Chinese man spends Rs 42,000 to make film using AI, gets job offer from Hollywood

A young man from rural China has gone viral after spending just 10 days and around 3,000 yuan (roughly Rs 42,206) to create an AI-generated short film that not only captivated millions online but also caught the attention of a Hollywood filmmaker who publicly offered him a job.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, 29-year-old Liu Ziyu, who lives in Xinping County in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, released his AI-made short film Zombie Scavenger on Chinese social media platforms on May 9.

While the project initially passed under the radar in China, it quickly gained momentum after being noticed by Hollywood-based AI filmmaker PJ Accetturo, who praised the work online a day later.

“This is one of the best short films I have seen in years,” Accetturo wrote on social media. He also appealed to internet users for help locating the creator, adding, “If anyone can find the director, please link his socials. I would love to hire him, but I cannot find him. I think he is a Chinese creator on Douyin.”

Following the filmmaker’s endorsement, Zombie Scavenger exploded in popularity, reportedly crossing more than 60 million views globally.

The short film, which runs for around three-and-a-half minutes, is set in an Atompunk-inspired world and tells an emotional love story between a robot and a model doll. Speaking about the inspiration behind the visuals and storytelling, Liu said the 2008 Pixar film WALL-E played a major role in shaping his creative direction.

According to the South China Morning Post report, Liu completed the project entirely on his own in just 10 days, spending approximately 3,000 yuan on software subscriptions and AI-generation credits.

Interestingly, Liu does not come from a traditional filmmaking, art, or technology background. He reportedly studied combustion engine driving and maintenance at a technical school and worked as a train driver for three years before eventually becoming a wedding photographer.

Liu told local media that his interest in AI video creation only began earlier this year after his parents encouraged him to prepare promotional material for the opening of their family-run hotel. What started as a practical task soon turned into a creative obsession.

Explaining how he approaches AI film-making, Liu shared what he described as his personal prompt formula for generating more cinematic videos.

“My prompt formula is: movement plus motivation plus mood, rather than simply telling AI to do what movements,” he said, explaining that clear logic and emotional direction helped produce more vivid outputs.

After internet users helped connect him to Accetturo’s message, Liu responded candidly, saying: “I do not speak English. I want to focus on my work in China.”

However, the interaction did not end there. According to the report, Liu later exchanged messages with Accetturo’s team and shared more of his AI-generated work. He said the team informed him that opportunities could be open in the future if he ever wished to work on advertisements or films in the United States.

For now, though, Liu says he has no immediate plans to relocate.

“Right now, I do not have a plan to go to the US. For me, they are like my friends in the US,” he said.

The filmmaker also revealed that the intellectual property rights for Zombie Scavenger have already been licenced to a Chinese film company, with Liu retaining responsibility for the project’s major narrative direction.

Despite the overnight success, Liu said he is trying not to get carried away.

“I hate becoming dizzy with a short-term success. I will continue studying,” he said, adding that he hopes his next project will also stand up to public scrutiny.