China at "war": Behind the scenes
Seventy years after the end of World War II, there is still widespread resentment across China toward Japan and its wartime actions. It is estimated that hundreds of films and television productions depicting China's victory over Japan in 1945 are produced on the mainland every year and the genre remains one of the country's most popular entertainment draws.
The war and what critics say is a refusal by most Japanese leaders to fully apologize for history, has long set the tone for strained relations between the two countries and at times fueled regional tension
Here, the camera rolls as actors dressed as World War II Chinese soldiers act as though they have been hit by artillery, during filming of "The Last Prince" television series on location for Hengdian World Studios near Hengdian, China, July 24, 2015.
Behind the scenes
An actor with fake blood on his hands holds a military epaulette as he prepares for a scene during filming of "The Last Prince" television series at Hengdian World Studios, July 23, 2015.
Many of the films are shot in and around Hengdian Studios, Asia's largest production facility. Extras and actors with smaller roles often take care of their own costumes and play more than one character in this production about the war against Japan.
Behind the scenes
Chinese actors playing Japanese soldiers are blown off a wall in an explosion during the filming of the series "The Last Noble," set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Fangyan, China, August 13, 2015.
Mass battle scenes that involve special effects and more than a hundred actors and crew are often shot in one take. This makes it possible for the well-organized team to satisfy the huge appetite for productions about the war against Japan.
Behind the scenes
A Chinese actor playing a Japanese soldier who dies during a scene fighting Nationalist soldiers lays on the ground during the filming of the series "The Last Noble," set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Fangyan, China, August 13, 2015.
Director Li Xiaoqiang said the series is about a Qing Dynasty prince, who joined the Chinese nationalist army after suffering family misfortune. "After he learnt more about the Communist Party, the prince began to understand what real revolution and the anti-Japanese war meant, and turned to the Communist Party to fight Japan," the director added.
According to local media, more than 10 new movies, 12 TV dramas, 20 documentaries and 183 war-themed stage performances will be released in China to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Behind the scenes
An explosion goes off as Chinese actors portraying Japanese soldiers are filmed in a battle scene during filming of the series "The Last Noble," set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Fangyan, China, August 13, 2015.
Behind the scenes
A film worker puts mud on Chinese actors portraying soldiers of the Nationalist Army who die fighting in a scene with Japanese soldiers during the filming of the series "The Last Noble," set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Fangyan, China, August 13, 2015.
Behind the scenes
Chinese actors playing wounded Chinese Nationalist soldiers wait during a break in shooting on a film set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Hengdian, China on August 12, 2015.
Behind the scenes
A Chinese make-up artist works on a dummy used for an explosion scene involving Japanese soldiers as it lays on the ground during the filming of the series "The Last Noble," set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Fangyan, China, August 13, 2015.
Behind the scenes
Chinese actors playing nationalist soldiers shout as they stand above a trench during filming of a battle segment in the series "Legend of the Stupid Guy" set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Hengdian, China, August 11, 2015.
Behind the scenes
A Chinese actor wearing fake blood checks his mobile phone during a break in the filming of a battle segment in a series set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Hengdian, China on August 10, 2015.
Behind the scenes
Actors playing Chinese villagers run in a battle scene during filming of the series "The Nu River War," set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Hengdian, China on August 12, 2015.
Behind the scenes
A crew member applies fake blood to the clothes of actors playing dead and wounded Japanese soldiers during filming of "The Last Prince" television series on location near Hengdian World Studios, July 24, 2015.
Actors are usually paid more if they "die" in the battle. Mass battle scenes that involve special effects and more than a hundred actors and crew are often shot in one take.
Behind the scenes
A Chinese special effects technician dresses a dummy up to be a Japanese soldier before detonating a charge next to two trucks in the filming of a battle segment in a series set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Hengdian, China on August 10, 2015.
Behind the scenes
Actors dressed as Japanese soldiers in World War II listen to the director's assistant during filming of "The Last Prince" television series at Hengdian World Studios, July 23, 2015.
Behind the scenes
Actors dressed as Chinese World War Two soldiers eat their lunch on the set of "The Last Prince" television series on location near Hengdian World Studios, July 24, 2015.
Behind the scenes
An actor (R) dressed as a World War II Chinese army officer acts as though he has been shot in the head on location during filming of "The Last Prince" television series at Hengdian World Studios, July 23, 2015.
There are eleven productions about the war against Japan being filmed at Hengdian World Studios. The facility itself, located in China's Zheijang province, is the biggest movie lot ever built.
Behind the scenes
Chinese actors playing Japanese soldiers are blown off a wall in an explosion during the filming of the series "The Last Noble," set during the second Sino-Japanese War in Fangyan, China, August 13, 2015.
Behind the scenes
Actors put on Japanese Army World War II costumes minutes after playing small roles as Chinese soldiers on the set of "The Last Prince" television series on location near Hengdian World Studios, July 24, 2015.
Behind the scenes
A scene is shot on the set of "The Last Prince" television series on location near Hengdian World Studios near Hengdian, China on July 24, 2015.