Summary of Key Points
Liu Ziyu, a photographer who graduated from a technical secondary school in Yunnan, created an AI short film titled "Zombie Sweeper" in just 10 days using a budget of 3,000 yuan and a computer. The film has been viewed over 100 million times online and even attracted the attention of a Hollywood director who offered to collaborate with him. However, Liu Ziyu declined the offer to stay in his hometown and continue to develop his skills. The story is not about a "mid-level school graduate's comeback" but rather about how a decade of creative talent was amplified by AI tools. While AI has lowered the technical barriers, human aesthetics, narrative logic, and judgment remain the core competencies in the creative economy of the AI era.
Detailed Analysis
The "Miracle" of 10 Days and 3,000 Yuan: How Low Cost Can Generate Global Impact?
Liu Ziyu's short film became an unexpected success. Without any dialogue and relying solely on visual storytelling, it spread spontaneously on overseas social media platforms. After reaching over 12 million views abroad, the video gained popularity in China as well, with a total view count of over 100 million worldwide. Surprisingly, Hollywood AI director PJ Ace praised it as "one of the best AI short films in years" and offered to collaborate with him.
Liu Ziyu made a more cautious decision: he declined the Hollywood offer and focused on licensing his IP for film and game adaptations, putting other commercial projects on hold. He stated, "Popularity is luck; the real test comes with the second film." His ability to stay composed despite the success is key to his ongoing creativity.
It's Not About a "Comeback," but the Inevitable Result of Ten Years of Wild Growth
Many see Liu Ziyu's success as a "mid-level school graduate's triumph," but it was preceded by years of effort:
- He studied train driving in technical secondary school and later turned to rap, writing lyrics and composing music. His music has been streamed over 100 million times on NetEase Cloud, which helped him develop a sense of rhythm and narrative skill.
- He taught himself photography, practicing extensively to master composition and visual judgment.
- As a short-video director, he made the anti-drug microfilm "The Mule" (with a budget of 5,000-6,000 yuan), learning about cinematography and editing techniques.
These years of self-study and practice have equipped him to transform his ideas into content that AI can process. AI is just a tool; without these foundational skills, even the most advanced technology would be ineffective.
The Limitations of AI Creation: It's About "Why," Not Just Instructions
In the AI community, there's a common belief that providing detailed instructions is crucial for better results. However, Liu Ziyu approaches it differently:
- While others might write instructions like "The character runs wildly," he writes, "The character holds onto his hat while running (to prevent it from blowing away"). He explains, "AI is not a machine; it's a creative partner. You need to tell it why to act, not just what to do." This ability to provide context and motivation comes from his deep understanding of characters, emotions, and storytelling—something AI cannot replicate.
Turning AI's Weaknesses into Strengths: The Director's Judgment Is More Important Than the Tool
AI videos often suffer from facial distortion during transitions. Liu Ziyu solved this by using a robot as the protagonist and a pixelated screen to represent the character's face, which not only fits the "post-apocalyptic sci-fi" theme but also circumvents AI’s limitations.
This is not just a clever trick; it demonstrates the director's critical judgment in understanding AI’s capabilities and leveraging its strengths while avoiding weaknesses.
The Competition in the AI Era: It's About What's in Your Head, Not the Tools
Liu Ziyu’s story highlights an important point for the creative industry:
- AI has lowered technical barriers (e.g., making video production accessible to non-professionals), but aesthetic and narrative skills remain essential.
- When everyone can use AI, uniqueness becomes the differentiator. He chose the less popular "atomic punk" style instead of the prevalent "cyberpunk."
- Tools are amplifiers; what truly matters is the content you’ve accumulated over years (rap, photography, editing). Without that foundation, even the best tools are useless.
In the future creative economy, it won’t be about who can use AI first but who can leverage it to enhance their existing skills.
Final Conclusion
In the AI era, tools are becoming more powerful, but the true competition has always been about human creativity. What’s in your mind is what truly matters.