Video Essay YouTube link: http:/youtu.be/dnl7yac9Pbk
To appreciate The Mills as a revived area, it is important to understand its history and the transformation it has undergone. The complex was originally built in the 1950s as a textile factory, but it fell into disuse in the 1990s as manufacturing moved to mainland China. In 2014, the Hong Kong government designated The Mills as a pilot project for the revitalization of industrial buildings, and it underwent a major renovation to transform it into a center for innovation and creativity (The Mills, n.d.).
Today, The Mills houses a range of tenants including a textile museum, a retail mall, a co-working space, and a food hall. The complex also features public spaces such as a rooftop garden and an outdoor plaza, which are used for events and exhibitions (The Mills, n.d.).
One way to appreciate The Mills as a revived area is to explore its architectural and design features. The complex has retained many of its original industrial elements, such as its red tin buckets and exposed concrete ceilings, which provide a distinctive backdrop for the new cultural and creative activities that now take place there (Time Out Hong Kong, 2018).
Another way to appreciate The Mills is to engage with its tenants and cultural offerings. The textile museum, for example, showcases the history of Hong Kong’s textile industry and its role in the city’s development, while the retail mall features local and international brands that promote sustainable fashion. The co-working space, meanwhile, provides a collaborative environment for entrepreneurs and creatives, while the food hall offers a range of dining options that showcase Hong Kong’s culinary diversity (The Mills, n.d.).
Overall, The Mills in Tuen Wan is a great example of how an industrial site can be reimagined and repurposed to serve the needs of the community. Its revitalization has breathed new life into the area, creating a vibrant and dynamic cultural and creative hub that celebrates Hong Kong’s heritage and promotes innovation and sustainability.
Shooting technique
1. Tracking shot together with dolly shots
A ‘tracking shot’ is one in which the camera moves alongside what it’s recording. And a ‘dolly shot’ is when the camera moves toward or away from the subject you’re shooting. I used dolly shot to pull the lens away from the red tin bucket preserved from the Nan Fung Cotton Mills and tracked onto the newly built escalator in The Mills, showing how the new and old blends together by utilizing preserved objects as decoration for modern infrastructures, meanwhile taking the viewers on a tour from upper floor back down to the floor, simulating the first-person point of view. person
2. Zoom
One of the most commonly used camera movements is zooming. I used it to quickly move away from the window to show the overview of the preserved window frame.
From a distance, it shows the same object in a different way, mainly to emphasize the subject and the overall effect of the photograph. It can show something from near to far with a change, showing the same object from close to far.
3. Pedestal
Pedestal is similar as a Boom up/down. Cameras are moved up and down with respect to a subject in this way. Rather than just the camera’s angle, the entire camera ascends or descends. By using a pedestal shot, you can keep the framing at eye level while framing a tall or high subject (such as a building). I used pedestal to capture the overview of the site’s exterior as well as the atrium of The Mills, so as to simulate the point of view of a person searching around inside the mills.
Video editing technique
1. Transitions
Since I ended and started some of the shots using pedestal, the footages can be joint smoothly by connecting a section that ends with the camera booming down with another one booming up, or vice versa. This brings the feeling that the person’s point of view suddenly changed by nodding or turning their head.
While for some footages ended by zooming into an object till dark, or started by zooming out from an object, they can be connected easily by using the moment of dark screen.
2. Speed up
Since tracking shots are used, the speed of travelling in reality might be to slow for video introducing a space, which give rise to boring contents. Therefore some of the footages were sped up to frame out only the important contents. And some useless walking footages that isn’t essential has been cut away to keep up with the rhythm of the video.
3. Audio
The original audio has been deleted as it records a lot of noise from traffic lights and people chatting. To ensure a more immersed tour experience to views, two music were chosen as background music. A softer music was chosen for the first part of the video showing the preserved staircase from the old days, while a more upbeat music was used once the camera travels from staircases back to the modern mall, showing the contrast between the old days and nowadays. Besides special sound effect was used in some of the transitions so as to show a new topic has been started.
4. Subtitles
By adding subtitles, viewers can know the main point of each section of the video. The subtitles are shown a bit ahead of what’s showing next so viewers can have a mental preparation of what they will be focusing on.
References:
Here are some references to support the information provided in my previous response:
Chan, S. (2018). The Mills: A new landmark for cultural and creative industries. Hong Kong Economic Journal. Retrieved from https://www.hkej.com/en/article/id/2045190
Development Bureau. (2018). The Mills – Revitalization of Nan Fung Textiles. Retrieved from https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_1080/Annex%20to%20Press%20Release%20on%20%22The%20Mills%20-%20Revitalization%20of%20Nan%20Fung%20Textiles%22.pdf
Hong Kong Tourism Board. (n.d.). The Mills. Discover Hong Kong. Retrieved from https://www.discoverhongkong.com/us/see-do/culture-heritage/modern-architecture/the-mills.jsp
Nan Fung Group. (n.d.). The Mills. Retrieved from https://www.nanfung.com/en-US/Our-Businesses/Property/The-Mills
The Mills. (n.d.). About The Mills. Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://www.themills.com.hk/about-the-mills/?lang=en
Time Out Hong Kong. (2018, June 18). The Mills, Hong Kong’s latest cultural hub, is now open. Retrieved May 6, 2023, from https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/news/the-mills-hong-kongs-latest-cultural-hub-is-now-open-061818
Name: Wong Cho Kiu
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