The Making of WHAM! 10 DAYS IN CHINA (Film · Episode 2)

*WHAM! 10 Days in China* examines the 1985 landmark visit of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley to Beijing and Guangzhou, marking the first Western pop performance in Communist China. Director Mike Christie and producer Alice Popplewell reveal that this tour was a calculated PR strategy designed to bypass traditional American touring routes and establish the band as global stars. The documentary utilizes a rare archive of newly digitized, previously unseen footage, providing an intimate look at the band’s relationship and the cultural shock experienced by both the performers and the Chinese audience. By reconstructing fragmented, decades-old rushes and tracking down key figures like translator Ling Ling Ko, the production captures the geopolitical tension and the seeds of cultural transformation that followed the band's visit, illustrating a pivotal, often overlooked chapter in music history.