Link: https://youtu.be/LDRvOTHO3OI
Video Essay
The disappearance of neon signs in Hong Kong, caused by government regulations, not only marks a decline in an iconic element of the city’s identity as depicted in films globally but also reflects broader socio-cultural shifts, influencing local perceptions and conservation efforts. This video essay takes a deep dive into the perception of Hong Kong through the lens of cinema, testimonials from locals, and further conservation efforts all relating to signage through neon.
The theme of this video essay follows the “Disappearing City: Neon Signs”. We initially take a critical look through the film “Expats” directed by Lulu Wang which conveys a message that “Hong Kong is dying” in response to the disappearance of neon signs. The show is based on the book “The Expatriates” by Janice Y. K. Lee. Lee is a Hong Kong-born American author who expresses a perspective shared by many regarding the effect of tightened government regulations that have resulted in the removal of neon signs at an exponential rate. This does a great job of introducing us to the main theme of the essay before jumping into the more documentary-focused part of the video essay.
We can break down the setting of this video essay into two subsections: disappearance and conservation. “Disappearance” refers to the tightening of government laws regarding neon signs and their rapid disappearance from the city. In 2011, it was estimated that there were around 120,000 neon signs around the city. However, today, it is a different story. There are less than 400 signs remaining. The locations for this section were taken around but not limited to Causeway Bay and Mong Kok.
“Conservation” refers to the efforts of citizens to preserve these neon signs after they are taken down. Many of these efforts have been recognized by the public. One of these major efforts has been by M+ Museum where some of these signs are out for display to the public and the remaining are held in storage waiting for an exhibition to be seen again.
My research for this project consists of online research, physically searching for the location of neon signs on top of commonly found signage online, testimonials from photographers to provide further perspective, and clips of cinema that provide insight into how Hong Kongers feel about the disappearance of neon signs. I think interviewing photographers and capturing their points of view provides an interesting approach and closely aligns with the message of the video essay, especially when comparing Hong Kong through the lens of film. Additionally, the testimonial emphasizes the almost inevitable removal of remaining neon signs in Hong Kong.
Because this video essay began with a clip from a film, I wanted to be sure to make something rather cinematic (at least to the best of my abilities). This was my first time shooting something remotely similar to a documentary-style video to inform an audience. I broke down the video into two main times of day to shoot: one in the daytime and one at night. I also wanted to be sure that the video’s pacing didn’t feel too slow, so I achieved “shot coverage” which meant that I would make sure I shot a wide, medium, and close shot for each scene. This would later prove extremely helpful when establishing a scene and having things to cut to. I would switch between using a tripod for some shots and a gimbal or dolly for shots that required more movement. My logic for this was in an attempt to find a balance between movement and professionalism for the specific genre of video I was trying to make. Thus, this eliminated any handheld shots which would lead to shaky footage.
For subjects in the frame, I found myself being drawn to photographers as it was always an intention as the director to include interviews. Fortunately, I ran into a fellow HKU student who happened to be on an exchange program. Although she was a math and computer science major, she found herself in the photography space, even gaining professional experience. While interviewing her, I asked her to give her thoughts about neon signs and what she was trying to capture. She said, “I’m not sure if the neon signs will still be here the next time I’m back in Hong Kong, so I’m just trying to take as many pictures of them as I can right now before they’re completely gone… I think they’re mostly appealing because they have a sort of a ‘softer look’ to them compared to led signs”.
Ultimately, I am very pleased with the final result of this video. Each element seems to build a cohesive story that informs the audience of the disappearance of neon signs from local Hong Kong but still shows conservation efforts put into place for future generations to appreciate and remember. Additionally, unique elements such as movie clips and testimonials add a professional feel to the video and provide some very insightful perspectives that I believe go above and beyond what the assignment expects.
References
Central. (2024, February 16). Expats. episode.
Chow, C., & Lai, B. (2020, April 3). Collecting neon signs from Hong Kong’s streets. M+. https://www.mplus.org.hk/en/magazine/collecting-neon-signs-from-hong-kongs-streets/
Hu, O. (2023, December 15). Bid to keep neon glowing in HK. chinadailyhk. https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/366790
Kwan, R. (2023, August 16). In pictures: Hong Kong Ngo saves iconic Tsui Wah Neon Sign for posterity. Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. https://hongkongfp.com/2020/08/27/in-pictures-hong-kong-ngo-saves-iconic-tsui-wah-neon-sign-for-posterity/
Lee, J. Y. K. (2016). The Expatriates. Penguin Books.
Leung, H. (2024, January 20). “it’s disappearing very fast”: Hong Kong’s fading neon heritage shines a spotlight on the craft. Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. https://hongkongfp.com/2023/04/16/its-disappearing-very-fast-hong-kongs-fading-neon-heritage-shines-a-spotlight-on-the-craft/
Leung, J., & Yu, T. (2022, December 28). A look into neon signs, the shining legacy of Hong Kong. Time Out Hong Kong. https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/art/a-look-into-neon-signs-the-shining-legacy-of-hong-kong
Ng, H. O. (2014, March 23). 霓虹的製作 the making of neon signs: NEONSIGNS.HK 探索霓虹. YouTube. https://youtu.be/EsIo57pH-pA?si=bI4LCB6K6tHQp_j6
Wai, D. (2023, April 24). Hot topics: What is the future of Hong Kong’s neon signs? Young Post. https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3217866/hot-topics-what-future-hong-kongs-neon-signs-government-rules-safety-concerns-causing-them-fade
Zhao, H. (2024, May 13). Neon Light Photographers. personal.
Tyler Van Vu
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I really enjoyed your video. You started with a movie clip to introduce your topic, which was quite novel and clever. The handling of the neon shot is also great, the reduction in brightness around it highlights the very punchy colors of the neon. Besides, the addition of interviews and footage of the M+ museum later on really enriches the sources of your video, which really makes your documentation richer and convincing.