Entertainment 🏮
A poetry video created to be entered into the Poet Laureate’s City Poems Contest 2023 in SFU IAT344 based on a curated list of eligible poems that deal with cultural, historical or ecological sites within Vancouver.
My Role
Director of cinematography, storyboard artist, photographor, editor
Canon T8i, PremierePro, AfterEffect, Illustrator, Procreate
Tools Used
Project
School project, team of four
Timeline
Feb 2023 - Mar 2023
Overview
Poetry Video
This is a project for SFU IAT344 Moving Images. In a group of 4, we are asked to produce a video poetry with Vancouver's Poet Laureate Fiona Lam and poets from the City Poems Contest.
The poem we choose to base our project upon is "Entertainment" by Jeremy Chu. From the curated list of poems, "Entertainment" stands out to us because it represents a space that does not exist anymore around Chinatown which makes it challenging but at the same time intriguing to work with, especially since everyone in our team has a Chinese heritage we would like to put in our interpretation. I am responsible for filming, directing cinematography and editing for this project.
Research
Background
The poem at its barest is about the historical presence of The Marco Polo Restaurant (a former famous nightclub in Chinatown), and its importance as a space of relation between communities, namely communities of colour. We thought it was necessary to understand the Chinese culture then, the immigration boom, and the story of Marco Polo restaurant.
Style
Cinematography
Wong Kar-wai
For the visuals of our film, I took Chinese director Wong Kar-wai’s style in resonance with the nostalgic glory of Chinatown. Common visual and thematic elements in his films include rich colours and memorable music that echoes in each frame. The frames in each Wong Kar-wai film are infused with colours, often warm (red, yellow) and cool tones (green, blue and purple) that evoke mood and emotions.
Experimentation
Montage Editing
To experiment with the use of clash and rhythm, energy and pacing of montage editing, I created a short sequence that represents my interpretation of the poem "Entertainment" using the footage I took during lunar New Year's Eve dinner. Most importantly, it allowed me to discuss possible approaches to our poetry video with my teammates.
Purpose
Intended Audience
Within the intended audience of our film, we would like to appeal to the panel of Poetry Competition judges and the poet creatively, audience members in their 30s, as many of them may remember the stories of the Marco Polo Restaurant through their parents. Through engaging with audience members who may have experienced, or heard of the Marco Polo restaurant, we want to provide them with a film that holds sentimental value and evokes feelings of nostalgia.
Developement
A once vibrant nightclub, shrouded in cultural significance and remembered fondly by those who danced its nights away, now stands run down and forgotten, a reminder of a bygone era and the loss of a historical landmark.
Logline
Synopsis
The closure of Marco Polo Restaurant in 1982, a famous nightclub, marked an end to the unique atmosphere that once surrounder Vancouver’s Chinatown. Music, dance, comedic performances and the offering of Chinese delicacies, are what established Marco Polo’s unique identity and its impactful role in the history of Vancouver’s nightlife. Providing a sense of belonging and a place of gathering for communities of colour. Though the building is now demolished, the memories of the restaurant were never forgotten. Through the words of Jeremy Chu and our artistic vision, the glory of Marco Polo will be immortalized, taking a glimpse into a legendary nightclub that was once the heart of Chinatown.
Vision
Moodboard
Pre-production
Documents
Storyboard
click image to view the complete storyboard
Shotlist
click image to view the complete shotlist
Production
Shooting
Location Scouting
I spent quite an effort on scouting suitable places to take the footage. I particularly went through Google Map and Red to look into any location that has a nice representation of Chinese heritage or fusion. After I communicated with the restaurant owner for several rounds, I ended up getting permission to shoot at the Old Bird restaurant for indoor footage.
Team Schedule
Production shots
Post-production
Challenge
Editing
After editing a rough cut, I noticed some issues that we have from the 1st version of our film:
random camera movement
inconsistent visual pacing
unclear sound recording
Feedback from the Teaching Team
We also received some helpful feedack from our teaching team Dr. Kate Hennessy and Julian Iliev:
underexposed due to filming outdoor without sufficient lighting
unreasonable composition
unstable camera movement
more even editing pacing
need more sound!!!
Talk with the Poet
Meanwhile, we contacted our poet Jeremy Chu and shared our roughcut with him to see what's his opinion on our approach.
Solution
Reshoot
After talking to Jeremy about the original intention of writing the poem, we decided to alter our creative direction a bit where we will be using visuals and sound to establish the contrast between a lonely Vancouver night in comparison to the vivid nightlife Marco Polo once brought to Vancouver.
At the same time, I decided to reshoot almost the entire film with a better lighting setup, plot design, camera movement and meaningful composition.
Editing & Color Grading in Adobe PremierePro
Outcome
Final Video
Response
Poet’s Reaction
Our film was shortlisted for Poet Laureate’s City Poems Contest 2023 Honourable Mention! The award ceremony was at the Museum of Vancouver, June 2023.
City Poems Contest
to Jeremy Chu for narrating and inspiring our video poetry
to Fiona Lam for assisting our creative process
to Dr. Kate Hennessy and Julian Iliev for constructive criticism and helpful feedback
Special Thanks
Takeaways
Reflection
Being a cinematography director for the first time
As someone accustomed to primarily working in post-production, taking charge of the camera introduced me to a new level of responsibility and creative accomplishment. Seeing my vision come to life from behind the camera and translating it onto the screen was incredibly gratifying. This experience allowed me to expand my skill set and provided me with a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in capturing visuals that effectively convey the desired message or emotion.
Planning ahead for a successful production
Passion alone is not enough to achieve a well-rounded and complete production. It became evident that meticulous planning and preparation are vital for a successful outcome, and ensure that all aspects of the production, from technical requirements to creative choices, were carefully considered and accounted for. This experience emphasized the need for comprehensive pre-production efforts, including storyboarding, shot-listing, and collaborating closely with the team, to ensure a smooth and efficient production process.
Staying open-minded and embracing surprises throughout the creation process
Despite careful planning, unforeseen circumstances and spontaneous creative opportunities often arise during a production. By remaining flexible and adaptable, I was able to approach these surprises with a positive mindset and find innovative solutions that enhanced the overall quality of the project. This underscored the value of embracing the dynamic nature of the creative process and being receptive to new ideas or unforeseen changes that can elevate the final product.