Zhu Brothers’ First-Half 2020 Review

Half of 2020 has already slipped by. Since the beginning of the year, in the face of the sudden pandemic, Zhu’s Brothers’ post‑production team has overcome numerous challenges and demonstrated our capabilities through a string of hit series. At the same time, we efficiently completed our relocation, stepping into a more open and inspiring creative environment to engage in dialogue with art. Behind every achievement and every step of growth lies the unwavering trust and support of our valued clients. We are deeply honored to have forged these partnerships, and with hearts full of gratitude, we extend our sincerest thanks to you.

The first half of the year, marked by bold strides and steady progress, has strengthened the Zhu family’s resolve to “craft compelling dramas with unwavering dedication, fearlessly overcome obstacles, and maintain a profound reverence for the art.” Looking ahead, we will continue to sow and nurture our vision on the path of light and shadow, carefully tending to every step along the way.

Now, let me share with you the story of the past six months!

I. Under the Pandemic, Strength Shines Through

On February 29, “Under the Power of the Jade Robe” officially aired its finale for non-members, achieving a total of over 7.7 billion views and surpassing 20 billion reads on its Weibo topic.

The Zhu brothers were fortunate to participate in the post-production of this series. While we are delighted with these impressive results, we are also keenly aware that such encouraging figures have been hard-earned.

Post-production in the film and television industry is a knowledge‑intensive, labor‑driven sector that requires a large team of technical professionals to handle production and ongoing maintenance from the start of filming through to the end of broadcast. However, the sudden outbreak of COVID‑19 in January, with the pandemic raging, made large‑scale resumption of work virtually impossible. With projects currently enjoying peak viewership, delayed restarts, staffing shortages, and more than thirty other productions demanding attention all at once, the challenges we faced this time were truly significant.

“Online + Offline”

For a post-production company that relies heavily on sophisticated equipment, working in the cloud is far from straightforward. Nevertheless, to ensure our projects are delivered seamlessly and in their full glory, we resolutely opted for a hybrid “online-plus-offline” approach.

The DIT department, often hailed as the “data heart” of the company, tirelessly safeguards project data security and ensures seamless playback around the clock. Meanwhile, the VFX, audio, editing, and packaging teams have adapted by alternating on‑site shifts with remote work to keep operations running. The logistics team has established a pandemic‑response task force to prioritize everyone’s health and safety. Thank you to all our colleagues who are working together to overcome these challenging times!

Pooling wisdom and strength

To truly transcend spatial constraints, each project lead has established a dedicated work group with the client to facilitate real-time communication about project progress, ensuring that everyone remains available around the clock to provide one‑on‑one support. While safeguarding data security and intellectual property, we’ve conducted rigorous testing across both internal and external networks and leveraged remote‑access software to carry out post‑production in the cloud. In addition, our team has proactively offered insights and suggestions, continuously refining the cloud‑based production workflow to ensure seamless delivery for the “Six Yuan per Jin Shrimp” CP.

It is worth noting that, even as the pandemic gradually subsides, we continue to refine our production workflows, conduct post‑project reviews, organize a variety of online sharing and networking events, and carry out market research—ensuring that colleagues working remotely can do so more efficiently and with greater peace of mind, and that our technology truly serves both our clients and our creative work.

In the face of the pandemic, our collective efforts are driven by a single conviction: even in these challenging times, the Zhu brothers remain united, leveraging the strengths of end-to-end post-production workflows and a streamlined management model to deliver high‑quality service through efficient coordination and unwavering execution.

II. Complete the relocation within one week

At the end of April, the original location was suddenly faced with an urgent demolition order, requiring relocation to be completed within fifteen days. Meanwhile, several projects were underway, most notably “Moonlight Blade,” which had already been officially scheduled for release.

Confront the crisis head-on

Senior leadership convened an emergency meeting and resolved to go all out, simultaneously advancing both the project and the relocation. The board of directors promptly selected a new office location, while all department heads and project managers re‑mapped out detailed project timelines and relocation plans.

We have consistently upheld the principle of “no impact on the project, no damage to equipment, and guaranteed personnel safety” throughout the relocation process, ensuring that all tasks are seamlessly and orderly coordinated.

United as one

The relocation also highlighted the Zhu family’s efficiency and strong sense of unity. During the May Day holiday, all technical staff worked overtime to keep the project on schedule, while the logistics team focused on pandemic‑prevention measures and moving operations. At the same time, in close collaboration with colleagues from the garment factory and a moving company, they simultaneously set up the new office space and began transferring office equipment to the new location.

To ensure data security and protect intellectual property, each post-production department is assigned its own monitor and workstation, and travels directly to the new facility in a company‑provided shuttle.

With seamless collaboration across all departments, the operation exceeded expectations: in just one week, all machinery and equipment from over ten thousand square meters were safely relocated to the new facility and meticulously reinstalled, while also ensuring the smooth broadcast of “Moonlight Over the Heavy Fire” and the timely progress of all ongoing projects.

Through this battle, the Zhu team demonstrated its fearless determination and its “artwork first” ethos. When confronted with crises, the ability and resolve to find solutions are among the strengths of this seasoned squad, now in its twelfth year.

