By travis Johnson
Production is due to wrap this week on three episodes of the big-budget Chinese television drama series If Time Flows Back being filmed and set in South Australia.
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, with filming taking place from North Terrace to the Barossa Valley.
The show, created by writer/director Zhang Jiandong and starring Jin Dong (The First Half of My Life, Ode to Joy) and Jiang Xin, attracts a loyal audience of more than 90 million people via Chinese television and streaming platforms. Jiandong, who hails from the Chinese province of Shandong, wrote South Australia into three of the 45 episodes of the script because of its “Sister Status” with Shandong.
It’s only 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’ own groundbreaking 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.”
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.”
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.”
