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In 2003, Phoenix TV and China Central Television (CCTV) collaborated in the shooting of “Journey to Africa”. This was a large, complex, cross-country television interview, and was heralded as the grandest TV operation of the Chinese media in the world. The project requires tight-scheduling of equipment preparation, land transport arrangements and visa applications.
International Fair Planning Centre (HK), the predecessor of IMCC, was employed as the international public relations consultancy, and was responsible for the provision of complete services to the film crew, including establishing public relations with governments of various countries, arranging for the interview with all kinds of organizations and personal interviews, transnational transportation, location scouting, visa application, route planning, arrangements for transnational aerial shoots, vehicle hire, accommodation, security, reception-on-arrival, etc. In addition, IMCC also offered assistance in the sponsorship and promotion of the documentary. However, the visa arrangement alone was very complex. The front line crew came from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and 33 visas of African countries were involved. Amazingly, the task was accomplished in 6 days.
On 22 February, prior to the departure, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Council Information Office, State Administration of Radio Film and Television, Ministry of Culture; along with over 30 African countries’ Ambassadors in China, Cultural sponsors and over 200 people of various fields met the crew, in support of their mission. President of the CCTV Mr Zhao Huayong and Chairman and CEO of the Phoenix TV Mr Liu Changle made farewell speeches.
On February 23, a camera team of 24 crew members departed from Beijing, and marched towards the East Africa in three routes via North Africa, West Africa and South Africa. The team travelled through more than 30 African countries and 120,000 kilometres in three and a half months. They finally met at the foot of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and 5 members of the team were then assigned to climb onto the Gilman Point (5,895m above the sea level), the peak of Kilimanjaro, and puts a perfect end to the large-scale interview activities of Journey to Africa.
The camera team returned to Beijing on 30 May 2003, and IMCC then also completed the public relations and overall planning in this event.
During the difficult 3 months of interview, the three camera teams drove on in their Rovers and carried out shots at different angles. The IMCC frontline team endured the journey with perseverance and wit that also helped them with confronting difficult situations like civil wars, plane explosion, deserts, malaria, typhoid… Before entering into certain areas of Africa, the camera team may also need to sign “the blue book” – “The Blue Paper of Life”. A journey through the unstable Africa with a camera to record also involved using one’s own life as the guarantee.
Despite a tough journey, it was never lonely. CCTV, Phoenix TV and IMCC are all optimists, especially when the team was accompanied by the renowned historical geologist Ge Jianxiong, famous musician Zhu Zheqin and popular singer Lao Lang; with their stunning performances and friendship from the African locals…
Although the supporting team may be quieter but it is just as exciting and busy. The IMCC supporting team works around the clock in shifts and kept in constant communication with the frontline. The team gave out information to all parties and provided assistance. The biggest challenge in Journey to Africa derived from too many factors that may arise suddenly in Africa. In addition, other members were pure artists that lack the necessary commercial knowledge. Such factors exert great pressure to the frontline coordination work. IMCC Executive Director Ms Jin Lan personally “supervised” from the supporting team and fell ill after working for days without sleep. Despite her sickness, Ms Jin Lan insisted to carry on working with one hand, with the other on saline drip, and continued to solve all kinds of problems for the frontline team without rest. With a total of over 500 hours of rushes, each millimetre of the film was shot with blood and sweat, and was the valuable proof to an extent that every time Phoenix discussed with IMCC about this collaboration, both parties still had very deep feelings about it.
The 100-episode “Journey to Africa” subjectively displayed Africa’s history, culture, natural landscape and human living conditions in a panorama. It also aroused the viewers’ respect and passion for Africa. In May 2003, the program was simultaneously broadcasted in CCTV-10, CCTV-4, Phoenix TV Chinese Channel, News Channel, America Channel and Europe Channel.
26 February 2006 marks the 3rd anniversary of Journey to Africa, IMCC invited all colleagues who have contributed to the program to the IMCC Annual gathering, reliving the 120,000 mile road. IMCC also announced the shocking good new, “We shall make another Journey to Africa”.
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