Movie by SZ University teachers and students to hit screen

The film crew of “Chasing a Shooting Star” at a shooting location. File photos

A road trip comedy movie created by Shenzhen University students and teachers will be screened nationwide starting April 12.

Directed by Guo Haitao, a lecturer at Shenzhen University’s School of Media and Communication, “Chasing a Shooting Star” is an adaptation of author Liu Jiewen’s novel, which recounts the true event of a meteorite’s entry into Earth in Yunnan Province in 2017.

The movie begins with a fireball streaking across the sky in Shangri-La, Yunnan, and scientists speculate there would be a meteorite landing. This sparks a high-price offer — 10,000 yuan (US$1,389) per gram — for the so-called “Shangri-La Meteorite” from a collector agency. Motivated by this lucrative opportunity, people from various areas assemble beneath the snow-capped mountain to embark on a quest in Southwest China.

The movie won the Special Jury Prize in the feature film category at the 29th Chinese Documentary Festival and the 16th Shenzhen Youth Film Festival in late 2023, for its compelling portrayal of diverse people in this bizarre treasure-hunting journey.

In an effort to capture the grandeur of the natural landscape and the distinct Tibetan features in this road adventure story, the film crew had visited Yunnan, Xizang and Sichuan eight times to select shooting locations.

They traveled to high-altitude areas such as Yulong Snow Mountain, Napa Lake, Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve, Meili Snow Mountains, Pudacuo National Park in Yunnan for filming, presenting original forests, alpine meadows, snow mountains, glaciers, and sacred lakes in the film. The picturesque natural scenery and Tibetan ambiance add a unique charm to this exciting meteorite-hunting story.

A scene from “Chasing a Shooting Star.”

“Chasing a Shooting Star” had over 10 teachers, 60 university students, and 20 alumni involved in its production and distribution. The Daily Sunshine newspaper commented that this collaborative effort between the university and the film industry has not only enriched the practical experiences of both teachers and students, but also fueled the progress of homegrown movies.