The decline of Hong Kong's iconic neon glow
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 авг 2018
- Neon is fading.
Follow Johnny on Instagram: / johnnywharris
Follow the Vox Borders watch page: / voxborders
With original music by Tom Fox: / user-416166523
Explore neon culture through this local museum project: www.neonsigns.hk/?lang=en
Master Wu started making neon signs in the ’80s and has been filling Hong Kong’s streets with bright neon signs ever since. But recently, Master Wu has seen his business slow down as brighter-burning and more energy-efficient LED signs emerge. In addition to getting fewer requests, Hong Kong’s iconic neon landscape is also losing thousands of signs per year, ushering in the end of the city’s neon era.
As Hong Kong’s neon lights start to fade, I spent some time with Master Wu at his neon shop, where he showed me how he makes neon signs, and took a look at Hong Kong’s changing cityscape.
Vox Borders is an international documentary series by Emmy-nominated producer Johnny Harris exploring life at the edge of nations. For more, visit vox.com/borders.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H
Want to keep up with the latest from Vox Borders? Sign up for Johnny's newsletter for regular updates: www.vox.com/borders-email
I'm quite sure I like the neon better, it gives off a more mystical theme.
Fiber optic is the future....
LED was big in the early 2000's.
18 years ago!!!
Look up audio compression and limiting, because the volume fluctuates a lot in this video :-)
whats the name of the song in this video?
Much props to Master Wu.
It's so difficult for me to even write Chinese characters (Kanji), I can't imagine shaping a freaking neon bulb into one!
The "aesthetic" of the neon lights is really gorgeous
But can get super annoying if you live by a street full of neon...
it really is
3 replies
Why is aesthetic in quotation marks?
Aesthetic _is_ the correct word, dear
Once LED takes over, all neon lights argon.
And how do I tie a noose again?
Weenie Hut Jr.
I got some noose for you. Suicide is bad noose.
Kuuna,
You make a loop and the snake goes down
But changes it's mind and turns around
And climbs back up to the top again
This is where the fun begins
You take the snake and spiral down
And at the bottom
What has he found?
The snake goes into the rabbit's hole
Then you give the top a pull
Never consider self abuse
This is how you tie a noose
@@sammy094sbiggestfan2 haha I see you watch rusty?
Dad is that you?
So neon lights Argon?
Andrew Glinski Lol what are you doing here.
UNDERRATED COMMENT
Andrew Glinski lol
Get out!
Sir, I’m not telling you to get out, instead I’m telling you that you should go somewhere with Open Mic Nights
Hong Kong - the city that inspired Cyberpunk
@Xiao Xiao wǔmáo
@Xiao Xiao lol nah
@Xiao Xiao let's not bring politic into this and ruin this. cyberpunk, ghost in the shell, cowboy bepop and other anime are all based on Hong Kong as the back drop.
Neon lights are so cool.
And is now becoming cyberpunk itself.
Tokyo?
Each video is unique.. no part is used in another.. soo original, each & every time..
Maybe they could do a better job with the audio balance. Music is way too loud, and his voice too quiet.
there will always be room to improve
well...this video didnt include word even once borders.This should be called hong kong not borders
Well it is only 5 mins and from about company with a decent budget
its called content
Vox editing is seriously on point!
It's actually quite poor when you consider the sound is often a bad match to the visuals and while I can barely hear the guy speak, the old lady downstairs shits herself when the music starts. 6/10
Can I have a Java chip cookie frapachino
Idk the sound in this video was dope asff
These transitions were goddamn amazing.
Considered it and still think you're wrong. I think the sound and visuals are great match.
Intro song: Nikitch - Deku Trees
THANK YOU!! I was looking for this everywhere! Made my day!
Not all heroes wear capes 🙏🙏🙏
Outro song tho ??
@SoloWilliams Outro song: Tom Hillock & Nicolas Boscovic - Golden Halo
www.apmmusic.com/albums/MAG-6020/CEZ_MAG_6020_00401 #4 sounds the same too.
I thought he was gonna make a Vox neon sign for the outro
I was hoping for that too!
