Theme:
The theme of my video is the overhead bridge in the public city. As a Hongkonger living in Tsuen Wan, I am proud to have the footbridge network that connects me to wherever I want to go. On rainy days, I can return home without getting wet, even without an umbrella. Therefore, the video is set at the Tsuen Wan Town Footbridge Network, capturing the daily lives of Tsuen Wan residents as they use the footbridge network.
People from all walks of life and different age groups all benefit from the footbridge network. As we can see in the video, children can run on bridges to reach public spaces like parks and libraries. Teenagers can access games and claw machine centers via footbridges for entertainment after studying. Parents can walk on the bridges while holding their children’s hands and carrying multiple bags of ingredients for dinner. The elderly can mosey along the bridges with their walking sticks to reach wet markets and supermarkets without having to worry about traffic. Customers can shop along the bridge network, from old-fashioned shopping centers to modern shopping malls. The convenience of the bridge network brings more customers to local small shops, such as the stall selling traditional sweet Dragon’s beard candy and rice mochi. Shopkeepers can gain more attention, and the local economy can thus be enhanced.
The footbridge network serves the public in diverse ways through its accessibility, connectivity, and safety. It is accessible because there are no more stairs or other obstacles like where at ground level. Also, different neighborhoods and areas of the city are connected seamlessly, making it easier for residents to access local businesses and infrastructure. This strengthens the collectiveness, social cohesion, and invaluable human touch in Tsuen Wan.
Research:
The research is conducted by collecting both primary and secondary sources.
Fieldwork and interviews are conducted to gather real-life information about Tsuen Wan Town Footbridge Network from residents. As a Tsuen Wan resident, I interviewed my neighbors, families, and friends who also live in Tsuen Wan. It really gives me valuable insights into how the footbridge serves the public. Moreover, I have visited over ten footbridges in the network to conduct fieldwork, from the east to the west, covering both the aged and the modern parts of the Tsuen Wan district.
Relevant online library research is also done to collect statistics about the network and prove the benefits it brings. For example, data on the number of footbridges, usage statistics, and other relevant statistics related to the benefits of the footbridge network are collected from the website of the Hong Kong Highways Department. News articles and online forums about Tsuen Wan Town Footbridge Network give insights into the opinions of the general public. Also, it helped me plan my fieldwork route and video shooting route.
Video production:
In a bid to comprehensively capture how residents use the footbridge network in their daily lives, I shot footage on multiple footbridges in the Tsuen Wan Town Footbridge Network.
The walking experience on the footbridge is totally different from that on the ground. We can walk continuously without waiting until the traffic light turns green. Therefore, I recorded the sound of the traffic light in person and mixed it with a piece of royalty-free lo-fi background music. It conveys a relaxing vibe in the video and highlights the non-stop walking experience on the footbridge.
Also, I tried to synchronize the rhythm of the traffic light sound with the people walking to create a harmonized video that tells a cohesive story. It was a time-consuming process, but it created good cooperation between the background music and the frame.
To make the video more dynamic and visually interesting, some reverse motions of pedestrians are also added to the video, telling the message that walking on footbridges in Tsuen Wan is safe and secure — even if we walk reversely on the footbridge.
For the colour tone, I lowered the contrast of the scene to create a softer, more soothing look, conveying a relaxing vibe. On top of that, I increased the brightness of the scene to make the video more visually appealing and to make the colors pop, showing the vibrancy of this public city. As yellow gives a sense of warmth, happiness, and energy, I slightly added a yellow tint to show the warmth of Tsuen Wan.
References:
- Wong, Wai kit. “The Tsuen Wan Footbridge Network.” World Health Organization, 2009, extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/afp/the-tsuen-wan-footbridge-network/.
- “Extension of Footbridge Network in Tsuen Wan.”Hong Kong Highways Department, 25 Aug. 2022, www.pwesintws.net/.
- “Tsuen Wan Town Footbridge Network.” Islet Forum, 2020, isletforum.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=29473.
- “The Importance of a Pedestrian Bridge.” Arete Structures, 29 July 2021, aretestructures.com/importance-of-a-pedestrian-bridge/.
- Leung, Tsz him. “【天空之城】荃灣天橋網絡再進化 擬建新天橋 愉景新城最受惠.” Property Station, 26 Mar. 2021, ps.hket.com/article/2748466.
- “【荃灣商場】最完整介紹, 商場之城,空中天橋串連20多個商場.” HONG KONG D, 2 Apr. 2022, www.hongkongd.com/tsuen-wan/50693/%E8%8D%83%E7%81%A3%E5%95%86%E5%A0%B4/.
- Planning for Livable New Towns – Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong Planning Department, Hong Kong, 2019.
- Footbridge and Subway Structures of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Highways Department.
FU Tik Wai 3036078730
I appreciate your efforts in film editing. Use of reverse motion in your video enriches the visual effects of the film. It is great that you start your research based on your everyday life experience – being a resident in Tsuen Wan that uses the footbridge network on a daily basis.
However, it is important to raise arguments or judgements rather than simply describing the situations when conducting research. Moreover, while you have so many references listed in your bibliography, making good use of them could elevate your research to another level!