Several US producers are eyeing foreign co-productions in China due to the attractive financial incentives. However, caution is advised for the following reasons:

1. Domestic film output in China cannot meet the demand due to a dramatic increase in cinema screens, leading to the government offering incentives to attract foreign co-productions.
2. All money for co-productions is managed by China Film Group through their subsidiary, China Film Coproduction Corporation (CFCC).
3. CFCC, which is responsible for 100% of foreign co-productions, is under the State Administration of Radio Film & TV (SARFT), which approves all scripts. SARFT is notorious for controlling the media to ensure all scripts meet government standards.
4. Co-producing with a government body is a double-edged sword. Although it offers a smooth shooting experience, disputes over creative changes, finance, or schedule changes can leave co-producers with no legal standing.
5. Scripts must be free of inflammatory content and contain components that support the government ideology, leading to lots of compromise and little artistic freedom.

Despite China’s growth as a market for international studios, foreign co-productions are still few and far between due to the strict censorship and limitations. While a company with the right script or willing to make changes might have a great co-production experience, it’s important to proceed with caution.