(Our new home: Jingying Menggu · Changying A5/A6, Chaoyang North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing)

III. Let Your Work Speak for Itself

Looking back at the first half of the year, we were fortunate to contribute to the post-production of numerous film and television projects, bringing titles such as “Under the Power,” “The Story of Xinglin,” “The Imperial Coroner,” “Moonlight Blade,” “Beyond the Clouds,” “Home with You,” and “The Legend of Fei” to audiences. These works spanned diverse genres—including detective‑crime dramas, martial‑arts epics, and socially realistic stories—earning top rankings in both online views and TV ratings, while also sparking lively discussions across major social media platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and Douban. Now, let’s celebrate these achievements together! (In no particular order.)

Detective Drama Series

As the Zhu brothers’ New Year‑end drama, “Under the Power” soared in popularity throughout its run, topping 110+ trending topics across the web with eye‑catching content, amassing over 20 billion views, earning 58.48 million likes, and joining iQIYI’s Heat Index Club at 8,000 points. Here, we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the countless “Jin Yi Grandmas” for their unwavering support!

“Chenghua Fourteenth Year” is an online series produced by Jackie Chan, starring Guan Hong and Fu Mengbo. In addition to airing domestically, it has also been released internationally.

Another suspenseful crime drama, “Burning,” is being co‑broadcast on Dragon TV and Beijing TV. The series was jointly produced by the Publicity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security and the Shandong Provincial Public Security Department, with award‑winning screenwriter Chen Yuxin serving as both writer and director.

Martial arts epic

Historical dramas have long been the Zhu brothers’ forte, and this time they’re doubling down on period martial‑arts series, taking charge of the entire post‑production pipeline for both “Moonlight Blade” and “Evening Glow in the White Hair.” After its first week on air, “Moonlight Blade” went viral thanks to a host of unexpected, subversive tropes. What’s more, this marks the first project the Zhu brothers have officially announced since moving into their new home—making it something of a “housewarming gift”!

Following “The Imperial Coroner,” the Zhu brothers have once again joined forces with the period‑drama heartthrob Ren Jialun to present their latest original wuxia masterpiece, “Evening White Hair.” The series is currently airing to great acclaim on iQIYI and Youku. Here, we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the devoted fans of “Mu Tang Chun” for their support.

Real-life drama

If one had to sum up “Beyond the Clouds” in just two words, it would be “worth it.” This time, the Zhu brothers poured their heart and soul into the series’ post-production, crafting a sonic landscape that brings this grand opera to life. Since its debut, both the storyline and the meticulous post‑production have sparked widespread acclaim and lively debate online, with its Douban rating climbing steadily from 6.1 to 8.1—earning it the collective label of a “Republic‑era drama worth watching again and again.” Beyond delivering visually stunning shots, the stellar performances by Shang Siri and Phone Tai have taken Peking Opera beyond its traditional circles, showcasing the timeless allure of this national art form to a younger audience.

Since 2008, the Zhu brothers have maintained a close partnership with HuanYu Film & TV, witnessing our growth over the past twelve years. Let us continue to move forward together and create a bright future!

According to China’s audiovisual big data, since its premiere on CCTV‑8, “With You, There Is Home” has seen both its audience size and viewership completion rates steadily rise, with ratings climbing consistently.

In the final week, each episode averaged a 1.641% rating, a 2.479% reach, and a 66.312% loyalty rate—all three metrics performed strongly.

“Biographies of Extraordinary Figures from the Early Republic” is Chen Kaige’s first web series as executive producer. With a star-studded cast and thrilling showdowns, its popularity on the platform continues to soar, already surpassing 6,200 views. Join the editor in keeping an eye on iQIYI!

In addition to the series already airing, numerous highly anticipated productions are currently in intensive production. Titles such as “Please Be My Family,” “The Treasure of the Palm,” “Yan Yun Tai,” “Da Tang Daughters’ Journey,” “Jade Tower Spring,” “Speak Properly,” “The Commercial Investigator,” “Unrequited Love: Orange Is So Sweet,” “Moonlight over the Mountains and Rivers,” “The Chronicles of Nan Yan Zhai,” “A Beautiful Flower, A Full Moon,” “Chao Ge,” “The Princess Consort,” “The Young Lady of the General’s Household,” and “I Really Love You” — along with dozens of other major projects — will be unveiled one after another in the months ahead. With top-tier stars joining the cast, a stellar lineup of seasoned veterans, and an elite production team assembled, stay tuned!

IV. A Hardcore Team, with a Promising Future

We remain grounded in our craft, daring to innovate and taking full responsibility for our work. Over the past twelve years, the Zhu brothers have forged ahead, overcoming countless challenges with a team of seasoned professionals and a commitment to delivering top‑tier, end‑to‑end post‑production services. Thanks to the unwavering support of our partners, we have earned a respected place in the post‑production industry.

Looking back from today, the first half of the year was both a challenge and an opportunity. We faced unprecedented difficulties during this period, yet we also achieved significant results. We are deeply grateful for the trust and support of all our partners. All that has passed is but a prologue; going forward, the Zhu brothers will live up to expectations, continuing to uphold our corporate spirit—“customer‑centricity, valuing those who strive, relentlessly pursuing excellence, and striving for perfection”—to deliver high‑quality post‑production services to our clients.