It would be dope
Lol the neon light thing in 2:55 is actually the logo of TVB, HK's main TV channel
Yeaaah :"
This is a super interesting series. Vox in general brings topics that are so niche and specific, that you normally wouldn't learn anywhere, or actively even want to know, and makes them fascinating and interesting, thank you
A House on the DMZ couldn’t agree more
Idk all their topics are things that sound interesting to me anyway. Still well done videos though.
When I visited HK back in the 90's, I remember the neon signs along Nathan Road were not allowed to flash, as it was near the old airport and they didn't want them to confuse pilots!
Fair reason tbf hahahahaha
I love the aesthetic of neon lights, I hope they never go away.
They removed all of These HK Looks nothing Special anymore
I believe there is a translation error at 4:09. Instead of saying that it takes half a year for a neon light sign to be produced, Mr. Wu is saying that it takes half a year for a neophyte to learn how to make neon light signs in general.
That is what it says:
“It takes at least half a year before you can make a neon sign”
I understood it, but it can easily be misinterpreted
Yea I also misinterpreted. I was like "6 months?!" But that just doesn't make any sense. 6 months sounds like the time it would take to make the glass from hand, and THEN bend the tube into a neon sign.
Yes it was a poor translation i too misinterpreted, that was the only part of the video I rewinded to listen to his Cantonese instead of reading
The translation is not wrong.... your understanding is wrong
Damn, this editing is so good
it hides the lack of actual content really well, doesn't it.
Luis Dias Yep. I thought they were going to educate us ,about Hong Kong's economy and history in 5 mins. Yeah
Luis Dias How? You got exactly what you came here for. What more did you expect? The history of electricity?
Luis Dias What more did you want from this video?
This channel is so great and I love this Hong Kong series. The border one in particular was great
Claire & Tom Travel it's also biased and shows propaganda so don't believe everything blindly
Really? What kind of propaganda?
Claire & Tom Travel They used al jazeera as a source once or twice so maybe he means that...
Josh xD al jazzera is a reputable source
Claire & Tom Travel
I like vox videos but I have to double check when it's related to world politics.
it's usually propaganda or they have very weak knowledge of the subject.
Look into their videos of trade war or terrorism.
I sympathise. I'm still mourning the loss of candle light signs. Lost art.
You're not sure, huh? That should worry you. It does me.
I would like to know too. Are you from an Amish town that farms "potatoe"?
No, I'm not Amish. We don't even have them here. We also don't have this thing called a potatoe. We do some farming though, vegetables and fruits. I've got kewkumbers, skwash, grene pees, peechs, and apuls.
That's great! They sound delishuss!
You two are such kind and respectful individuals. God bless and Namaste. but not JonB. shut up and learn to spell.
RIP candle light
Hong Kong is mostly buildings and lame yellow traffic lights nowadays , there isn’t much streets with neon lights left :/
its really sad because the neon lights of Hong Kong inspired so many different aesthetics and cyberpunk ideologies [also night city from cyberpunk 2077] and now its just like any plain old city ):
Having grew up in the city, neon signs are very nostalgic. But there are a few problems with them. For people living above shops with multi story neon signs, it is a nuisance at night. During storms and typhoons, signs had fallen onto the roadway. In early 2000s the government also pushed to limit the amount of exterior lighting on buildings in order to conserve power.
@@ApplePotato that’s true , light pollution is a serious problem in Hong Jong
Vox might have some questionable views on certain topics but I know one thing for sure, and its that their production is top quality.
Duke Agree, some subjects seems a bit to much "bias" but they never fail to deliver informative content
fact= propaganda?
Honest Lad no not at all. I dont think there is any flaws in the fact. Just the way some reporters portray it.
Honest Lad their biased reporting on topics such as the security of borders etc.
f all news is biased bc you need to take an angle on the issue.
Love neon lights. There's something about them which screams "city" to me
I know exactly what you mean. I love the vibes of it.
Me too! And they remind me so much of the 80s for some reason.
