Chen Siqi vankochensq@163.com CONVENTIONAL city promotional videos usually showcase a city’s urban and cultural aspects. However, Shenzhen’s latest promotional video, “Dare to Be a Pioneer,” has pursued a different path by using a personal narrative to convey the innovative essence of the city. The video, produced by Shenzhen Dans Digital Technology Ltd., premiered at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Shenzhen Design Week, which was held at the Shenzhen Bay Intelligence Center in Nanshan District on Saturday. The narrative revolves around a child who persists in pursuing his dreams over the course of his life, overcoming ridicule, obstacles, and setbacks, to achieve his dream of flying. The video is a metaphor for Shenzhen’s development over the past 40 years. It embodies the spirit and essence of generations of Shenzheners who have contributed to the creation of a futuristic, world-class city with unwavering dedication. “We identified Shenzhen’s rapid development over the past 40 years as its standout feature, driven by the pioneering spirit of the special economic zone,” said Deng Bohong, director of the video and founder of Dans Digital. “It was the defining aspect of Shenzhen that empowered us to take a fresh approach to the video.” From technical testing to shooting, visual effects, and editing, the entire video was created by Dans Digital. Even the protagonist of the video is an employee of Dans Digital; he was born in 1979 and is the same age as the city. Numerous details in the video that represent the city were shown, such as Shenzhen school uniforms, residential structures, and modern landscapes. All of the scenes were filmed in Shenzhen. Deng highlighted a scene in which the main character makes his first pair of wings out of cardboard and said that it was shot in Xinxiucun, a residential compound in Luohu District where Deng spent his childhood. “When people talk about Shenzhen, iconic structures like the Ping An Finance Center always come first. But these nostalgic communities show signs of age and have witnessed Shenzhen’s development over the years,” Deng said. One of the most impressive props in the film is the pair of mechanical wings, which drew inspiration from people who share the common dream of flying high. The prop was jointly designed by Dans Digital and Weta Workshop, a New Zealand prop company known for its contributions to character and prop designs for films like “The Lord of the Rings,” “King Kong,” and “Avatar.” Upon finishing the design, Dans Digital entrusted a Chinese company to turn the design into a tangible object. “During this phase, we did recognize China’s prowess as a manufacturing hub,” Deng said. “We had discussions on the process, and ultimately decided to use computer numerical control machines.” The wings, comprised of over 700 components and parts, were crafted from a variety of materials including aluminum and polyethylene. Since the design aligns perfectly with people’s common sense, its intricate craftsmanship may give the impression that it could actually take flight, according to Deng. This video is the second piece in a triad of city promotional videos, with the first one being released during last year’s Shenzhen Design Week. While the first was a science fiction film with spectacular visual effects, this latest piece is a heartfelt and human narrative. The third chapter is set to be released in the future. | 