Advanced Search
River, Sunset
02:51:12:- Excellent MS, taken from inside the video crew's hotel: in the FG are silouetettes of furniture and a dragon-shaped urn, while in the BG, through a pair of open doors is the river and boats sailing on it (expressionistic shot); taken several times as things in the BG change a bit. Cut to tight Ls of a woman in a straw hat, rowing in the river. Cut to tight LS of her from a different angle, with more interesting things in the BG; she casts a fishing line, sailing from screen R to L. 02:54:25:- MS of a woman in a straw hat sitting on a dock and painting a railing yellow. Tight panning LS of people working by the river bank: a family shakes out a fishing net while others on docked boats tend to evening chores. Cut to excellent, glittery tight LS of a woman in a straw hat rowing a boat from screen L to R, several docked boats in the BG. Cut to similar shot as the woman passes through a sunspot (she becomes silouetted, the boat looking as if on fire). Cut to several LS's of people in boats on the river, late afternoon. Cut to tight LS of a woman in a straw hat sitting in a boat and smoking a cigar while sifting through some unknown fluffy material; shot several more times from different angles, widths and lighting. Cut to many LS's of docked houseboats on the river, forming a mini- community; a variety of shots, some blue-tinted, others focusing in on the setting sun's glaring reflection on the water (excellent shots here).
River Path, Morning
01:44:27:- hazy tight LS of a bridge over the Hue River, a mass of bicyclists passing over it. Cut to COLOR BARS. Tight LS's and MS's of bicyclists travelling on small streets beside an unnamed river; young and old, men and women, singles and taxi bicycles; street scenes and two wheeled traffic; some mopeds and small engine motorcycles. Cut to MS's of four women kneeling on the riverbank, washing clothes in small buckets. LS's and MS's of a father and his son shrimp-fishing from a small boat in the river (shrimpers on a shrimp boat). Tight LS and MS's of a ferry docked at the bank, people boarding and getting ready to sail. More MS's of women kneeling by the river, washing clothes.
Vietnamese School Kids
01:51:06:- MS of schoolchildren singing in a classroom (a song so languid and so middling it's charming). MS of four cute kids leaning through an open windowsill. Great MS's and tight LS's of twenty to thirty schoolchildren standing outside their schoolhouse, singing; occasionally they wave their arms in the air, grab their knees and swirl, shake their adorable heads in tune to the, uh, song, if that's what you want to call it. Very cute. MS's of the kids going back into the schoolhouse. MS's of kids standing my gnarled trees on the riverbank, staring into the camera.
River Path, Morning (continued)
01:54:15:- great perspective MS of a boy, a bicyclist, a female motorcyclist and a mother and child on a path, headed towards camera. MS's of women eating at a food kiosk, kneeling around a steaming pot; pedestrians and people on mopeds pass by in FG; good reverse angle MS of a mother and child standing by the kiosk, smoke rising in the FG. Cut to nice slightly high angle MS of a man in a small boat, fishing in the river. Cut to tight LS of people walking along a fairly wooded path, several stalks of bamboo in the FG (another peekaboo shot?); cut to a similar shot but with a telephoto lens focused on a food kiosk, then zoom out to resume former shot. 01:56:44:- great sequence of a woman sitting on a mat and making a straw hat while her mother, sister and daughter watch on: EST MS; CU's of her face and hands as she stitches and sews carefully; MS's of the suddenly large crowd gathered around her. Cut to MS of a mother smiling next to her two daughters, posing for the camera; zoom out to wide MS of them and roughly a dozen children standing on a rocky patio. Tight LS's of women washing clothes in the river. 01:59:26:- MS of a male pharmacist standing behind the counter of his pharmacy kiosk. MS of a young woman in a straw hat walking along busy street, carrying a basket of flowers. MS's and CU's of a young man avidly playing a girl in a game of foosball, a group of kids watching on. MS's of a male teenager working on the tailight of a small engine Honda motorcycle (appears to be a motorcycle shop, many people gathered and watching on... strictly the camera's fault). Slightly high angle tight LS of a woman crouched in the river and washing clothes while a young woman wades into the water with two pails; MS of her wding to shore with buckets filled with water; MS of woman washing clothes; tight LS of woman washing clothes, a man pushing a boat into teh water behind her. Tight LS's and MS's of people in boats on the river. MS's of two young women in straw hats kneeling by the side of river, washing their dishes, pots and chopsticks. MS's and CU's of the video producer teaching four boys a finger trick. Wide LS's and MS's of a man taking long, soaked stalks og bamboo from a shallow part of the river, crossing the street and depositing them on the other side.