I always picture Hongkong streets to be filled with neon lights! (Maybe bcuz of movies & all) I'm a little disappointed but yean neon lights were quite the iconic look for Hongkong streets
Its just because the energy of these colors that give you electrical vibes etc
It's because that soft gradient it gives. It's not sharp like led.
There's nothing more amazing than a really beautiful neon sign.
vox in 10 years "The re-rise of Hong knogs iconic neon glow."
I don't think it is possible
Damn I been declining too
My mental heath is declining
We'll preserve you, fam
If you drink water, is it cannibalism?
Hong Kong is a gorgeous city and *Vox* just accentuated it all 😍
Vox is saying that the city is losing its neon beauty - your clueless.
*You're - correct. Lol.*
Don’t be salty boi LEDs are still fire neon will become a super art
Basically, the suits are pushing flat LED signs and are killing off the vintage art of handcrafted beautiful neon. That doesn't sound good and looks worse. It's corruption
@shinukism shnuck you'll go there the day 5 hour flights to hong kong becomes available.
As a hongkonger, I am really happy to see that someone made a video to introduce Hong Kong cultural. Grateful for what you did thank you!
It’s such a shame that China is destroying your city and erasing its unique culture too. I regret not seeing Hong Kong before the 1997 takeover. I know so many businesses that could see the writing in the wall and packed up shop before China came to town.
Best of luck with umbrellas and candles. Hopefully they shine bright enough for some other country to see and help.
@@scottmaxwell1927 idk if there's hope
I really love this series! It feels nostalgic even though I've never been to Hong Kong.
I freaking love these Hong Kong / Border episodes. Amazing cinematography and great education! Thanks Vox
what part of Tyskland are you from .
What makes you think I'm from Germany?
with a name like Nagel .
Fair enough, but I'm from the Netherlands. But if I'm right my family originates from Switzerland.
Such brilliant content!
Vox is everything great about RUclips.
Yeah let's forget their bias toward liberalism, it's great
ONLY when they don't throw their obvious leftist bias all over their videos.
It's a liberal publication. It's openly liberal so probably not the channel for you if you vehemently disagree.
Touche. Great point.
This series should be on TV for sure!
Thanks for the great work, Johnny
I love this. Love the way Johnny creates his videos. The filming, the narrating style, the atmosphere he creates, it's just amazing. Vox Borders is undoubtly my favourite series in the entire channel.
Keep up the awesome work!
Hong Kong is a beautiful place
more importantly, they sell bubble tea here :P
Only 4 likes... ahahahahahaha
Secret Real Santa its my second favorite city, seoul Korea is my first
mr papaya You must be Jake Paul's friend
mr papaya 🤦🏻♂️
God damn - that music is perfect
I need to find the music, but never can :(
Do you know the name of the song at the beginning
Ivan Gadberry www.apmmusic.com/albums/MAG-6020/CEZ_MAG_6020_00401
Nikolai Gagarin
what about the one at 3:06 ?
The cinematography is great! After growing up in Hong Kong for 10 years I love watching these videos and learning about the things I saw every day.
3:06 that *music* tho
Running - Nicolas Boscovic & Tom Hillock
Darude Sandstorm
@@ShiftRGamingthanks
Omg. Old Hong Kong with the neon lights is so much better looking. 😍
better looking, eyerape to live with :v
not rlly they're just in a few cities
***districts like central
*ÆSTHETICS*
Austin Nathan a e s t h e t i c*
No One ＡＥＳＴＨＥＴＩＣＳ＊
Austin Natan you from Orange mound?
ＶＡＰＯＲＷＡＶＥ
👌
I love the editing and music in this. Crazy amazing
0:21 Literally puts a funeral home in the montage omegalul
dam it another thing I start appreciating once it starts disappearing. I grew up in Hong Kong but moved away 18 years ago. No wonder when i walk around HK i cant find those street w overcrowded neon lights as pictures i have seen. Thanks VOX
overcrowded, precisely the reason why i could no longer enjoy HK.
well if u go to sone old streets in kowloon there are still some, but most are changing.
