Chinese idol group SNH48 films video on Saipan
Saipan location manager Walt Goodridge poses with members of SNH48. (Fernando Ramos)
Popular Chinese idol group SNH48 recently chose Saipan as the location for the filming of their newest video.
After months of planning and preparation with local entrepreneur Walt Goodridge, video producers ZanyBros, Korean’s largest video production company and the creative force behind many of today’s biggest K-pop stars in the global “Hanryu” Korean pop culture explosion, arrived on March 20, and filmed for three days at various locations around Saipan, including beaches behind the Hyatt Regency and Fiesta Resort and Spa, the Bird Island trail, Joeten Supermarket, and the Banzai Cliff area.
“This unique project involved coordinating four languages, a 17-person Korean video crew, 24 artists and their 25-person support staff from China, a Japanese producer and one Jamaican,” says Jamaican-born Goodridge, who acted as location manager for the shoot. “And with our uniquely Saipan mix of Chamorro and Filipino drivers, a Carolinian sound engineer, vendor owners and hotel managers from Czech Republic, Bangladesh, India, Russia, Korea, Hong Kong and the mainland United States, we pulled it off! Things went smoothly, and thanks to Saipan’s ideal weather, all filming was finished on time!”
“I’m hopeful that this will lead to more film projects here on Saipan,” he added.
ZanyBros Korea wishes to thank the residents of Saipan, and the following individuals and vendors who helped make the production a success: Nancy McDowell and Pamela at Hyatt; Kazu, Martin, Das and Joseph at Fiesta; Helen, Yukari and Yulia at Aqua Resort; Grandvrio Resort; Doug Brennan and Jocelyn Pangelinan at Atkins Kroll Saipan; Alex and Kit at Hertz; Divine at Islander Car Rental; Ephraim at Thrifty Car Rental; Tati and Shane at the Department of Public Lands; Top Development; Division of Coastal Resources Management; Saipan TV, Noli at Marianas Studio; Domingo at Hanmi Hardware; Gus Kaipat; Lino Olopai, John Joyner; Joe Hill; Godfather’s Beach Bar; Anna Chang and the staff at Canton Restaurant; Byung Hoon Park at The Grill Hai (Fusion) restaurant; Frank Li at U-Save Car Rental; Darlene and Debra at Joeten Supermarket; Joseph at Island Equipment Rental; Gordon Marciano; Mario, Alex, Conrad, Jude, Kevin, Alejandrof, Gids, Dave, and Joe, Ichi Ban Marine Sports, plus all the security personnel, front desk clerks, and other staff for their hospitality, cooperation and delicious food!
Another announcement will be made when the video is released.
Check out SNH48 at http://www.snh48.com
Read more about the idol group phenomenon. which started in Japan at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_idol
Read more about ZanyBros at https://www.zanybros.com
View additional photos from the shoot at www.bestofsaipan.com. (PR)
This is great! Our islands have some beautiful locations and it’s nice to know that they can be shared through these videos. And with a large fan base no less!
This also isn’t the first time the 48 family has filmed a music video on Saipan.
SKE48, the first sister group of the original group to form, filmed the music video for their 9th single, “Aishiteraburu!” on Saipan The single was released in May 2012. They also filmed the video for their 6th single, “Pareo wa Emerald” in Hawaii.
AKB48, the original group that formed back in 2005, has filmed a few videos on Guam.
While the 48 family is primarily Japan based, sister groups in places like China (SNH48) and Indonesia (JKT48) have been formed. Unless I’m mistaken, this marks the first time one of the groups based outside of Japan filmed in the Marianas. I do hope they continue to film videos here and help promote the islands.