【影片簡介】公民部落客 High Tech, Low Life
【信念實踐】篇 Beliefs & Reliefs
公民部落客
High Tech, Low Life
美國 USA︱2012︱86 min︱Stephen MAING
2012 波士頓獨立電影節最佳紀錄片評審團特別獎
Special Jury Prize for Documentary, Independent Film Festival of Boston
2012 倫敦Open City紀錄片影展最佳國際新進導演獎
Emerging International Filmmaker Award, Open City Docs Fest
中國大陸自一九七八年施行改革開放以來，人民的生活雖然普遍得到改善，對外來的各種訊息也較為開放，但發展快速的社會仍存在許多不公，而嚴密的新聞審查制度更層層篩濾掉許多事件為人所知的機會。
老虎廟和佐拉是兩位中國大陸的網路公民記者，因為不滿「只報喜，不報憂」的新聞制度，他們決定親自採訪不被關注（或是刻意冷處理）的社會事件──儘管他們的報導貼文很快就被「和諧」（刪除），在生活中也得處處提防被人監視。面對著種種壓力與脅迫，他們始終相信：只要能讓多一個人看到真相，一切辛苦就都值得。
五十七歲的老虎廟因為在某個偶然的機會下目擊到一起街頭暴力殺人事件，富有正義感的他將事件拍下放上網路，引起網友熱烈討論，並稱他為「中國公民記者第一人」。廿七歲的佐拉代表的是八○後習慣快速閱讀、喜歡爭議性題材的年輕一代網民。縱使對新聞抱持著不同的態度，他們倆人在四處採訪的旅程中學習如何在社會責任與個人圓滿中做出抉擇，也找到自我的價值與真摯的友情。
High Tech, Low Life follows the journey of two of China’s first citizen reporters as they travel the ountry– chronicling underreported news and social issues stories. Armed with laptops, cell phones, and digital cameras they develop skills as independent one-man news stations while learning to navigate China’s evolving censorship regulations and avoiding the risk of political persecution.
The film follows 57-year-old “Tiger Temple,” who earns the title of China’s first citizen reporter after he impulsively documents an unfolding murder and 27-year-old “Zola” who recognizes the opportunity to increase his fame and future prospects by reporting on sensitive news throughout China.
From the perspective of vastly different generations, Zola and Tiger Temple must both reconcile an evolving sense of individualism, social responsibility and personal sacrifice. The juxtaposition of Zola’s coming-of-age journey from produce vendor to internet celebrity, and Tiger Temple’s commitment to understanding China’s tumultuous past provides an alternate portrait of China and of news-gathering in the 21st century.