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# Secretive Dystopian Sci-Fi Films
The Sand Storm by Jason Wishnow Stars Chinese Artist Ai WeiWei

By Meghan Young | Published 2014-04-03 | Unique
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-sand-storm
References: [thisiscolossal](http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/04/a-dystopian-sci-fi-movie-filmed-completely-under-the-radar-in-china-starring-ai-weiwei/) & [kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wishnow/a-secret-sci-fi-film-shot-in-china-starring-ai-wei)

'The Sand Storm' is a secretive movie project that is impressive for a number of reasons. First of all, it stars [famous Chinese contemporary artist](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-void), Ai WeiWei. Secondly, it was shot entirely under the radar of the Chinese government. Thirdly, it depicts a dystopian future in which there is essentially [no water left in the world](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stonewell). Yet 'The Sand Storm' is about more than a water smuggler (WeiWei) and a lack of global hydration, it is about struggle and relationships.

Written and directed by New York filmmaker Jason Wishnow, 'The Sand Storm' is currently seeking crowdfunding from [Kickstarter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dune-the-official-movie-graphic-novel). Although it is pretty much finished, they hope they can recoup costs now that they can talk about it without fear of being shut down.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 4.6/10
- Popularity: 41% | Activity: 88% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: North America, Asia

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique)

## Key Themes

### Key Themes Behind This Trend

- **Dystopian Future Films:** Creating films that depict a bleak future presents an opportunity to show how society can learn from its mistakes and make positive change.
- **Secretive Movie Projects:** Crowdfunding can be used to fund projects that may face obstacles from governments or corporations, allowing unique stories to be told.
- **Collaboration of Art and Film:** Incorporating well-known artists from different industries can add unique perspectives and create cross-industry collaborations.

### Where This Applies

- **Film Industry:** Independent filmmakers can leverage crowdfunding to create risky and unique storytelling and bypass traditional funding channels.
- **Art Industry:** Collaborating with filmmakers can bring visual arts to a larger audience and create more immersive storytelling experiences.
- **Crowdfunding Industry:** Crowdfunding platforms provide a means for unconventional projects to gain funding and allow backers to support creative ventures they believe in.

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