Category: Filming

17
Jan

Story of China, PBS, TCA17

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from TCA17 !!!

The Story of China premieres in the US this Summer – June 20, 2017! #StoryofChinaPBS

The Story of China premieres in the US this Summer - June 20, 2017! #StoryofChinaPBS Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

The Story of China premieres in the US this Summer – June 20, 2017! #StoryofChinaPBS
Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

Yesterday the Story of China team were at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour #TCA17 in Pasadena, CA. Here are some photos of historian, writer and host Michael Wood, producer and director Rebecca Dobbs and Harvard postdoctoral fellow Lik Hang Tsui discussing the history of China, from the ancient past to the present day.

Historian, writer and host Michael Wood, producer and director Rebecca Dobbs and Harvard postdoctoral fellow Lik Hang Tsui discussing the history of China, from the ancient past to the present day. Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

Historian, writer and host Michael Wood, producer and director Rebecca Dobbs and Harvard postdoctoral fellow Lik Hang Tsui discussing the history of China, from the ancient past to the present day.
Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

The show started with an amazingly colourful Lion Dance performance from the Immortals Lion Dance team.

The Immortals Lion Dance Team performing at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour #TCA17 in Pasadena, CA. Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

The Immortals Lion Dance Team performing at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour #TCA17 in Pasadena, CA. Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

When discussing The Story of China Michael Wood told the press at TCA17 that the ‘crucial thing is the living culture’. He explained he wants the series to be ‘immersive’ in its depiction of a ‘living civilization’. Michael then told the story of the 8th Century Chinese Emperor who walked among the poor in disguise.

Historian, writer and host Michael Wood. Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

Historian, writer and host Michael Wood.
Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

Producer/Director Rebecca Dobbs explained how ‘it was surprisingly easy to get access’ during their 3 years of filming in China.

Producer and director Rebecca Dobbs. Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

Producer and director Rebecca Dobbs.
Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

 

 

See more pics here: https://www.flickr.com/…/pbs_press_t…/sets/72157679245011945

Photo Credits Rahoul Ghose/PBS

06
May

It’s tonight!

Sappho_Postcard_8_JPEG‘Sappho: Love & Life on Lesbos’ is out on BBC Four tonight (Wed 9th) at 9pm!

Papyrologist Margaret Mountford goes in search of the true Sappho behind the 2600 years of myth and legend. The mysterious discovery of a lost papyrus sends Margaret on a journey to explore whether she was indeed the first lesbian, a priestess, prostitute, a stern schoolmistress or an aristocratic lady of leisure as has been alleged. She asks how each generation’s view of the archetypal liberated woman tells us as much about us and our fears and concerns as it does about her.

If you want find out more, here’s an interview Margaret herself did with the Sunday Times ahead of this evening’s broadcast:

 

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23
Mar

The Story of China – Shoot 7

We are getting very excited for our new series The Story of China as Michael Wood and the crew are nearing the end of their seventh shoot out on location. This time they’re in Macau and Hong Kong – filming in the cities, at a temple festival in Zhoukou, and they’re even off to film on a junk boat tomorrow!

The Story of China will be shown on BBC Two from September. Expect more updates from now on, but in the meantime here’s a sneak peek of what they’re up to. Back in the Maya Vision office, we’re a little jealous to say the least!

The Story of China - Shoot 7

 

18
Mar

Fun filming Sappho on Lesbos!

Now in post-production for our new programme Sappho. Look out for it in BBC Four’s ‘Age of Heroes’ in April 2015.

More updates closer to the time, but for now here are some photos of our crew filming in beautiful Greece with the knowledgeable Margaret Mountford.

Filming on the beach in Lesbos with Margaret Mountford

Filming on the beach in Lesbos with Margaret Mountford

Attack of the drone!!!

Attack of the drone!!!

It's a Sapphie not a Selfie!

It’s a Sapphie not a Selfie!

 

03
Nov

Getting our priorities right

Everyone knows that film crews need coffee but not necessarily what it takes to get a caffeine fix in some locations. Here Mick, our soundman, brews up on top of an ancient mound from the Shang Dynasty, 1600 BC watched carefully by Michael.

03
Nov

Yellow River filming

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Filming on a pontoon bridge on the Yellow River. This was actually a rare sunny day with blue skies, sadly not caught on this camera! We were very fortunate as the bridge was undergoing maintenance work so the only noise was from a queue of trucks waiting patiently for it to reopen.

09
Oct

Bored with being a TV presenter….

Michael in class

Michael is a hit as the new TEFL teacher in China!

Michael visited this school at the site of the tomb of Du Fu, one of China’s best loved poets. The pupils showed Michael around and shared their enthusiasm for eighth century verse, and their pride in the super-hero poet linked to their own home town.

04
Aug

Hoping for continuing good weather

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We’re filming this week in Warwickshire, please let there be sun….

29
Jul

Michael trying on a Tang stone suit for size…

China4-Mick--P1020159-176In Qianling Mausoleum, Tang Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian share a burial tomb. Wu Zetian is the only woman to have ruled China. On her instructions the entrance to their mausoleum is lined with stone animals and human statues of the 61 foreign ambassadors who attended the Emperor’s funeral. Each figure is depicted in a long robe with a wide belt and wearing boots. The name of each individual and the country he represented is carved on the back of the statue. It is not known how or why but each statue has been decapitated at some time in the distant past.

21
Jul

New crew member in China

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Everyone pitches in on Maya Vision shoots, even the contributors. In this case a Buddhist monks at the Temple in ?