- Activities under the escalator All: https://youtu.be/N7KRY6hVJiE
- Camera is static, subjects are dynamic
As the central escalator is elevated from the road, the influences of it are not only to the buildings or malls beside but also to space under it. This series of films are trying to show the daily activities that happened under the escalator. The area under the escalator could be divided into three parts: a ramp on the left side for most of the people going up and down, a terrace on the right and a “garden” that could let people sit and have a rest. Though the under space cannot be a road for cars, it is still an active and live space for the tourists and local people. In my opinion, the escalator has a good relationship with the surrounding environment.
With a static camera, it quickly shows the activities under the escalator.
- Camera is tracking, subjects are static.
Getting close to the people with a tracking camera helps us look clearly about what they are doing.
- Cropping
The exhibition board crops into the view.
- Framing
Use the handrail of the staircase as the frame to record people passing through the ramp.
- Camera is placed in an unexpected location
The bird-eye view from the staircase which connects the escalator and ground to overview the space and activities.
- Stop- motion:
Different orientations show clearly about the space and activities
- People on the escalator https://youtu.be/liKvy_ztgHw
This short movie tells an office worker taking the central escalator. As one of the hundreds of people who use the escalator as transportation between workplace and home, he considered the escalator as a place to have a rest and get out of the tense or high speed. Although there are still some people in a hurry, the space on the escalator is more like a peaceful and relaxing place. The following techniques are used in sequence to tell the worker on the escalator: “camera static, subject dynamic” “cropping” “camera tracking, subject static” “unexpected location” “stop- motion” “framing.”
Camera static, subject dynamic: Quickly show the situation of the beginning of the central escalator. Most people choose to stop while getting on the escalator.
Cropping: One cropped into the view to stand behind the worker, but she begins to walk soon because she can’t stand waiting. There are still a small group of people who don’t relax on the escalator.
Camera tracking, subject static: From far away to close, it shows clearly about the state of the worker.
Unexpected location: From the person behind’s view, it shows the worker relaxed on the escalator.
Stop-motion: Different angles to show the one who relaxes on the escalator.
Framing: The most interesting part for me in the framing is how people’s posture on the escalator, we can see two men with the similar post (placing both hands on the armrest) in the video.
Yao Dongni (No. 3035447350)
Nice observations of the life beneath the escalator. This is indeed a vital and important space to be mentioned. I wonder why your clip on the escalator has a different aesthetic; it would have been more fruitful if you would have followed one of your focused workers up on the escalator, and respectively up the hill.
Can I ask what do you mean by saying different aesthetic? And actually I followed one who wears suit but perhaps it doesn’t show clearly.