Some people believe that filming movies in the city center should not be allowed. Others support it. Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Daily giving your opinions. Provide three reasons to support your point of view.
Dear Editor,
Nowadays, there is a rise in the number of Hong Kong movies making use of the streets and scenic views in the city centre to present a livelier scene to viewers. However, I do not find filming movies in the city centre appropriate and it should not be allowed for several reasons.
First of all, filming movies in the city centre makes the already crowded roads even more crowded. Hong Kong is well-known for its streets and roads packed with people and venicles. At the city centre, there is even a much busier traffic. Filming movies will require road blockages and the use of space on main roads. This often leads to a change in driving routes of commuters and will cause huge disturbance to the public as people may not be aware of the filming taking place and have to change their travelling route most likely at the last minute. Confusion and inconvenience caused by the lack of instructions and the unfamiliarity of new roads will definitely worsen the problem of traffic congestion. Such a disturbance to the public due to the filming of movies in the city centre should not be allowed.
The disruption to the transport system is already problematic and with an additional hindrance to the work of business sectors, the filming of movies in the city centre is not a situation to be deemed ideal. The city centre is crammed with commercial buildings and people doing business. It is also often the central business district of a city and Hong Kong is not an exception. In such a fast-paced and rushed environment, everything is about racing with time and every second matters to the business companies. With the main roads being even more crowded, it is already hard to ensure that workers will arrive on time. Clients may become latecomers and customers avoid going to the place and this will affect the retail sector in particular. What is more, filming making is a long process and even a shot of a scene will require much time. Sometimes there are even more than one scene being shot and the filming time cannot be controlled since it is easily affected by environmental factors. The economic losses of business companies are surely unimaginable and will not be a sight that Hong Kong people are willing to see when most of them depend on the business sectors to earn a living.
However, we should not only focus on the bad impacts imposed on one’s lifestyle but also the good sides of not allowing the filming of movies in the city centre. It is true that many landmarks such as the Clock Tower can be found in the city centre, which represents Hong Kong. Yet, by not allowing filming in the city centre, directors will have to turn to other areas in Hong Kong and search for their uniqueness. This can make some hidden gems of the city be revealed to many people through the playing of the movie, which is part of the conservation work of the intangible culture of Hong Kong, such as some local cuisines and handicrafts. This can even help viewers not only focus on the financially-glorious image of Hong Kong but also touch on and pay more attention to the hidden cultures which cannot be seen from news reports and government documents. We can see that not allowing the filming of movies in the city centre is worthy.
Some people, however, may say that filming in the city centre would suit some busy scenes of the movie, making it look more realistic. However, Hong Kong people are absolutely busy no matter what jobs they are doing and many parts of Hong Kong can still give viewers an impression that the scenes were shot at the city centre. Besides, we have very advanced technology today, which can achieve the same impacts. Or else, how can those famous films like Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean be filmed? Even those magical scenes that never exist in the world can still look that realistic, not to mention the many city scenes that filmmakers can make reference to. With such replacements available, there seems not to be a need for movies to be filmed in the city centre.
All in all, not allowing filming in the city centre can prevent disturbance to the public and even help preserve the intangible culture of Hong Kong by presenting it to the whole world. It is hoped that by such restrictions can Hong Kong become a better place and avoid unnecessary troubles.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong
Chris Wong
Chong Mei Sze Cindy
5C 2017-18