Ferry Ride to Market
02:09:00:- various shots of life on a Vietnamese river, as seen from aboard a small ferry cpatained by an old woman in a straw hat. Some good shots of various boats, many houseboats, on the river (the old woman peers over the scenery in the FG). MS's of locals aboard the ferry, one of whom a young man with a burlap sack of young chicks (ducklings); zoom in to CU as he opens the bag, letting the adorable creatures roam on deck. Many great travelling tight LS's of people on houseboats going about their daily chores (includes a zoom-in of three naked boys standing on a houseboat, waving to the camera). CU of the old woman. MS of a man taking the helm and rowing the rest of the way to shore, where several woman wash their faces and hands in the river. Tigth LS and MS of people getting off the ferry boat.
Vietnam Marketplace
Various shots at an open-air marketplace in communist Vietnam, 1990.
Ferry Ride (Return), Afternoon
Various shots of sampan houseboats, river communities along river in communist Vietnam.
The Citadel, Afternoon
EST shot of the Citadel. MSs of three women playing cards at the Citadel's main gate while a man watches on. EST of the Citadel's rear premises: an area overgrown with lush vegetation and a neglected moat; LS's of workers tending to the grounds, some working in the moat or overgrown river. More EST shots of the Citadel, its withered grounds and weathered buildings. More LSs of workers tending to the grounds (appears to be a bit of farming going on here). High angle wide LS of the Citadel's courtyard. CU of two cannonball holes in a wall. MS of an ornate stone dragon lining a short flight of stairs; pan L to tight LS of construction workers restoring a patio area. MS/CUs of shirtless male workers-- some of whom are meere boys-- sawing, shaving, and carving new wood (carpentry Vietnam style).
The Citadel, Afternoon (Continued)
03:13:44:- tight LS's and MS's of construction workers restoring a patio area of the Citadel (all are working with new wood). LS's of workers tending to the grounds by the side of path by the side of a small lake. CU of an ancient ceremonial drum being struck with a pice of wood. EST shot of a Citadel tower, pan L to immediate grounds. MS of construction workers working in a pavillion, seen through a window (nice shot). CU of two small cannonball holes in a wall. More EST shots of the Citadel's weathered, neglected pavillion buildings. 03:17:15:- EST shots of a semi-restored building on Citadel grounds, adjacent to a courtyard. MS's of people exiting the temple-like building. MS of a woman leading her child back into the building; a Buddhist monk (in brown robes... Theravada?) walks out. CU detail of an ornate dragon sculpture atop the building. EST shot as a Buddhist nun in yellow robes walks out and into the courtyard. MS's of carved pillars in the courtyard as monks, laymen and cart-pushers pass by. MS's of two women tending the grounds, a horse grazing behind them. MS of ornate stone pavillions. Zooming (out) LS of a wall partly destroyed by shell fire; panning tight LS of same. Tight LS of people walking on a path, pan R to 2 horses grazing in a field. MS's of the video producer talking to people, pan L to them (includes two Buddhist nuns in yellow robes). Many MS's of the producer talking to them, exchanging business cards... sort of. 03:28:25:- EST shots of the Citadel's inner pavillions, all ruined or falling apart; old stone buildings, some damaged by shellfire, others subjected to weather and vegetation overgrowth. EST shots of a pavillion with several bronze urns outside it. MS's and CU's of a woman rubbing charcoal on one of the urns, specifically over a design of a peacock; she places a cloth over the area and taps a rubber mallet on the cloth, leaving an artistic impression on the cloth. Good LS's of the sun setting over a stone pavillion.
Breakfast with Hai and Hip
03:37:44:- high angle MS of two young men, Hai and Hip, sitting cross-legged on a twin bed and eating a breakfast of noodles, vegetables and rice. CU's of their rice bowls as they eat, using chopsticks. Wide MS of them in the blue room, their sandals on the floor beside the bed. Sideview MS of same but shot from adjacent room, a lattice of steel bars in FG. Sideview CU's of them eating (no bars). Wide MS of the room as they finish eating; Hai gets up and moves into another room. MS of Hai washing his hands in a dirty bathroom sink. MS of Hai climbing a ladder leading to his bedroom loft (Hip is still eating). MS of Hai in his bedroom, grabbing his backpack, descending the ladder. MS's of Hai unlocking his bicycle and taking it outside. Tight LS's of him riding the bike along hazy garden paths and roads.
