Witnessing the Shifting Landscape of Gentrification in Chinatown
CLIENT
1
2
PROJECT TYPE
3
ROLES
4
YEAR
TEAM
5
Director of cinematography
Sound Design
Visual Identity
Vancouver’s Poet Laureate
VIDEO POETRY
2022
Donna Seto
Documentary
TOOLS
6
NOV - DEC 2022
CHRISTY LAM
DANNY LEE
ERIKA HANCE
VINCENT ZHANG
FINAL CUT PRO
ILLUSTRATOR
Canon 6D Mark II
Rode VideoMicro II
Witnessing the Shifting Landscape of Gentrification in Chinatown
CLIENT
1
Vancouver’s Poet Laureate
Donna Seto
2
PROJECT TYPE
VIDEO POETRY
Documentary
Director of cinematography
Sound Design
3
ROLES
4
YEAR
2022
TEAM
5
CHRISTY LAM
DANNY LEE
ERIKA HANCE
VINCENT ZHANG
TOOLS
6
FINAL CUT PRO
ILLUSTRATOR
Canon 6D Mark II
Rode VideoMicro II
OVERVIEW
Contrasts follows Grandmother Wong through Vancouver’s Chinatown as she reflects on its once-vibrant past and confronts its current state. Once a lively hub of Chinese culture, Chinatown now feels hollow, marked by graffiti and gentrification. Through her journey, the film explores themes of memory, loss, and cultural erosion, culminating in a reflective interview with poet Donna Seto, who questions Chinatown’s identity today and what it truly means to be Chinese in a changing landscape.
part 01
Poetry Video:
00:00:00 -
00:02:04
part 02
Video Response:
00:02:04 -
00:06:19
BACKGROUD
This project aims to create a video poem in collaboration with Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, Fiona Tinwei Lam, and poets from the City Poems Contest. We selected Donna Seto’s poem Contrasts as the foundation because it explores the themes of gentrification and cultural erosion in Vancouver’s Chinatown, capturing the emotional toll these changes have on long-time residents. Through this piece, we aim to immerse the audience in Grandmother Wong’s experience, prompting reflection on the preservation of cultural identity in an ever-changing urban landscape. My role in this project involved directing cinematography, sound design, and collaborating closely with the editor to bring our vision to life.
Purpose
Intended Audience
The film targets Vancouver’s Chinatown residents, both current and former. For current residents, it highlights the neighborhood’s rich cultural history and addresses ongoing concerns. The response segment includes local perspectives and explores potential solutions. For former residents and the broader Greater Vancouver community, the film acts as a call to action, encouraging them to consider their role in preserving Chinatown's cultural identity.
Development
A worn-down Chinese grandmother walks through her once-bustling community, reflecting on how gentrification, property defacement, and economic instability have slowly eroded the essence of what she once loved.
Logline
What is Chinese, and what is Chinatown?
- Donna Seto
Development
Synopsis
part 02
Contrasts 對照 | Video response
The film transitions into an interview with poet Donna Seto, who introduces her poem Contrasts and reflects on her own experiences growing up in Chinatown. Seto discusses the ongoing changes in the area, posing a powerful question: while Chinatown will always exist, what does it mean to be Chinese, and what does Chinatown truly represent today?
Grandmother Wong, a long-time resident of Vancouver’s Chinatown, remembers it as a lively, family-oriented community rich in Chinese culture, with striking architecture and a vibrant atmosphere. Today, the once-bustling streets are marred by homelessness, graffiti, and gentrification, attracting outsiders seeking “authentic” Chinese culture, though little remains.
As she walks through the streets, cane in hand, Grandmother Wong reflects on Chinatown’s past—its history, vibrant architecture, and community—while confronting the harsh reality of its present state. The once-vibrant neighborhood is now plagued by crime, cultural erosion, and emptiness. Similarly to how graffiti has covered the Chinese culture in Chinatown, she has been engulfed and overwhelmed by the paint-like ink.
