Experiencing Interruptions?

NEON ZOO

What if a movie could look back at you?

NEON ZOO is a thriller you don’t just watch; you help feed it!

Three online streamers enter a live show driven by anonymous votes. Their charm, ambition, and desperation are stripped bare for a crowd of unseen spectators. As the contest escalates, entertainment mutates into manipulation, survival becomes spectacle, and the line between truth and illusion starts to rot while thousands of feral eyes keep watching.

In the theater, those eyes include YOURS!

The movie screen flashes with shifting QR codes. One scan and your phone snaps into sync with the film, turning you into part of the crowd in the story. You can watch the story from different camera angles, back your favorites with votes, and fire live comments that everyone in the room can see. Your reactions help steer the chaos they’re trapped in.

Every screening is a one‑off event! The scores, comments, and crowd energy belong only to that audience in that room, held together by a real‑time engine that keeps everything synced, fast, fair, and hard to hack.

NEON ZOO is both a film and an arena, where the story watches you back while you decide how cruel a spectator you want to be.

  • Qi Xi
    Director
  • Qi Xi
    Writer
  • Qi Xi
    Producer
  • Ziyu Dai
    Key Cast
    "TwerkQueenNana🦄🦄🦄"
  • Siheng Lu
    Key Cast
    "Jason☆Wang"
  • Ziyi Chen
    Key Cast
    "SunnyLovesGummyBears~"
  • Jingzhi Wen
    Key Cast
  • Yixin Liu
    Key Cast
  • Yu Xiao
    Key Cast
  • Haosen Guo
    Key Cast
  • Chuanxin Zhang
    Key Cast
  • Chenglin Wang
    Key Cast
  • Yu Chen
    Key Cast
  • Meng Gao
    Key Cast
  • Qinlong Sun
    Key Cast
  • Jingqi Zhou
    Key Cast
  • Qi Xi
    Key Cast
  • Marshmallow
    Key Cast
  • Xiaorui Mao
    Faculty Advisor
  • Yixin Liu
    Line Producer
  • Meng Gao
    Line Producer
  • Yixin Liu
    Assistant Casting Director
  • Yu Xiao
    Assistant Casting Director
  • Yixin Liu
    First Assistant Director
  • Yu Xiao
    First Assistant Director
  • Yingren Wang
    First Assistant Director
  • Shiyi Lv
    Script Supervisor
  • Yu Xiao
    Catering & Accommodation Coordinator
  • Qi Xi
    Production Coordinator
  • Shuxuan Mei
    Director of Photography
  • Zhenzhong Zhang
    Camera Operator
  • Yue Li
    1st Assistant Camera (Focus Puller)
  • Yubo Yang
    2nd Assistant Camera
  • Qinlong Sun
    Clapper Loader
  • Guanglei Zhu
    Clapper Loader
  • Yu Xiao
    Clapper Loader
  • Ning Fu
    Camera Assistant
  • Xiaotian Xu
    Camera Assistant
  • Zenghui Shen
    Digital Imaging Technician
  • Shaoyi Xue
    Behind-the-Scenes Videographer
  • Jingqi Zhou
    Behind-the-Scenes Videographer
  • Jian Chen
    Gaffer
  • Haichang Wang
    Best Boy Electric
  • Ruihan Wang
    Lighting Assistant
  • Shaofeng Peng
    Lighting Assistant
  • Peng Chen
    Lighting Assistant
  • Yunrui Wang
    Lighting Assistant
  • Xianwei Song
    Lighting Assistant
  • Shenkun Yang
    Lighting Assistant
  • Yanan Sun
    Lighting Assistant
  • Xiaodan Liu
    Lighting Console Programmer
  • Xiaodan Liu
    Lighting Console Operator
  • Guangpeng Song
    Production Sound Mixer
  • Shengbin Gao
    Boom Operator
  • Zekun Fan
    Production Designer
  • Caijia Wu
    Art Director
  • Yunfei Bai
    Production Assistant
  • Jing Fang
    Production Assistant
  • Junzhan Liu
    Set Dresser
  • Yongjun Meng
    Set Dresser
  • Chonggang Zhao
    Set Dresser
  • Junsheng Liu
    Set Dresser
  • Jifeng Zhang
    Set Dresser
  • Heying Li
    Set Dresser
  • Yonghai Ma
    Set Dresser
  • Wang Shen
    Set Dresser
  • Dewang Chen
    Set Dresser
  • Kefeng Liu
    Set Dresser
  • Chaohai Liang
    Set Dresser
  • Shuanhu Yang
    Set Dresser
  • Shuanqun Yan
    Set Dresser
  • Pengshuai Han
    Set Dresser
  • Weide Ding
    Set Dresser
  • Leikun Wang
    Prop Master
  • Zongchao Wang
    Props Assistant
  • Xiaowei Wang
    Props Assistant
  • Tao Fang
    Props Assistant
  • Kai Wang
    Props Assistant
  • Changwei Fang
    Props Assistant
  • Zhen Wang
    Props Assistant
  • Nan Li
    Costume Designer
  • Jinyang Li
    Costume Assistant
  • Yaowen Zhang
    Make‑up Artist
  • Gejian Zhu
    Choreographer
  • Xiaoyao Shen
    Supervising Editor
  • Xiaoyao Shen
    Editor
  • Qi Xi
    Editor
  • Zhipeng Wang
    Animator
  • Xiaodan Wang
    Animator
  • Yiran Zhou
    Animator
  • Qi Xi
    Animator
  • Fan Yang
    Post‑Production Supervisor
  • Shelley Bao
    Post‑Production Manager
  • Ling Chen
    Post‑Production Producer
  • Junkun Sheng
    Colorist
  • Kexin Tan
    Color Assistant
  • Kexin Tan
    IO Technician
  • Beituo Wang
    IO Technician
  • Jia An
    IO Technician
  • Qimin Ding
    Re‑recording Mixer
  • Zhaoyue Yang
    Re‑recording Mixer
  • Jun Yuan
    Dialogue Editor
  • Jun Yuan
    ADR Recordist
  • Qimin Ding
    Sound Effects Editor
  • Jun Yuan
    Ambient Effects Editor
  • Jun Yuan
    Foley Editor
  • Cun Liu
    Foley Artist
  • Jing Li
    Foley Recordist
  • Summer Liang
    Visual Effects Supervisor
  • Carr Wang
    Visual Effects Production Supervisor
  • Yiwen Zhang
    Visual Effects Producer
  • Roro Liang
    Visual Effects Producer
  • Lu You
    Digital Compositor
  • Zhiheng Yang
    Digital Compositor
  • Xinwei Zhang
    Digital Compositor
  • Qinghua Chao
    Digital Compositor
  • Lixin Deng
    Digital Compositor
  • Ran Zhao
    Digital Compositor
  • Shuai Zhang
    Digital Matte Painter
  • Fei Wei
    Digital Matte Painter
  • Haijing Zhang
    3D Artist
  • Hua Ma
    3D Artist
  • Xiaodong Xin
    3D Artist
  • Jiebing Wang
    3D Artist
  • Zhiyi Sun
    3D Artist
  • Qi Xi
    Software Architect
  • Qi Xi
    Software Engineer
  • Qi Xi
    Site Reliability Engineer
  • Yu Xiao
    Lead Vocal (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Qi Xi
    Lyricist (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Qi Xi
    Composer (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Wenbo Hou
    Arrangement (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Xue Li
    Vocal Arrangement (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Xue Li
    Backing Vocal (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Tianhong Xu
    Recording Engineer (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Mengyang Li
    Mixing Engineer (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Mengyang Li
    Mastering Engineer (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Zhaohui Li
    Music Director (Ending Theme "Sea in the Room")
  • Qi Xi
    Graphic Designer
  • Qi Xi
    Subtitles Translator
  • Shuxiu Shen
    Special Thanks
  • Jingdong Xi
    Special Thanks
  • Marshmallow
    Special Thanks
  • Xiaorui Mao
    Special Thanks
  • Hao Li
    Special Thanks
  • Yongkai Gao
    Special Thanks
  • Yubin Liu
    Special Thanks
  • Xintian Wan
    Special Thanks
  • Fengya Ren
    Special Thanks
  • Xiangxing Li
    Special Thanks
  • Xue Li
    Special Thanks
  • Meng Gao
    Special Thanks
  • Yixin Li
    Special Thanks
  • Yu Xiao
    Special Thanks
  • Qinlong Sun
    Special Thanks
  • Jingzhi Wen
    Special Thanks
  • Guanglei Zhu
    Special Thanks
  • Yingren Wang
    Special Thanks
  • Haosen Guo
    Special Thanks
  • Mingjie Zheng
    Special Thanks
  • Huiru Ye
    Special Thanks
  • Enyi Liu
    Special Thanks
  • Jianglong Li
    Special Thanks
  • Haoyang Chen
    Special Thanks
  • Shanshan Li
    Special Thanks
  • Ruiting Liu
    Special Thanks
  • Jingyi Zhou
    Special Thanks
  • Diyi Wang
    Special Thanks
  • Jiliang Zou
    Special Thanks
  • Xinyan Zhang
    Special Thanks
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    凶猛的凝视
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student, Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Drama, Cult, Satire, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 23, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    110,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (2K)
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Beijing Film Academy
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Qi Xi

