Script:
- Kes’s home and Henry’s office
On screen text: 21 April 2021
Scene starts with HANG’s family working in front of a computer, typing in documents. Camera then focuses on the computer clock, “12:30 p.m.”, HANG slams the desk and stands up.
Narration: This is HANG, a 25 years old clerk working 9 to 5 during the pandemic.
As HANG slams the desk, screen splits into two.
On the left screen, HAM wakes up and picks up his phone, and he sees the clock showing 12:30 p.m. He then leaves the bed and goes in the toilet.
Narration: This is HANG’s brother, HAM, a university student who needs not to go to school since the pandemic outbreak.
- Kes in the toilet and Henry eating lunch
On the right screen, HANG is eating lunch quickly, checking the clock on his phone constantly.
On the left screen, HAM is washing his face and brushing his teeth. Then he goes to the living room and turns on the TV. (News report in Cantonese: 216 more cases today, total 1,679,423 infected by china virus, 272,976 deaths) Then he switches off the TV.
- Kes doing housework and Henry back to work
On the right screen, HANG finishes lunch and look at his phone’s clock (13:15 p.m.), he closes his lunch box and starts working. Same scene throughout this whole session, just HANG typing in documents.
On the left screen, HAM looks at the clock (13:15) then he starts cleaning the floor with a vacuum cleaner. Then he mops the floor, then he takes the spray bottle from the shelf and cleans the door.
- Kes playing video games and Henry still working
On the right screen, HANG is still working on his computer, sometimes his boss will walk by and place down more files and paperwork. When the boss turns away, HANG curses him but as the boss looks back again and says “what?”, HANG replies “nothing, thank you boss.”
On the left screen, HAM finishes cleaning the house. Then, he picks up his controller and starts playing video games. The console shows that he has 40+ friends online.
- Kes eating dinner and Henry still working
On the right screen, Henry is still working on his computer.
On the left screen, Kes is eating dinner.
- Henry finally finishes working
Split screens merge, Henry finally finishes working, he gets frustrated and throws everything off his desk; then he picks them up again and switches off the computer.
- Henry is home and has dinner
Henry comes home at midnight, Kes takes the leftovers out and serves Henry. Henry then has his dinner alone.
- Kes closes the door and the end
Kes goes into his bedroom and closes the door, cuts to black screen and the end.
References: N/A
Chu Kin Nok
3035689673
Awesome comparison and contrast between the 2 brothers! I can see that you have added a lot of dramatic and comical content to highlight the difference between the routine of the 2 persons, one is enjoying life under confinement, while the other is struggling to get his work done. Interestingly, the video-essay does not have any scenes of the 2 brothers together, I think this adds to message that the virus affects the lives of people, some can relax, some must work harder, while some’s lives are unchanged. There are views that the virus outbreak can bring families together, as most people do not need to leave their homes; your video essay shows otherwise.
Appreciate the trails of camera techniques in your work. The split-screen effectively shows two different ways of living between family members, the “work” and the “learning”. The transition into the double screen is also very effective. However, it might be easier to understand if the screen was split from the start.
Is there any reasons for the asymmetry in the two videos. Why are we seeing you the pink torn shit but in the other only your brother’s hands? We were also confused by the number of family members depicted in the video. What is the relationship between Ham and Hang and Henry and Kes? It took us time to figure out whether there are two pairs or one pair of brothers. What are their relationships?
Appreciate the intention of focusing on the routine activities other than the individual. The crop technique is successfully applied to depersonalize the 2 different routines. Is this intentional, suggesting the universality of the issue?
Furthermore, we are also lost in your narration. Are you trying to say that COVID-19 has even affected the lifestyles of individual members in a family? Or are you only mentioning the routine personal to you and your family? The idea of “Work” and “Learning” has the protentional to be further explored. It is a missed opportunity in reflecting on this idea of work and student life.
Having a bibliography would help you better ground your stand. At the moment, your narrative remains on a journalistic point of view. Including researches and new reports on different roles and their different daily routines during quarantine would make this piece much more compelling.