Traffic, Woodcarvers and Pop Singers
04:17:31:- tight LS's of Hai, our twentysomething protagonist in a light brown cardigan, riding a bicycle along busy streets, over a small bridge; streets are filled with people on bicycles, small engine motorcycles and mopeds. Hai rides his bike to the Central Hospital in Hue. 04:21:43:- MS of a shirtless, muscular woodcarver, a cigarette butt in his mouth, sawing a piece of wood in a design shop (shot through a rusty chain link fence). MS of a barefoot young man kneeling and chiseling a piece of wood; tight LS of same as several others work with wood, pan R to a shirtless young man working on a decorative furniture leg. CU's of the man chiseling, the wood locked in a vice. More MS's and CU's of woodcarvers at work (sawing, carving, chiseling). Cut to INT of woodcarver home/business, MS of a man making tea; CU of tea service, water being poured. Cut to EXT home, MS's of the young man on the roof, picking apples from a tree. MS's of a teenage male sitting on a patio, singing and playing an acoustic guitar; he plays several contemporary Vietnamese pop songs. Sometimes he looks at the camera, other times not. Wide MS of guitar boy getting onto his small engine motorcycle, driving off from home.
Interns at Central Hospital in Hue, Vietnam
04:31:28:- INT shots of hallways and medical rooms in Central Hosptial in Hue; Hai, a young male student/intern, leads the camera crew through the building. Good CU of a newborn crying inside a orange glass unit (some kind of ICU bubble?). Quick MS inside a maternity ward, a woman on a gurney about to give birth. MS of Hai entering a room where an older woman complains on stomach pains; CU's as Hai massages her stomach, looking for lumps; CU of her face as he works, zoom out to MS. MS'sof Hai and several interns (all in scrubs) walking through halls, laughing and talking and inspecting their charts, eventually heading out onto the hospital grounds. MS'sof Hai flipping through a card catalog (patient records); CU of Hai writing in a smal notepad. MS of a hospital employee sitting at a desk, working at an old computer. MS's of Hai sitting in a quiet study room with several other interns, all writing in small notepads. MS's and CU's of interns studying in another room of the hospital, this one noisier and less academic.
Psychiatric Ward at Central Hospital in Hue, Vietnam
Various shots at the psychiatric ward at Central Hospital in Hue, Vietnam.
Workers in a Rice Patty
Various shots villagers working in rice paddies in Vietnam.
Crabbing, Vietnamese Style
Various shots of a small fishing community in rural Vietnam.
Boats in a River
00:00:18:- nice tight LS of a small boat rowing in a sunny river; a small smoking steamer passes them.
Students at the Central Hospital in Hue
00:00:58:- MS's inside a language lab at the Central Hospital in Hue: students with earphones sit at cubbies (study carrels), reading text and listening to an instructor speak in English. CU of text (in English) in a student's hand. MS and CU of the moderator seated at the head of class, speaking into a mic attached to a headset. CU's of students reading along. MS of a student, the teacher's reflection in a glass beside him (nice shot). 00:04:42:- EST shots of an herbal medicine room, a nurse sitting at a desk working beneath a large chart of herbs. MS of the nurse, pan R to CU of jars of herbs. CU of several jars of herbs in a blue liquid. CU's of nurse and the papers she is scrupulously studying. CU of several students standing in the doorway, listening to someone talk. MS of a young man leaning on a railing of a walkway outside the herb room; a rather picturesque rice paddy is in the immediate BG; zoom in to LS of rice pickers working in the paddy. Cut to more focused shots of the workers in the paddy. 00:07:52:- Panning CU of corked bottles on a counter in a chemistry lab; some contain liquids, some don't, all are labeled. MS's and CU's of female students in lab coats standing behind the counter, talking and preparing for a lab experiment. CU of a student slipping two vials into a counter of some kind, altering dials and gauges; zoom out to MS of three students at work. CU of several vials with long pipettes in a holder, a student adding chemicals. MS's of students having fun with chemicals. 00:11:40:- LS's (taken from back of class) inside a classroom as students in white frocks talk; at the chalkboard are two students writing solutions to a problem. MS's of students diligently writing on chalkboard (sideview and from behind). MS and CU of the class instructor at the chalkboard, talking to the class, writing on the chalkboard. MS's of students sitting at desks, listening and writing in notebooks (taken from head of class). More shots from the back of the class. 00:16:50:- MS's inside a computer room as a male and female student work at an old computer (looks like an Apple IIE). CU of her hands at the keyboard. CU of the monitor as a program boots up. CU's of their faces. 00:19:08:- MS's of students in a lab, peering into microscopes. CU of a test tube holder, several tubes filled with colorful liquids.
Interview with Vietnamese Students
00:20:34:- MS of a dozen or so university students sitting on sand in a shady wood (looks like a campground). The video crew tries to get them to sing a Vietnamese song. They try, but their spirits (shyness) aren't up to the task. As one student puts it, WE ARE VERY TIRED SO WE CANNOT SING A SONG. MS of the same girl talking about how she would like to see better relations between the United States and Vietnam. CU's of other students more or less saying the same (hopeful for a better future). Some good quotes from the class' teacher. MS of the class singing JINGLE BELLS (it must be, like, ninety degrees out and they're singing songs about one-horse open sleighs?). CU interview with a 16 year old girl named Anh (cute girl with a lip impediment when she speaks): she talks about what she's studying, her family, what her parents do, what she likes about the US, and music.
