Mask Hunter | Tencent Video
Wu Dong—Tencent Video
In April, the documentary “Mask Hunter” captivated Chinese netizens, attracting millions of views. From March 5 to 18, the filmmaker, Wu Dong (who goes by Hua Zong in the video), followed Lin Dong, a 30-year-old Chinese businessman from Guangdong province, as he went to Turkey to try to procure the raw materials necessary for the production of medical-grade face masks, and commission factories to produce the masks. Wu details Lin’s ostentatious and risky business endeavors. A rotating group of local suppliers flock to the five-star hotel where Lin was staying, all claiming to have the product he wanted: melt-blown fabric, a critical layer for producing medical-grade masks. Other times, Lin is seen flying on private jets to meet clients, and cutting deals with the help of a Turkish arms dealer who had jumped into mask-trading for its high profit margin (“100-300 percent, more than arms and drugs,” Lin says in the video). The filmmaker frequently confronts Lin about whether he is profiteering from a pandemic, but does not reach a conclusion. After the documentary was released, Lin garnered many fans—some were attracted by his good looks and sharp outfits, while others praised him as a businessman of conscience after seeing him reject low-quality products.
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In April, the documentary “Mask Hunter” captivated Chinese netizens, attracting millions of views. From March 5 to 18, the filmmaker, Wu Dong (who goes by Hua Zong in the video), followed Lin Dong, a 30-year-old Chinese businessman from Guangdong province, as he went to Turkey to try to procure the raw materials necessary for the production of medical-grade face masks, and commission factories to produce the masks. Wu details Lin’s ostentatious and risky business endeavors. A rotating group of local suppliers flock to the five-star hotel where Lin was staying, all claiming to have the product he wanted: melt-blown fabric, a critical layer for producing medical-grade masks. Other times, Lin is seen flying on private jets to meet clients, and cutting deals with the help of a Turkish arms dealer who had jumped into mask-trading for its high profit margin (“100-300 percent, more than arms and drugs,” Lin says in the video). The filmmaker frequently confronts Lin about whether he is profiteering from a pandemic, but does not reach a conclusion. After the documentary was released, Lin garnered many fans—some were attracted by his good looks and sharp outfits, while others praised him as a businessman of conscience after seeing him reject low-quality products.