Inspired by a search for truth and the potential for fame, a young blogger from Hunan province challenges the boundaries of free speech by reporting on censored news stories in various cities throughout China while an older blogger from Beijing rides his bicycle throughout the mainland documenting the struggles of villagers deep within China's countryside. HIGH TECH, LOW LIFE captures the untold story of two of China's first citizen reporters and the achievements of a fearless new digital generation.

SYNOPSIS

HIGH TECH, LOW LIFE follows the journey of two of China's most well-known citizen reporters as they travel throughout China chronicling under-reported news and social issues stories. Armed with laptop, cell phone, and digital camera they both develop skills as independent one-man news stations and must learn to navigate China's evolving censorship regulations while avoiding the risk of political persecution.

Inspired by a search for truth and the potential for fame the film's central character, 27 year-old Zhou Shuguang a.k.a. "Zola," challenges the boundaries of free speech with his comedic and at times provocative reporting style. In April 2007, Zola was just starting to blog about personal events when he heard about a family in a neighboring province locked in an unrelenting battle with city developers bent on leveling the neighborhood. Moved and curious, he decided to close his vegetable stand and see things for himself. This marked the beginning of his career as a roving citizen reporter, generating interest in issues and stories glossed over by China's mainstream media.

Two thousand kilometers away in Beijing, 57 year-old Zhang Shi He a.k.a. "Tiger Temple," had closed his struggling bookstore and was riding his bicycle throughout mainland China, diligently documenting stories of the everyday people he met along the way. Having lived through the Cultural Revolution, Tiger Temple documents rural life with one eye on history and the other on the very current struggles and joys of the lives he witnesses. His thoughtful use of language and historical references is a marked contrast to Zola's more brazen and entertaining approach, but both men are making individual contributions towards social progress in China while offering those within and outside of China a rare glimpse of stories often overlooked.

China's rapid economic and technological developments have created a vast new social space for a restless youth generation and burgeoning blogosphere, one where citizen reporters like Zola and Tiger Temple can be regarded as online heroes and celebrities. Zola's technical prowess allows him to collect and upload information by circumventing China's strict censorship barrier, aptly called the "Great Firewall." His ambition and media-savvy instincts enable him to balance the risky line between social commentary and perceived political dissidence. For Tiger Temple, a more objective and observational reporting style allows him to disseminate various news stories largely unblocked. Publicly preferring the title of citizen "recorder," Tiger Temple's selfless and low-key style seems to enable him quiet acclaim, while Zola discovers he must respond to not just his newfound celebrity, but newfound criticisms.

HIGH TECH, LOW LIFE documents the inspired work of these two unique roving reporters and the achievements of a fearless new digital generation in China. Separated by generations, Zola and Tiger Temple must both reconcile an evolving sense of patriotism, social responsibility and personal sacrifice. The juxtaposition of Zola's coming-of-age journey from produce vendor to internet celebrity, and Tiger Temple's understated and life-long commitment to understanding Chinafs historical and social issues provides an alternate portrait of China and of news-gathering in the 21st century. And at a time when many of our own most trusted news sources are succumbing to financial crisis, their work may allow us in the West to reconsider the value and meaning of journalism.