Qi Xi
(pronounced CHEE SEE)

Name in Chinese: 西奇

Born in Beijing in 1994.
First-time filmmaker.

2024—2025
Advanced Directing Program, Department of Directing, Beijing Film Academy

2023—2024
Advanced Acting Program, School of Performing Arts, Beijing Film Academy

2021—2024
Software Engineer at Instacart

2019—2021
Took two years off

2017—2019
Software Engineer at Microsoft Corporation

2012—2016
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"I'm so exhausted! This is going to be my first and last film!" That was what I frequently blurted out in the crew lounge.

Indeed, making this film was an almost absurd endeavor. We poured countless hours, resources, and money into crafting a dream lasting just over twenty minutes long. From the moment I opened a new script in Final Draft on March 28, 2025, staring at the blinking cursor on a blank page, until today, June 28, 2025, these past three sleepless months have unquestionably been the most exhausting period of my 31-year life.

Yet, at the very instant the final frame was rendered and packaged, I truly experienced the magic of cinema for the first time. It felt almost divine: to conjure life out of nothingness, granting it breath and a perspective uniquely its own.

"NEON ZOO" was brought to life by 131 people. It no longer belongs solely to me; it possesses its own warmth and will, quietly waiting to exchange its soul with yours over the course of 21 captivating minutes.

I hope it leaves a gentle yet chilling glow in your eyes and stirs a fleeting yet genuine thrill in your heart.