Amazing Race CHINA!!

[georgiapeach]

Thanks to Slowhatch for bringing us this fabulous news!!

It looks as if a China franchise is getting off the ground.

Amazing Race China is looking for a number of production roles to be filled immediately.

The show is a team-based, race-structured competition that follows 10 teams through 12 different cities in China as they compete for first place. Along the way they must complete tasks in each city and battle each other to avoid being eliminated.

Production is scheduled to begin in late April/Early May running through mid-June with post-production scheduled to continue until September. Each episode will involve three day shoots in each city with a day break in between.

Wondering if they are accepting applications already??

[mswood]

Very interesting.

[DeafRacer]

Margie & Luke versus Kisha & Jen Showdown on CHINA'S Amazing Race!!!   

I don't think Jen would want to return to China and face her pee doom. 

[georgiapeach]

Somehow I think you might just have to be Chinese to qualify for this race.

[Plaidmoon2]

Somehow I think you might just have to be Chinese to qualify for this race.

If you don't speak and read Chinese fluently, I'd expect you'd be at a severe disadvantage. 

Plaidmoon

[georgiapeach]

I haven't given up hope...they are asking for English speaking production!!

[Dånooky]

Maybe it's an Amazing Race: China for non-Chinese?

[slayton]

I'm interested to see if they cast non-Mandarin speakers.

From a viewership perspective, it would make more sense to have the racers speak Mandarin, although non-Mandarin speakers would probably provide more drama. 

[slayton]

Great news.  

Thanks to angryasianman:
http://www.angryasianman.com/2010/03/casting-call-chinese-version-of-amazing.html

casting call: chinese version of the amazing race
Got this news from a press release... Disney-ABC International Television Asia Pacfici has signed an agreement with Shanghai Media Group for it to produce a local version of the hit reality series The Amazing Race in China.

The show, titled China Rush, is a 12-episode series to be shot in locations across China. The name sounds like an energy drink, but it could be kind of cool. Interested in being on the show? They're currently seeking English-speaking applicants -- no Mandarin skills necessary -- from anywhere in the world to be on China Rush:
The Amazing Race: China Rush is now seeking english-speaking applicants 18+ from anywhere in the world.

No Mandarin Skills necessary to qualify

FLY Films and International Channel Shanghai (ICS) are looking for English speaking contestants to take part in this exciting reality TV show set to be filmed in China between the end of April 2010 and June 2010.

Ten teams of two will carry out tasks in cities across China to compete for the grand mystery prize. Do you have what it takes to win?

Complete an online application form at http://www.chinarush.tv/
Deadline: Monday 29 March 2010

PROJECT: "THE AMAZING RACE: CHINA RUSH"

CASTING CALL CATEGORY: REALITY TV SHOW AUDITIONS

CONTACT: WWW.CHINARUSH.TV
China Rush will premiere in August 2010 and will air weekly to audiences in China. The show will be telecast in English, with Chinese subtitles, on SMG's International Channel Shanghai network. For more information, and to apply to be on the show, go to the China Rush website here.

This is what I saw in the first few lines of the application on the site itself:

All applicants MUST understand and speak English.

If you have previously applied for THE AMAZING RACE (the Program), please DO NOT re-apply. Duplicate entries will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted by MONDAY, March 29, 2010

http://chinarush.smgbb.cn/application.html

The deadline is 12 days from now.

[georgiapeach]

Exciting news!! Hope some ones we know will apply!!

Having hope that this is filmed in English then!!

[gonzalochileno]

which is the difference between this and shanghai rush? this one will have roadblocks and detours?

[slayton]

The site states, "The program will be broadcast in English, with Chinese subtitles."

