Entrepreneur Yue-Sai Kan, who built a cosmetics empire, has already been filmed by the Hong Kong-based production house, Bright Media. She's ready to go.

There are plans to offer segments on Jet Li, Yao Ming, Taiwan supermodel Lin Chi-Ling, singer Karen Mok, the Taiwan band Mayday, Dr Sun Yat-sen's granddaughter Nora, former actress and singer Liza Wong, and many others.

The vignettes are not simply one-on-one interviews but tell stories about the scene in China today. They include others prominent in many fields, including foreigners, such as Diane von Furstenberg, Japanese actress Noriko Saki and Bund Center Chairman Elijah Widjaja.

International Channel Shanghai is expected to feature segments on young entrepreneurs around China. The high-definition series offer a portfolio of fast-moving stories for worldwide distribution on broadcast and cable TV, in-flight entertainment and for downloading onto iPod screens, mobile phones and laptops. The aim is to air the footage before the Olympic Games open in August in Beijing.

Each segment can be half an hour, or an hour, depending on clients' requirements. Similar projects are planned for India and Russia.

"The most memorable thing to me was how incredibly kind the local people are. Despite the fact that I was a foreigner, they welcomed me with open arms. It was truly a meaningful experience," enthuses Yates.

He met many Chinese celebrities, especially at the China Fashion Awards. He says his most memorable experience was interviewing action star Jet Li.

"Mr Li was genuinely happy and fun. After I got over my initial fear that he was going to deliver a fatal blow if I said the wrong thing, I loosened up and we really connected in a way that should occur much more often between East and West."