Watching on YouTube may be clearer
Control City
Director&Actor: XIAO Difei;
Photographer: CHEUNG Liuyi;
Music: The Right Path
Film place: Shenzhen subway
Storyboard:
Synopsis:
Description of the theme and subject matter: After the widely spread of Covid-19 in 2020, the pandemic is gradually under control in Shenzhen this year. Few couple of cases were reported sometimes, there is still a potential danger outside especially public transport. Therefore, this video essay focuses on the element of control in Shenzhen subway such as body temperature, visitors flow rate and mask wearing, and wish to convey that those controls is the reason why Shenzhen is relatively safe.
Method of research, documentation and making of the video: The major method of research is conducted personally in the Shenzhen subway. Few research about the technical systems of the Shenzhen subway were conducted before personal research, such as detection of body temperature. The approach of documentation is about me being the actor and filmed by my girlfriend CHENG Liuyi. The video was shot by following the storyboard made at the beginning. The idea is about a man(me) who are unwilling and reluctant to wear a mask, violates the restriction in subway and eventually been warned by the security staff.
Reflection: During the process of photographing, I gradually realized that there are many difficulties in conducting the film. For example, I had to cooperate with the security staff, shot in a place with no people which need very good luck and patience. The security staff is like the biological white blood cell, the person who do not wear a mask becomes the virus.
script:
Inspections before the subway entry
Infrared monitoring device to check body temperature
The flow of visitors
Inspected by the government everymoment
control contro and still control
Most importantly
Wearing mask
A man is coming without wearing a mask
The security staff stops him
Water are needed to detect
Entering sound
Picking off the mask
Train is leaving
Still without a mask
Noticed by the security staff
Dialog:
The security staff: [please put on your mask]
The man: [Alright]
Reference:
Chinese police now have AL helmets for temperature screening
https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3052879/chinese-police-now-have-ai-helmets-temperature-screening
XIAO Difei, 3035687950
I really appreciated how you organized your video essay. You began with a short briefing about the government’s control. The word ‘control’ appeared several times in a row, emphasizing your theme as well as the subject matter. Then you continued with a short story, a man taking the MTR without wearing a mask. He got noticed by the staffs, which reflected how strict the government controlled the situation and how responsible the staffs were. Last but not least, it is a very interesting and creative work, thanks for the great video!
Thanks for your appreciation! I like your work as well.
Hi! I really like the virus containment posters, notice, body temperature devices you present in the beginning to show a full picture of how the city is “controlling” pandemic so that the audience would know well how the city is doing well with virus controlling.
I think it would be better to state more clearly the storyline. When I watch the video for the first time without reading your description, I was a little bit confused about the motivation and behaviour of the protagonist. Some captions or narration might be helpful to illustrate your idea.
Also, as it is in the context of the whole city combatting pandemic, it might be better to put more focus on how other other people behave in different timeslot deal with these security measures in MTR, instead of just focusing on yourself. For example, a scene of massive people wearing face masks passing quickly and orderly for work in the morning might represent that the city is handling the pandemic well and people are getting accustomed to it.
Sze Lui 3035799337
Thanks for the advices!
I really appreciate your work in aspect of creativity. That’s really interesting to see your analysis on the “control” city by means of you don’t follow the rule! That’s cool, especially in the subway! I do feel like this is the most powerful narrative on the word “control” city.
Besides, your way of photographing is also to some extent interesting. Some of your screens are vertical while others are horizontal, this do create some feelings of the person is being informally shooting. Is this your way to show the supervision by the public? In my perspective, this is also an aspect in control the city: control by the publics. I like that.
I am very happy you enjoy the video and reflect on it! You can think of it as the public view and it was indeed photographed from the seat. Maybe it’s better to indicate the camera angle next time. Yeah, control by the publics is like social pressure and is a very classical example. Again, thanks for your appreciation!
This is an interesting video essay to me as it is about the subway in Shenzhen, so it provides a picture of how a city other than Hong Kong is coping under the pandemic. The stills of different notices and equipment really shows the amount of control put in to protect the citizens from the spread of virus. A thing that impressed me is being able to get the help from guards to make this video. Niceee 🙂
Thanks, but the guards would do the same even if they didn’t know. Actually, the second one didn’t know we are filming, so he might be more natural.
A creative approach to “control” city. There are some excellent comments from your classmates here, especially on the way you think through the perspective of commuters. As it is suggested here, is the vertical and horizontal framing intentional? If so, you could clarify this in your written exposition of the video.
Demonstrates an understanding of and the ability to apply key issues relating to the well-identified topic.
Able to adequately identify the most critical aspects of the theme/place and presents a competently articulated interpretation of the topic.
Innovative in regard to fieldwork materials, though it would be useful to explain in your text how you prepare to conduct the research/fieldwork i.e. what preparatory and planning work is needed?
Maintains a good control of organization of the content and narration, though the ending feels rather abrupt.
Written and verbal articulation are of competent academic standard. Another round of copyediting will help.