From the main page:

The shooting schedule will take place between the end of April 2010 and June 2010, with broadcasting dates running from August 15 until October 31. The program will be broadcast in English, with Chinese subtitles, and will be put together by an international production team. There will be 20 international contestants on 10 teams, all from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Throughout the series they will carry out a series of competitive tasks in order to find the ‘key’ to the following week’s episode. As this will be judged against the clock, one of the teams will be eliminated on a weekly basis. So it is not simply a test of individual capability, but also of emotional strength and teamwork. The eventual winners will receive a very special, mystery grand prize. China Rush will offer a unique platform to explore and promote Chinese culture through its great cities, perfectly complementing the 2010 Expo philosophy of ‘Better City, Better Life’.

http://www.chinarush.tv/

[georgiapeach]

Amazing Race heads into China

The CBS reality adventure format The Amazing Race is to be produced locally in China and will air this summer, Disney-ABC International Television Asia Pacific has confirmed.

The company has signed a rights deal with Shanghai Media Group (SMG), under which the Chinese firm will produce a 12-episode weekly series, titled China Rush, to air from August. Disney will provide consultation to the production team at SMG.

The season finale will air in October 2010, to coincide with the end of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The show will be telecast in English, with Chinese subtitles, on SMG’s International Channel Shanghai (ICS) network."China Rush will showcase the best of Chinese culture, cities, cuisine and cordiality; as participants travel far and wide across our great nation throughout the gameshow," said Xu Hao, assistant president of SMG.

This isn't the first time the format was been produced locally in Asia. Disney and Sony Pictures Television's AXN Asia channel announced an Asian edition of the race, billed as The Amazing Race Asia, back in 2006. The format has also been localised by Discovery Channel in Latin America.

http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=74&article=54654

[Sailing]

'Amazing Race' Rushes to China
Disney-ABC preps regional version of popular series

Disney-ABC has partnered with Shanghai Media Group to produce a local version of The Amazing Race series in China.

Titled China Rush, the series will be shot at locations across China and air weekly to audiences starting in August 2010. The season finale will air in October, coinciding with the end of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

The show will be telecast in English with Chinese subtitles on SMG's International Channel Shanghai network.

"China Rush will showcase the best of Chinese culture, cities, cuisine and cordiality; as participants travel far and wide across our great nation throughout the game show," said Xu Hao, assistant president of SMG. "Working with Disney enables us to adapt a popular global program format for our audiences in China."

Rob Gilby, senior vice president and managing director of Disney-ABC Asia Pacific, said the show is the optimal example of bringing Disney's expertise to work with SMG's experience and capabilities to serve the Chinese-speaking communities.

SMG's venue is the only English television channel in Shanghai and it currently broadcasts to 4.7 million families in the city.

Marketing Magazine Asia

http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/media/e3i56ed42b9a46f85545e75f7117703fd8d

[Sailing]

Amazing Race Heads to China
By Mansha Daswani
Published: March 18, 2010
BEIJING: Shanghai Media Group has acquired the rights to produce its own version of the Emmy-winning reality series The Amazing Race, via a deal with Disney-ABC International Television.


Airing on CBS in the U.S., the show has already been successfully adapted in Asia by AXN, with three seasons completed and a fourth in the works. The Chinese version, China Rush, will run over 12 episodes and will be shot at locations across the country. DAIT is set to provide format expertise as well as consultation to the production team at SMG for the series, which premieres in August. The finale will air in October to coincide with the end of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The show will air in English, with Chinese subtitles, on SMG’s International Channel Shanghai (ICS) network.


“The Shanghai Media Group is committed to bringing the best in entertainment to our audiences," said Xu Hao, assistant president of SMG. "Our programs capture the spirit and vitality of this vast country. China Rush will showcase the best of Chinese culture, cities, cuisine and cordiality; as participants travel far and wide across our great nation throughout the game show. Working with Disney enables us to adapt a popular global program format for our audiences in China."


Rob Gilby, senior VP and managing director of DAIT Asia Pacific, added: “The Walt Disney Company has a tradition of creating programs that resonate with viewers across the world. The Shanghai Media Group has established itself as a major producer and distributor serving the Chinese-speaking communities worldwide. China Rush is the optimal example of bringing our expertise to work successfully with SMG’s experience and capabilities to produce a world-class version of one of the most universally popular game shows ever.”

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/24751