Trip to a Pagoda
00:31:33:- late afternoon travelling shots along a river (cam on boat): houseboats, shorelife, farmers in straw hats tending to small fields, rippling water, a steel bridge, a ferry flying two Vietnamese flags, ramshackle shore homes, a community of houseboats in the center of the river, etc. Good material. 00:35:20:- great LS of the river, a fine afternoon haze and willowy tree branches obstructing the way; pan R to the grounds of the pagoda, several men standing idly by and smoking cigarettes. EST shots of the well-maintained (restored) pagoda and not-so well-maintained accoutrements (weathered stone temples and towers; great yet obsolete architecture). Panning MS of a cow and a calf grazing on the grounds. Great landscape shot, the view from the pagaoda (steamy mountains more implied than visible; painterly vegetation). MS and CU details of ornate hedging ledges of temples and towers. MS of a cow grazing, a man in white watching on. More EST shots of the pagoda and grounds. MS's of a man with bales of grass slung over his shoulders walking through the stone west gate. 00:43:12:- dramatic, excellent CU of a golden statue of Buddha, the head in silouette and a ring of sunfire orange and red behind it. Dark shot (as if the lenscap was left on), sound of a prayer bell being rung; the singing of a prayer follows; a candle is lit in what seems the far distance. Panning CU of the gold Buddha statue (more visible detail, nice shot). Grainy CU of several sticks of incense being lit in the temple, placed on an ornate altar. 00:50:33:- More EST shots of pagoda's grounds (hills, scenery, gates, mountains, roads, vegetation, etc.). Tight LS of the video crew posing in front of a pagoda tower. More EST shots of the area, late afternoon (nice lighting). Great picturesque wide LS's of a small boat rowing along the river, the sun washing everything golden (no strong tones). Excellent LS's of the river as the sun starts to set, washing out the hills and making the trees glow; great explosive reflections off the river. Fantastic wide LS's of the sunset as seen from a boat; two rowers (in silouette) are in FG. More travelling shots of river-life: houseboats, rice farmers, the sunset, a rusty steel bridge, a man swimming in the river, a new bridge, etc.
Beach, Afternoon, With Students
05:00:11:- CU Interview with Lien, an attractive and quite charming 17 year old female student. Interview is conducted on a makeshift Hue beach, much noise in the BG. She and the video producer talk about where she goes to school, a song she sang earlier on, and a move she is to make with her family to Canada. She then sings a Vietnamese song about the importance of parents; zoom in to ECU of her eyes as she swoons; pan L to CU of a friend accompanying her. Afterwards they continue the conversation, talking about American vs Vietnamese dating habits (Americans fall in love too young; Vietnamese girls don't date until they're 19, don't smoke or drink wine... a little beer is okay, though), and what their greatest hopes from life are (world peace, no war, and better relations between the Vietnamese and US governments). 05:11:39:- MS's and CU's of the fairly large group of Vietnamese students sitting under a tarp for a photo opportunity. Ray, a polite yet burly member of the video crew (check out his crazy Appalacian Mountainman beard) talks with them about school and music. Good MS of Ray (with his beard and sunglasses he looks like a wayward member of ZZ Top) playing an untuned guitar that is also missing several strings... strumming the pop chords of death.
Beach Time with Hai and Hip
05:14:20:- EST shots of a scenic Vietnamese beach, the Pacific Ocean looking not so tough, on an early afternoon. People walk about the golden yellow sand, while others play in the water. Several junky rowboats are beached on shore. A few crude tents have been erected, where several local youth are gathered. Among these youth are Hai and Hip, two brothers and the semi-focus of this series. Good CU's and MS's of them under the tarp, lounging with friends. MS's of Hai and Hip walking along the beach (away from camera), along the shore (towards the camera). More EST shots of the beach, the ocean, the waves breaking. MS's of several male teens playing in the ocean.
Northern River Otter
Master 2115, Part 1 MS Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis) swimming along shoreline of river. MS otter swimming in water.
Grizzly Bear with babies
Master 2116, Tape 1 MS female (sow) Grizzly Bear, aka Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) laying in the grass with her 6 month old triplets. The babies cuddle together.
Atlantis Fritillary Butterfly
Master 2117 Part 1 Atlantis Fritillary Butterfly ( Speyeria atlantis ) CU of butterfly on a purple flower (thistle). Zoom in to extreme CU of the butterfly getting nectar from the flower (feeding). Zoom out to MS and then back in on butterfly eating. Bee flies in and lands on the flower. MS of both of them on the flower.