Poster of the sci-fi fantasy movie Parallel Forest. Photo: Web

A low-budget Chinese fantasy movie that premiered in Beijing has been picked up by Hollywood with a view to commissioning a remake, the film's producers announced at a Thursday's media event.

Parallel Forest, directed by a young direct Zheng Lei, was produced by the Poly Film, a Beijing-based production company focusing on low-cost productions, in conjunction with Jiameng Dake Yutian movie production cooperation.

With only a budget of one million yuan ($150,000), the movie was shot with only three actors and wrapped within 14 days, according to the filmmakers.

Staff member at the peremier of the sci-fi fantasy movie Parallel Forest in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Web

The staff of the movie shared experiences from struggling ride or die shoot at the premiere. "If we couldn't finish filming in 14 days, we would have to dismiss all the crew members as there would be no more funds to support more filming," said Zheng.

"I borrowed the onemillionyuan investment from friends. At that time, nobody expected it to be a major event, not to mention being noticed by Hollywood."

Zheng Lei, director of the sci-fi fantasy movie Parallel Forest, shares his stories behind the scene at the peremier in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Web

Parallel Forest, a sci-fi and suspense flick, is the first fantasy movie from China set to be remade by Hollywood, according to Zhang Wenqiuzi, the film's producer. 

The Hollywood version will be starring Screen Actors Guild award-winning actor Aldis Hodge from The Invisible Man, and his brother actor Edwin Hodge from The Tomorrow War.

Parallel Forest is Zheng's first feature film, which tells a story of main character Du Yan, who loses her son in a car accident and is able to meet her son by crossing through a parallel forest.

Du steps up for her healing vacation after the accident by spending time in a forest. She accidentally strays into a parallel area of the woods, where she meets herself, her husband, and even her surviving son in another time and space.

In cooperation with the young and outstanding filmmakers, Poly Film has a reputation for supporting a number of many excellent low-cost Chinese movies such as Get out Your Secret in 1999 and My Sisters and Brothers in 2001.

Zhang Xinsheng, general manager of Poly Film, said at the film premiere that the movie is exciting, thought-provoking and interesting. "The film cost is small, but full of charm."

Global Times