Advanced Multimedia Reporting

Author: Carmen Yeung

Visual Poem Pitch – Carmen Yeung

I wanted to create a video with a lively, festive theme, which led me to consider Chinese New Year as the center stage where the action unfolds. This year, the holiday falls on February 16th, the upcoming Friday. Traditionally, it is celebrated for 15 days, which allows some leeway in terms of filming. Chinese New Year is known for its vibrant energy, which manifests in New York City in the form of parades and public celebrations. The annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival will be taking place on February 25th (two Sundays from now) in Chinatown. I suspect that there will be smaller-scale celebrations on the upcoming Sunday, so I will try to film then as well, given available camera equipment.

The arc that I wanted to capture begins with the growing frenzy of hectic crowds and is eventually released when the celebrations begin in a burst of excitement, festivity, and vibrancy. I will do most of my filming outdoors in the parades and will try to capture floats, lion dancing and its musical accompaniment, firecrackers, lanterns, decorations, and the crowds.

I am also considering ending the video with footage of the litter left on Chinatown’s streets after the parade ends, in order to convey a more serious message. However, that might also upset the balance and overall mood of the video. Additionally, I am also worried about filming in the middle of large crowds and getting good, stable footage.