Contrasts 對照 | Video Poetry
part 01
Poetry Video
Pre-production
01
ink drop masking effect and superimposed
02
Starting from the sixth stanza, we used an ink drop masking effect and superimposed additional footage to illustrate the negative changes affecting Chinatown. These visuals transitioned between the grandmother walking through Seto’s painted Chinatown—representing the vibrant past—and the present struggles the community faced, such as gentrification, homelessness, and cultural erosion.
03
sound effects
As the sound designer, I captured and recorded these sound effects using real-world sources to enhance the video’s atmosphere. This involved sourcing the rhythmic tapping of a wooden cane, subtle chewing of gum, and Southern Chinese market accent were chosen to match specific moments in the poem, enhancing the emotional and cultural atmosphere. By recording these sounds in real settings, I ensured they maintained a high level of authenticity and seamlessly integrated with Donna Seto’s narration, reinforcing the emotional depth and cultural richness of the video.
Chinatown illustration
In pre-production for the Contrast poem video, I planned to incorporate Donna Seto’s colorful Chinatown illustration as the backdrop, with the buildings placed closely together to create a sense of community and density. A central visual element involved a grandmother, dressed in black and white, walking through these vibrant buildings. The stark contrast of her monochromatic figure against the colorful surroundings symbolized the generational divide and the evolving nature of Chinatown.
04
Storyboard | Poetry Video
ANIMATION: WS Static Eye-level
Animated walk cycle of grandmother in the center over the scolling watercolor buildings behind her.
@ Stanza 1 - 5 read by Donna + sounds
@ lower decibel: chewing gum, cane, shouting, shopping, crowd sounds.
ANIMATION: WS Static Eye-level
As Donna reads through the poem, ink blots appear over the watercolour buildings while the grandmother is still walking. These ink plots will have footage of the current state of Chinatown superimposed on them.
ANIMATION: WS Static Eye-level
Ink will wash over the entire screen while the colours for the grandmother will revert, the animation continues.
ANIMATION: WS Static Eye-level
Grandmother is walking in a dark background, she struggles as there is no other buildings to walk through. Walk animation stops.
Pre-production
Video Response
01
moodboard | video response
The documentary segment planned to use a warm tone on the moodboard to evoke nostalgia and cultural warmth, visually capturing the richness and history Donna Seto reflects on in her interview. This choice created an intimate atmosphere that invites viewers to connect with the deep-rooted essence of Chinatown while observing its present-day contrasts.
The documentary segment planned to use a warm tone on the moodboard to evoke nostalgia and cultural warmth, visually capturing the richness and history Donna Seto reflects on in her interview. This choice created an intimate atmosphere that invites viewers to connect with the deep-rooted essence of Chinatown while observing its present-day contrasts.
The documentary segment planned to use a warm tone on the moodboard to evoke nostalgia and cultural warmth, visually capturing the richness and history Donna Seto reflects on in her interview. This choice created an intimate atmosphere that invites viewers to connect with the deep-rooted essence of Chinatown while observing its present-day contrasts.
02
shotlist | video response
location scouting | video response
03
04
Storyboard | video response
CU Static Low-angle
A shot of a street sign on East Pender Street and Carrell Street. This is an establishing shot to show where this portion of the film will take place.
WS Static Eye-level
LS of Donna standing at the entrance of Chinatown. In addition to the Shot 1, this is to further establish the setting for the response section. There should be ambient sounds recorded from the street during this shot.
MCU Follow Shoulder-level
MCU while Donna walks around Chinatown, Donna will be introducing different places she finds stand out to her which inspired her to write her poem. Shot will follow while Donna walks.
CU Static Eye-level
3/4 CU portrait angle for Donna’s interview. This will be the main angle for the interview. Location tentative.
MCU Static Eye-level
Secondary interview angle. Donna should be placed off-centre in this angle. In addition, she should be speaking directly to this camera in this angle. Location tentative.
