Xiaoping Li

Born smack in the middle of autumn 1974, Xiaoping Li grew up surrounded by the relentless buzz of China’s ever-changing film scene. Honestly, it's wild how she carved her own path, dodging the spotlight but pulling the strings behind some of the country’s most talked-about productions. You’ve probably seen her name roll by in the credits if you’ve ever watched The Legend of Chusen—yeah, that epic fantasy drama from 2016 that everyone binge-watched for the crazy plot twists and gorgeous sets. That wasn’t an accident. Xiaoping’s the one making sure every sword fight and magical reveal looked flawless, even when things behind the scenes got messy (and trust me, they always do). She didn’t stop there. In 2018, she helped bring The Shadow Play to life—a film that’s basically a fever dream of corruption, suspense, and a bunch of people with way too many secrets. Xiaoping’s got this knack for juggling chaos, handling budgets, schedules, and probably more than a few creative meltdowns. Back in 2015, she was also behind E gun tian shi, showing off her versatility by managing a totally different vibe and proving she’s not just a one-trick pony. What’s cool about Xiaoping is she’s the sort of producer everyone wants in their corner: low-key, sharp as a tack, and able to keep even the wildest productions on track. She’s not chasing headlines, but the projects she’s worked on? They speak for themselves. If you’re into Chinese cinema, odds are you’ve felt her influence—even if you didn’t know her name.