Director Zhao Baogang says his latest TV series, Deepwater Forces, is about China's effort to establish a new, modern navy. The new series is a tribute to the 68th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army Navy. (Photo provided to China Daily)
But many scenes were shot inside a real submarine that the PLA Navy allowed the TV crew to use for the series when the vessel was not needed for missions.
"The submarine soon became the top star. We had to follow its schedule. After all, its real job is not TV performance but to safeguard the country," Zhao jokes.
Zhao says he spent more than five months shooting in such coastal cities as Dalian and Qingdao.
As the story centers on a group of young service personnel, the cast members are actors and actresses born in the 1990s. But cameos are played by soldiers and officers of the PLA Navy.
Zhao says he hopes the series will also appeal to audiences that like military-themed TV dramas.
"The largest scene shows around 1,500 naval crew members," Zhao says.
Xia Ping, a rear admiral of the PLA Navy, said in an earlier promotional event in Beijing that helicopters and other vehicles were also provided for the shooting.
The TV series examines a lesser-known aspect of the navy and is a tribute to the PLA Navy in its 68th year, as well as to the PLA, which celebrates the 90th anniversary of its founding this year.
"We hope there will be more such quality productions to tell about the navy's glorious history and achievements," says Xia.
