To prove a phone’s camera is Hollywood-ready, you make a movie with it. That’s the strategy behind a new project from smartphone maker OPPO, which has produced a short film using only its flagship Find X9 Pro.
The cinematic video, titled The One Who Stole Time, first debuted in China. It serves as a real-world demonstration of the photographic capabilities of the OPPO Find X9 Pro, its high-end phone that hit the market back in October.
Directed by Yang Lina with a screenplay by Qiu Yujie, the film explores contemporary themes of generational pressure and personal sacrifice. The plot uses a “time thief” concept to examine the tension between family duty and individual identity, ultimately championing the importance of living in the present.
While the dialogue is in Mandarin, the visual presentation is the universal takeaway. OPPO intends for audiences to focus on the film’s professional lighting, stable shots, and rich color grading, all achieved directly through the smartphone’s camera system.
This move aims to place OPPO among other tech giants who use professional filmmaking as the ultimate camera test, to convince consumers that their device is a powerful enough tool for creative storytelling.