In these years, there are many famous movies that were shot in Tianjin, including not only the domestic movies like "Forever Enthralled", "American Dreams in China" and "City of Life and Death", but also Hollywood movies like "Transformers: Age of Extinction" and "Outcast". The directors of them are all most outstanding filmmakers including Chen Kaige, Peter Chan and Johnny To. The Tianjin city in movies all leave deep impression on audiences from western buildings in concessions, old residences of Ming and Qing Dynasties, to modern metropolis, night scene of Haihe River, as well as the familiar Dagu Bridge, Five Main Streets Area and TV Tower.
Many scenes of "Forever Enthralled" directed by Chen Kaige was shot at the south building of former Tiantsin County Club located on Machang Street, including several main scenes of Japanese troops station of Shanghai, Japanese troops conference room of North China and the art show of Mei Lanfang.
To truly represent the historical scenes, crew of the movie "The Message" chose the historical style architecture area of Jiefang North Road. Architecture on both sides of the street are mainly well preserved historical architectures.
Director Lu Chuan used to say about it for many time that without Tianjin, there would be no "City of Life and Death". All important scenes are shot in Tianjin. Not long after the start of the movie, Japanese troops attack and occupy a church where thousands of refugees and soldiers hide in. That is the Church Santa Fe located on Taian Street.
The live-action of Tianjin in movie "Empire of Silver" was shot in Italian Style Area and Beian Bridge with total duration of less than 2min. But in order to restore the magnificent and elegant "world architecture expo" of old Tianjin in late 19th century, the post-production of the 2min long scenes were adjusted with over 1200 pieces of special effects.
In the epic blockbuster "The Founding of a Republic" that was shot for commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of P. R. China, one scene about Fu Jingbo and John Leighton Stuart was shot in former residence of Tang Yulin in Italian Style Area.
About 1/3 scenes of "American Dreams in China" directed by Peter Chan were shot in Tianjin. The gate of "Yanjing University" in the movie is actually the gate of No.2 Worker's Cultural Hall.
80% scenes of "Drug War" by Hong Kong director Johnny To were shot in Tianjin. In the movie, we can see multiple landmarks of Tianjin like Tianjin Eye, Jiefang Bridge and Century Bell, etc. Even the fishing people making holes in the ice on Haihe River were contained in the movie.
We must impressed by those western style architectures in "Silent Witness", the movie gained high praises after being showed, as if it was shot on some street of European countries. The truth is, it was mainly shot in Tianjin.
"If you are the one" shows people the beauty of Xixi and Sanya, "Lost In Thailand" promoted Thailand tours, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" made the small village Hongcun of Anhui to spring into fame. So to speak, movie can be an excellent business card of a place. When we feel warm by seeing those scenes about Tianjin in movies, people from other places also admire the city taste of Tianjin.
