[4] Tianyi's first film, A Change of Heart (立地成佛), directed by Shao Zuiweng himself and released in 1925, was highly profitable.

A shrewd businessman who understood the audiences' preferences, Shao was one of the first Chinese filmmakers to make extensive use of traditional literature, legends, and myths.

[2] Tianyi made highly successful genre films, including costume drama, swordplay, and gods and ghosts, inspiring numerous imitations from other studios.

In 1931, Shaw produced A Singer's Story (歌場春色), one of the earliest Chinese sound films, directed by Li Pingqian.

Starting in 1934, Tianyi made a series of Mr. Wang comedy films adapted from the popular comic strip of Ye Qianyu.

[3] With the success of White Gold Dragon within the Cantonese-speaking Chinese communities, Shao moved Tianyi to Hong Kong in late 1933, following the Kuomintang censorship decrees against the Cantonese language in the arts and literature.

[3] In 1933, Tianyi released White Gold Dragon, the first Cantonese talkie ever produced, which was a commercial success in southern China.

[12] After World War II and the Communist victory in mainland China, Shao Zuiweng retired from the film industry and stayed in Shanghai.