The facility, operated by Versatile Media, uses advanced AI and virtual production technology to seamlessly combine virtual and physical elements. Project coordinator Niu Cong explained that shooting on location is often costly and challenging, whereas the studio allows filmmakers to “bring a whole stadium indoors,” providing ample space and creative flexibility for long shoots.
AI Virtual Production Gains Momentum
According to Niu, more filmmakers are turning to AI-powered virtual production, which allows digital sets to be stored, reused, and modified efficiently. For period dramas, where traditional sets often take months to construct and are later torn down, the virtual approach reduces time, cost, and logistical challenges.
Since opening in July 2025, the Deqing facility has hosted over 30 projects, rapidly establishing itself as a hub for the film industry. In 2026 alone, nearly 10 companies have committed to producing content there, including 89 AI-generated short dramas planned using the studio’s proprietary AI platform.
Digital Innovation Extends Across China
Other regions are adopting similar AI-driven film technologies. In Yangzhou, a constant-temperature water scene studio creates realistic giant waves using digital intelligence. The 35-meter-wide studio can simulate more than 200 wave types, reach 3 meters in height, and allow underwater filming up to 11 meters deep. Water conditions, including heating to 32 degrees Celsius within 24 hours, are remotely adjustable, while underwater robots assist with filming.
In Chongqing, a digital set workshop features an automated platform that swaps entire scenes with a single click, boosting shooting efficiency by 55 percent and cutting large-scale set costs by up to 90 percent.
AI as a Filmmaking Revolution
Experts say these innovations are more than technical upgrades—they are transforming the filmmaking workflow itself. Wang Shu of the China Science Writers Association remarked, “The application of AI technology is not just an innovation at the tool level. It also brings a revolution to the filmmaking workflow. AI-powered film and TV creation will further propel the industry toward greater efficiency and intelligence.”
China’s AI-powered studios, with their combination of virtual production, digital effects, and smart automation, are reshaping how movies and dramas are made, reducing costs, improving flexibility, and enabling creative possibilities previously unattainable in traditional filmmaking.