From computer screen to the big screen: Sneezing Baby Panda, a mockumentary based on YouTube hit, is coming to a cinema near you
- Original YouTube video has been viewed more than 250 million times
- Brought to the big screen by the duo who filmed the original video
- Released in Australia on Thursday
A team of Australian filmmakers have reunited to bring the story of one of the computer screen's biggest stars to the cinema screen.
The viral video of a baby panda sneezing has been reimagined in the upcoming US$5.7 million mockumentary, Sneezing Baby Panda.
Documentarian duo Lesley Hammond and Jenny Walsh, who in 1999 filmed the original baby panda Chi Chi sneezing at a panda breeding centre in China’s Sichuan province, have reunited to co-direct the film.
Impending cute-pocalypse: one of the pandas featured in the upcoming film Sneezing Baby Panda
Sneezing Baby Panda, follows the story of fictional zoologist Marnie Tyler (Australian actress Amber Clayton), who works at Ullamulla Zoo – where admissions are down and something needs be done to get people through the gates.
Enter viral sensation Chi Chi, who could hopefully turn the zoo's fate around.
The film’s co-creators have spent the past 20 years creating television specials for channels including National Geographic, Animal Planet and Australian commercial television channels.
The team was given a level of access to China's panda breeding centres that most Western filmmakers can only dream about.
Stealing a quick kiss: Australian actress Amber Clayton kisses a panda in the upcoming film Sneezing Baby Panda
Sadly, Chi Chi’s mother Mao Mao was killed during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Sneezing Baby Panda opens limited release in Australia on Thursday May 1st. The film is set for a mainland China release in July.
- Gruesome video shows GIANT blackhead removed from forehead
- Watch surreal moment Michigan State wins improbable victory
- Poisonous snakes wash up on Cali beach because of El Nino
- Chinese actress Yang Ying AKA Angelababy on the red carpet
- She's back! Adele teases 30 seconds of new song in TV advert
- New Jersey rich kids booze it up at Far Hills horse race
- Adorable baby girl reacts to trying banana for the first...
- Bride's mom talks about feeding homeless with wedding food
- Watch Tracey Morgan announce his return to SNL
- Toddler nods to The Eagles with hilarious facial expressions
- Gunman seen holding pistol after shooting Palestinian man
- Stomach churning moment Nicholi Rogatkin falls off of CLIFF
- Smoking gun emails reveal Blair's 'deal in blood' with...
- Hero Bronze Star combat dog who suffered from PTSD is shot...
- Devastated bride's mother holds $35,000 wedding reception...
- The Kardashians all fly back to Vegas to be by Lamar's side:...
- A picture of heartbreak: After her split from stockbroker...
- 'Kendall and I made you smile': Kim reveals Lamar Odom is...
- This is what a £20million wedding looks like: China's Kim...
- EXCLUSIVE: The truth about the senior-citizen pimp who...
- Thinking inside the box: The $600-a-month shipping container...
- 'The mother of all blackheads': Disgusting moment doctor...
- The real Arabian nights: Extraordinary picture shows drunk,...
- Worst ending to a football game EVER? Michigan punter DROPS...