off in September 2013 at a launch ceremony which features celebrities Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, John Travolta and Zhang Ziyi.