https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-QdjlWSZuM&list=PL5PP0NHM6bT9jRFk-t90BPpcJU1zEm2pH&index=30
Credit: Director: Bryan NG
This video is themed: community-like city. As a general fact, Hong Kong is more commonly known as one of the world’s financial centers, cramped with bustling skyscrapers and workspace. Aesthetically speaking, Hong Kong does glisten with a charm because of how charismatic and mesmerizing the night view is at night. Despite Housing estate issues remaining harsh and unfinished till today, I would like to manifest the bright side and represent Hong Kong. As a result, Choi Hung Estate was chosen.
Choi Hung Estate is located in Choi Hung, in the Ngau Chi Wan district and is easily accessible from the MTR station Choi Hung on the Kwun Tong Line. What’s special about this estate is its rainbow-colored façade on the exterior which has made it a popular attraction for visitors. In 1964,it caught the attention of Richard Nixo, also known as the President of the United States in 1969. Britain’s Princess Margaret also visited in 1966, and correspondingly Princess Alexandra in 1967. Choi Hung Estate is also large in scale with around 43,000 residents, making it the largest public housing estate at the time of its construction in 1964, with blocks such as Chi Mei House, Tan Fung House, Luk Ching House, Pak Suet House, Pik Hoi House, Chui King House, Kam Hon House, Hung Ngok House, Kam Wan House, and Kam Pik House & Kam Wah House. The basketball court on top of the carpark is the best-photo taking among the estate. Notably, the rainbow apartments behind it have helped itself win a Silver Medal in 1965 for the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Annual Awards. The building also provides a sense of self-centeredness to the photographers compared to some skyline shots. Incredibly speaking, a photograph of the building was shortlisted for the Arcaid Award, an architecture photography prize in 2017 which again proves the specialty of Choi Hung Estate.
Research has been done before the production of the video. First, to provide an overview and general understanding of the estate, I did my research online about the history, accomplishment and architecture of Choi Hung Estate which includes any uniqueness, awards and major changes. After that, I went to Choi Hung Estate before my filmmaking in order to ensure any differences from online so as to ensure as much of the estate’s identity can be conveyed. During the physical observation, I capture any possible interactions and activities of residents and people in the estate, also to get familiar with the estate for more efficient film production and to know more about the estate.
In terms of video production, the video was around 2 ½ minutes, shot mainly in Choi Hung Estate and Ping Shek Estate for which the latter was displayed earlier in the video. The reason I used Ping Shek Estate in the video is to show the contrast between Choi Hung Estate with a more general one. Furthermore, the building in Ping Shek Estate is a paradigm for Hong Kong housing estates: congested, pocket sized. The design of this building is condescending enough that it strengthens the anxious feeling of citizens especially in this concrete jungle. The angle of filming was carefully chosen as a wide, sharp angle can display a stronger feeling so the audience are more likely to get soaked in. Before shifting back to Choi Hung Estate, the scene walking across the market was made to create the realism for the audience to walk through the estate. (The market is opposite to Choi Hung Estate). Moving on, the same effect was used in the scene walking along the carpark inside the estate. Instead of walking up to the basketball court, I wished to first finish introducing the estate from the ground, then moving up later on. Next, the walking and wandering continue across the conventional stores. I intentionally filmed these stores as I valued them as equally important as the estate since they are a part of Choi Hung Estate. I also hoped to provide a feeling of nostalgia where traditional stores were rife in our youth, and to remind ourselves to embrace the present as things change with time. The basketball court was shown at last as the best part in the dish: the rainbow-colored façade building and basketball court (a perfect match personally). It has also been the most vibrant, tenacious part of Choi Hung Estate. I used some angles found online which displays the building and the court together as well. With such aesthetic architecture, I hoped audiences regardless of local or nonlocal could witness and appreciate the beauties of the most representative location in Choi Hung Estate which remarkably has already become one of the representatives of Hong Kong’s landmarks. I chose to film the entire court under the hoop to mimic the view from a person on the court such that the entire experience becomes more realistic. At last, the secondary school was filmed to show the completeness of the Choi Hung Estate community.
Overall, Choi Hung estate is one of my favorite estates in Hong Kong, and I wish to display more of it to help promote its charismatic properties and at the same time witness the housing problem in Hong Kong.
Reference:
Hong Kong Free Tours (2021, April 3) Choi Hung Estate, the most instragmmable housing in Hong Kong,https://hongkongfreetours.com/choi-hung-estate/
Aurelia, T. (2021, Jan 4) Choi Hung Estate : Location and Photography tricks,https://dailytravelpill.com/choi-hung-estate-basketball-court-hong-kong/
NG Hok Yiu BRYAN 3036106032
Your video attempted in demonstrating the communal qualities of Choi Hung Estate. A more rigorous approach in filming will help document the spaces more clearly, and perhaps a more in-depth investigation of what elements of Choi Hung Estate help build a sense of community will be more helpful than a scattered focus that lacks a clear thread. By identifying the community-driven aspects of the estate, your structure and main argument will be clearer and your video more effective.