On August 29th, it was announced that China’s first 8K-shot space film, “The Blue Planet Outside the Window” (窗外是蓝星), is set to premiere nationwide on September 5th. A trailer for the film has also been released.
The primary footage for this film was captured within the Chinese space station by astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu, serving as cinematographers. The film is directed by Zhu Yiran from the Film and Television Drama Documentary Center of China Media Group.
The narrative is based on the Shenzhou-13 crew’s historic six-month mission aboard the space station. It employs a creative approach that blends staged reconstructions with documentary-style filming, presented through the retrospective viewpoint of astronaut Wang Yaping, offering a unique journey filled with Chinese space aesthetics.
It is reported that a significant portion of the film’s imagery will be publicly revealed for the first time. Audiences can expect to see countless previously unseen stories from space, as well as untold details within familiar scenes.
The space filming segment of the movie utilized a state-of-the-art, domestically developed 8K ultra-high-definition camera. The footage was captured in high formats of 8K resolution at 50 frames per second, utilizing a full-frame sensor. The film will also be released in various other formats, including CINITY 4K 50fps, CINITY LED, IMAX, CGS China Giant Screen, and 4DX.
The specialized camera equipment underwent rigorous testing, including simulations for rocket vibrations, environmental exposure in space, and compatibility testing for charging and storage within the space station. The equipment was successfully transported to the Chinese space station aboard a Tianzhou cargo spacecraft in 2021.
