Hong Kong (CNN) -- While it's not a stretch to imagine the Edward Snowden saga would spawn books and movies, a group of amateur filmmakers in Hong Kong have already beaten Hollywood to the punch with a short thriller dramatizing the events that unfolded in the city last month. On June 9, Snowden identified himself as the source of leaked classified documents exposing mass surveillance programs purportedly operated by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). The American computer technician also revealed he had been hiding out in Hong Kong for three weeks, sparking widespread speculation about his exact whereabouts and whether he would find safe refuge in the territory -- a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China.
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Group of amateur filmmakers in Hong Kong made thriller about Snowden's time in the city
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Despite limited budget and time, five-minute film attracted over 43,000 YouTube views in first week
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Crew found Snowden lookalike and rented room in same hotel that Snowden stayed in
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Film was intended as homage to city of Hong Kong, rather than only Snowden's story
Yet the final product is surprisingly suspenseful and sophisticated, with gorgeous time-lapse panoramas of the city and "shaky cam" shots reminiscent of @placeholder.
Hong Kong authorities have denied that China influenced @placeholder's decision to leave the city.