WS Follow/Static Shoulder-level
WS of residents moving about their daily life. Camera movement minimal depending on events occurring while shooting.
MCU Static Eye-level
MCU eye-level shot. Main angle for interview portion. Interviewee should be addressing this camera during interview.
CU Static Shoulder-level
CU 3/4 angle. Secondary angle for interview portion.
01
02
03
CONTRASTS | 對照
challenges and how to overcome
Audio Challenges
Capturing authentic environmental sounds at Chinatown was difficult due to fluctuating noise levels. We carefully monitored audio input to prevent microphone distortion, ensuring clean and natural playback.
Sound Cleanup & Enhancement
During the interview with Donna Seto at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden, intrusive background noises, especially passing planes, disrupted the recording. I meticulously removed these distractions in post-production to maintain the emotional integrity of the conversation.
On-Set Safety & Direction
Filming in Chinatown required prioritizing team safety, especially around unpredictable surroundings. I ensured a secure working environment while keeping Donna Seto comfortable during both the interview and B-roll. Clear communication helped guide her movements, improving both her ease on camera and the overall shot composition.
01
Working with Client
Collaborating with Donna Seto offered an invaluable experience for my team and myself. Throughout the project, we prioritized clear, respectful communication to ensure her perspective on Chinatown’s cultural significance was authentically portrayed. Furthermore, we also learnt how to preserve our client’s voice while making artistic decisions, with the goal of aligning to her message.
02
Problem-Solving Under Pressure
Directing in the bustling and sometimes unpredictable environment of Chinatown challenged me to make quick, informed decisions while managing safety, logistics, and technical aspects. Ensuring the safety of the team, respecting the environment, and addressing the needs of interviewees taught me the importance of staying calm and adaptable. This experience highlighted the value of ethical production, especially when working with sensitive cultural subjects. I developed stronger problem-solving skills and learned how to keep the production moving smoothly while ensuring everyone felt comfortable and respected.
takeaways
03
Ensuring a Cohesive Vision
Thorough pre-production planning, including storyboarding, shot lists, and location scouting, was essential in building a strong foundation for the project. It allowed us to approach complex themes like cultural identity and gentrification with clarity, ensuring each scene supported our message. In post-production, collaborating on edits and sound design helped fine-tune the final piece, adding atmosphere and emotion that truly captured the essence of Donna Seto’s poem. This full-cycle experience underscored the importance of meticulous planning and focused editing in creating a cohesive and impactful story that resonates with the audience.
01
Working with Client
Collaborating with Donna Seto offered an invaluable experience for my team and myself. Throughout the project, we prioritized clear, respectful communication to ensure her perspective on Chinatown’s cultural significance was authentically portrayed. Furthermore, we also learnt how to preserve our client’s voice while making artistic decisions, with the goal of aligning to her message.
02
Problem-Solving Under Pressure
Directing in the bustling and sometimes unpredictable environment of Chinatown challenged me to make quick, informed decisions while managing safety, logistics, and technical aspects. Ensuring the safety of the team, respecting the environment, and addressing the needs of interviewees taught me the importance of staying calm and adaptable. This experience highlighted the value of ethical production, especially when working with sensitive cultural subjects. I developed stronger problem-solving skills and learned how to keep the production moving smoothly while ensuring everyone felt comfortable and respected.
takeaways
03
Ensuring a Cohesive Vision
Thorough pre-production planning, including storyboarding, shot lists, and location scouting, was essential in building a strong foundation for the project. It allowed us to approach complex themes like cultural identity and gentrification with clarity, ensuring each scene supported our message. In post-production, collaborating on edits and sound design helped fine-tune the final piece, adding atmosphere and emotion that truly captured the essence of Donna Seto’s poem. This full-cycle experience underscored the importance of meticulous planning and focused editing in creating a cohesive and impactful story that resonates with the audience.
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