YouTube:https://youtu.be/x1VrJieJVbU
Slow City: Asia Society
Video description
In this video, it`s theme focus on discussing the feasibility of living slow in Hong Kong, specially focusing in the Central business district (CBD) in Hong Kong. It aims to find a place in Admiralty and achieve the level of having a secluded life inside the city.
There is classical Chinese ‘小隱於野,大隱於市’ which means that finding a higher level of secluded life, it is better the find it inside the downtown than from the natural ( (百度百科:黎媛21, 2024). It wants people to find its own heart, own life. People always distribute Hong Kong as a busy city (HKCityLife, n.d.), in fact it did. In the state of the global workplace 2022 report, it pointed out Hong Kong had the highest stress index in east Asia with 53 precent of employees reporting feeling pressure at work (The State of the Global Workplace 2022 Report, 2022 as cited in The Standard, 2022) It feels like for people living in Hong Kong is more like survive rather than living and enjoying the life. Asia Society is a good place for citizen step backward, slow down their life and think about what they life for.
The video take place in the Admiralty train station- one of the busiest train station in Hong Kong and in Asia Society (Hong Kong) which locate next the British Consulate General Hong Kong. The video separates into two parts. For the first part focus more on describing citizen daily, like work and to work. For the second part focus on using Asis society`s views and some outdoor work to prove that it is easy to find a seclude place in CBD.
Method of conducting the research and producing video
Before producing the video, I did some research from the internet and field research in the area of CBD see if there are a place that can truly represent the idea. Many websites point out that park and natural park is a good place for slow city, I am highly doubt with it as those places is quiet and only quiet; it does not own the ability of enlightening people. It is therefore, I begin my field research finding if there are a place in CBD that can inspire people slowing down their life rhythm.
I find Asia society which right next to the British Consulate General Hong Kong and more importantly 100 miters forward are already CBD of Hong Kong. It fits my condition which this location has something that are truly meaningful and it is next to CBD. I chose a workday to visit Asia Society. I feel a bit pity on it as the Asia society is free for the public and I am the only visitor on that day, feels like citizen not pay attention on slowing down. Inside Asia society, I find out many outdoor artwork are thinking about urban life. For example, ‘Another time XX’ by Antony Gormley standing on the rooftop looking over the fast-paced city, ‘Lost city’ by Vaan Ip highlights the overbuilt claustrophobia of Hong Kong, etc (Asia Society , n.d.). I shot some art work and walking view after the visiting.
For the video production, two parts of video are mixed with formalism (Hellerman, 2023). Using some embraces ambiguity metaphorical imagery to inspire audience thinking about the content. I put lots of deep thinking art work inside the video. Like Wifredo Lam abstract art work, ‘Lost City No.52’ ,etc (Asia Society , n.d.). At the end I put Dolly zoom (Lannom, 2023) on the art work ‘Long Island Buddha’ as a ending, making the space of Buddha has a suitable extension and the simulation of spatial warp . All of those are hoping that the audience can use another point of view to think about the city; focusing on the Buddha and think about its peace, self-sacrifice kindness and charity (Saksana)and then can try to apply it in daily life . Inside the video I add some question for inspiration, I want those question can guide audience to the theme that I present, I want the audience reflecting their daily life, being aware of the important of slowing down, more importantly finding the balance point of slow down and speed up. For the music, I use an active and rhythm to show that it is citizen daily life is busy in the first part. I use slow and jazz music to inspire audiences to think about the question that I ask in the video and protrude the theme in the second part.
In general, I learn a lesson from this topic. I personally realized that there is a alternative way to life instead of living under pressure. I have a better understanding on Hong Kong daily life and production of video. Hoping audience can become one of the participants in slow city, a new style of life.
References
Asia Society . (n.d.). Outdoor Artworks. Retrieved from https://asiasociety.org/hong-kong/outdoor-artworks
Hellerman, J. (2023, September 01). Retrieved from What Is Formalish in Film and TV: https://nofilmschool.com/what-is-formalism-in-film
HKCityLife. (n.d.). Busy Hong Kong – You’ll Never Walk Alone! Retrieved from http://hkcitylife.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=105_269_271&product_id=3102#:~:text=The%20primary%20reason%20is%20that,helps%20exude%20this%20busy%20feel.
Lannom, S. (2023, February 12). Retrieved from What is a Dolly Zoom — Scene Examples of the Vertigo Effect: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/best-dolly-zoom-vertigo-effect/
Saksana, R. (n.d.). Retrieved from Buddhism and its message of peace: https://www.ayk.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/SAKSANA-Rakesh-Buddhism-and-Its-Message-of-Peace.pdf
Tthe Standard. (2022, July 28). Retrieved from Hong Kong employees’ stress index tops East Asia: https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/192831/Hong-Kongemployees’-stress-index-tops-East-Asia
百度百科:黎媛21. (2024, 1 28). Retrieved from 小隱於野大隱於市: https://baike.baidu.hk/item/%E5%B0%8F%E9%9A%B1%E6%96%BC%E9%87%8E%E5%A4%A7%E9%9A%B1%E6%96%BC%E5%B8%82/93333
CHAN CHUN PONG UID:3036267135
I think the structure of your video is quite clear, which first trying to inspire viewers by suggesting keywords/stereotypes of Hong Kong that I agreed with. Hong Kong is always described as a high-speed city where everyone walks fast, lives fast, and works fast. In this city, you can feel that all of us are non-stopped and so-called “busy”. Therefore, this is a good idea to suggest the slow part of this city, which you tried to bring out with the history. I like the idea that you filming at the long path and showing images like the galley, because I feel I am walking back to history. A message I got from the video is that, history is always existing but we usually do not have time to slow down our steps and review for that—maybe not only for history, but other things should be the same. A small suggestion is to have sound narration in the video as this can help you to showcase your idea.
Overall, the structure is clear and can bring out your message; the video presents in a special way that I have not thought of, which is the gallery way. Therefore, I appreciate the work you have conducted.
Ye Tsz Yu (UID: 3036075702)