General Motors is one of the largest enterprises in the world. In the face of stagnant growth in North America and Europe, top management was looking to other international markets for greater successes. GM, like other large multi-nationals, faced the problem of differing corporate cultures, competing management styles and a general feeling among its 8000 upper management executives that they were not really “in-sync” with other GM groups around the world.

An international sales meeting was conceived for these top 8,000 execs at which a series of films would be shown, among other events. One of the biggest challenges faced by the lead contractor for this massive meeting was how to deal with films to be produced internationally. Obviously a producer could be contracted in the individual country, but communicating with them and being assured of their expertise, reliability, confidentiality, and integrity was another thing altogether. In addition the selected producers had to be able to deal with top management in Detroit and the executive in charge of production in Geneva.

One of the films, targeted with communicating the history and the framework under which GM was launching its enterprise in the People’s Republic of China, was particularly problematic. That film would be shot in the U.S., Japan, China, and the PRC… and on a tight schedule.

Veteran international filmmakers Calvin and Christel Crane were selected to meet the challenge of telling the story of GM in China. Working almost day and night (Beijing is roughly a day ahead of U.S. time while Geneva is a work day ahead) the Cranes simultaneously supervised and shot the domestic material and built the production schedule that would take them on this world-wide shoot. Only days prior departure for Asia, the President of the PRC passed away and the government there cancelled all business Visas. The Cranes simply reapplied (at a different consulate) for tourist Visas and left on schedule.

The China Story became the showcase film for GM’s meeting and was credited with a new understanding of operation in a highly different business environment.