In such daunting time, this modernised little town sheltered millions of boring souls, hermits, who all hope for this helpless life to come to an end. Haunted by the boredom, the routine, our time is nibbled by the virus. Other than hermiting, what can we do to save the world from covid-19?
Texts:
The film documents a day of most of us, or students at least, trying to stay alive within the spread of the virus. We can’t go out, we can’t meet each other’s, the original colourful life turned into darkness and cold. Besides, many of us bear with a heavy burden – hoping to resume our life, yet we are helpless.
To convey the idea, news clips from different countries and regions are added to the beginning, aiming to contrast the chaos around us to the main theme of the film, the spiritless, the powerless, the helpless replicational daily routine of ours.
For the techniques, the three main filming skills, such as chiaroscuros of the curtains and TV illumination, the mise en scenes of the take away, sanitisers and the meetings, and montages of the morning, leaving and returning home routine were added to make the film more aesthetically pleasing, at the same time to maintain a more profound delivery.
Originally, the film had some voice-over, which narrates the scene more extensively. However, after some deep consideration, I removed the voice-overs and instead added some background music, including the self-rearranged Hans Zimmer’s Time at the beginning. Such modification added some depth and emotion to the film, and the result is also more enchanting.
Below is the original script and narration for the film:
In such daunting time, this modernised little town sheltered millions of boring souls, hermits, who read the news every day, watch the clips around the world, have a hope to be normal, yet can do nothing about it.
We wouldn’t wake until it is noon. The morning routine noises seems to be the anthem that calls us awake. The curtains, the toilet flushes, the water streams… The light is still dim, but we know it’s time to start the meaningless day.
After waking up, we grab the take away that we ordered who-knows how many times since everything begun. Then, we return home immediately, sanitising ourselves, quickly drop our garments and be on time for the online meetings that annoyingly requires your camera on the whole time.
It doesn’t take long for the daylight to fade, and the ever-changing TV illumination from your family members gives the temptation for you to join the party. Netflix, Disney+, HBO… Soon later, midnight arrives. Switching off your computer, closing down the blinds, another replicational day has gone.
Haunted by boredom, routinely nibbling our precious time. Other than hermiting, what can we do to save the world from covid-19?
Floor Plan:
References:
Trump declares national emergency in response to coronavirus – Washington Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKWXplosNfk&t=9s
70多人違檢疫令 特首：零容忍 (31.3.2020) – Information Services Department, HKSARG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTq3uG_FQM&t=90s
新型コロナウイルス 東京都で新たに6人が死亡(20/04/16) – ANNnewsCH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUrB9SZmOLE
CORONA VIRUS IL BILANCIO – VG21 DEL 12 MARZO 2020 ORE 14 – Napoli Canale 21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7X_ONrf7Yo
“미국, 코로나 확산 속 진단 검사용 장비 부족”…간호사들 항의 시위 나서 / YTN – YTN NEWS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAxFc9gjdcw&t=38s
Coronavirus: Top stories this morning – BBC Breakfast | BBC – BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h7lXUBdbHc&t=198s
Kellyanne Conway’s EMBARRASSING Coronavirus Flub – Rebel HQ (Audio only)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c-nG_ECzr4&t=118s
Cheung Yik Hei Anson | 3035700776
I like how you gave the message of being ‘hermit’ is essential way to save the world within this epidemic condition. Overall, the originality in treatment of content well addressed by visual design, especially the color of the scene. The color changing and chiaroscuro was particularly well done, that evoked isolated atmosphere. The song also well combined with the scene, which makes the content more outstanding with the background. Well done!
Both the organization and the visual design are quite typical of how architecture are shown along with human life. As for organization, this video follows the strict time path of a day, beginning and ending with drawing the blinds. It presents a very clear and distinct living routine of the “hermits”, the ordinary people confined under the roof of their homes. And the visual design manages to tell the story calmly, by using a considerable number of still shots and black-and-white image. And it conveys the idea of ordinary, even monotone, lives. By the way, I particularly enjoy the scene when the protagonist closes the video-editing software just before the blinds close as I think it kind of suggests the background of making this video, enhancing the articulation.
Appreciate this introspective piece that offers a private insight into your family life at home. Through this series of montages showing daily (non-)activities, we get a poetic glimpse into the sights, sounds and senses that you are experiencing. The camera and editing work are especially strong, and demonstrate your sensitivity of spatial positioning, lighting and composition. The overlay of audio (musical soundtrack to the sounds in the clips) is extremely well done. Their complementary nature accentuates the emotional association drawn out by the visuals. Worth noting, in particular, are (1) the opening low-wide angle shot of apartment block and (2) the close-up shot of blinds opening.
As a documentary piece about hermetic life at home, you have quite successfully demonstrated your ability to conceptualize space and render it in a visually creative manner. However, the overall thesis has the potential to be developed even further. This would require you to read more widely and in-depth about a certain topic. Given that your thesis statement questions “what can we do to save the world from covid-19?” it is worth investigating what other people in Hong Kong, in Asia, or across the world is writing and thinking also! Some resourceful places to begin this search include reliable news sources (e.g. The New York Times, Financial Times, The Atlantic, Caravan Magazine), online articles (e.g. DOMUS, ArtReview), published journals, etc. – there is so much to be explored that could really benefit your current list of references!
Thank you so much for the comments! Just a small defence, I tried to document the most truthful way of living of a Hongkonger, that is why the video filmed that and stopped there, I actually planned on filming outside and including more people’s lives at first but I could not due to the instruction of filming the interior. I think thats a pity as it is an assignment after all, and the time limit is not exactly enough for me to include everything I wanted. But I really do appreciate the comments, they will be helpful for my future filming assignments.