Is there a reason why Japan hasn’t taken down their neon lights, not saying they should. Japan is also a stunning neon drench place that I hope in the future they don’t stop their neon lights for the reasons why Hong Kong has been removing them. Back to the question though, how come Japan has not taken away their neon lights like Hong Kong?
This series is so dear to my heart. I was 9 years old when my family started to travel abroad and Hong Kong was the first country we’ve ever been to. I returned 9 years later, and I saw the difference. The city was more stream-lined and much more ready for the modern world whereas 2006 Hong Kong was very cultural and pulled so much inspiration from the orient. I’ve been to Europe, the Middle East and all around South East Asia. Hong Kong is still the most special to me.
That intro and the music in it....so satisfying!! I love your work Vox!
The editing in this series, especially this video is incredible! Not even mentioning the quality of the content! I really hope VOX gave this guy a raise!
I think neon lights are more beautiful than LED lights.
my grades are declining like hong kong’s neon lights
my grades are the future of Hong Kongs neon lights aka dark depression
Why are you two relatable? Fml
Char Raffaelli why are people showing off the fact that they are stupid now?
Char Raffaelli
Slowly, but there's hope?
CamberSyndrome Doesn't mean you're stupid. It's called laziness.
I don't think I have ever seen an informative video on RUclips so SATISFYING. The *editing* is FANTASTIC.
Much love for Master Wu, keep on crafting!
That was very eye-opening 👀
Hybrid Trap enlightening?
*EDITING on POINT, VOX!!!!!* 😎😎😎
Music was great! The transitions were great. The only thing I didn't like was the lack of focus on the face when you were talking to the camera. 🙁
I have to say, vox is doing an amazing job on this series.
The entire video was cinematically beautiful, except the unintended off focus face shots
Yeah sorry about that! super annoying. I wish I had paid closer attention during filming. The Sony a7sii is a great camera but isn't the best with auto focus which is why im hoping to upgrade to the A73. Anyway, thanks for watching!
Johnny Harris (Vox) That’s not a problem especially considering how professional these shots are 👍
Plagiarized Casey Neistat...
The vox videos are so well edited and made omfg
A minute and a half into this video and I already love it more than anything I’ve ever edited. Great works
*A E S T H E T I C*
*A S T H I C C T I C*
I thought that too. So aesthetic
How do you write in that font
Anytime I think Hong Kong I think neon lights and bladerunner. Great to learn about the history of it all. Great video Johnny!
Thank you for this. Brings back many memories of my life in Hong Kong.
I love how they can take something so seemingly trivial and make it fun and interesting.
VOX > Vice
lol this is coming from a 'journalist channel' that literally made a video stating that film was racist...
Mo B Seemingly you actually didn't bother to actually watch that video, or you just didn't get it.
huh? Well I saw it and it claims that because technology isnt advanced enough it is racist. It doesn't say it but a little thinking can tell you so. So because a certain color doesnt come out in a certain way it was built for white people? I even think that cameras from that time faced problems from even lighter aspects of the environments. Since this was possibly the first time people started using cameras with color technology it isnt advanced enough to get you a full hd quality picture like the ones we have today.
Nope
CAN WE COPYSTRIKE VICE
neon lights look x1000 times better than LED
But is it
There is a new version of LED strip that look like neon light.
Thick strip of silicone that won't break.
Literally the. Best. Content on RUclips. Always amazing and informative to watch.
Can we take a moment to appreciate the music and the editing... What a great job!
Nice video. That's why I'm subscribed.
"Japanese comics"
As a S class weeb, it's pronounced manga.
man i though for a sec i was also a S class but it turns out i was just a C class aced the physicals but flunked the exam!
tell me someone gets this reference
Viktor Reznov, ‘I thought it was a bigger S.’
Viktor Reznov ONE PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH
Ok genuinely I just watched a video a minute ago and found you commented in it and now you're also here
OH GOD YOURE LITERALLY EVERY WHERE
Beautiful beautiful work by vox, appreciate this series of Hong Kong so much:)
Damn, the intro's production value up until 1:25 is through the roof! Nice job!
Whoever did the music for this video did an amazing job, it was such a trip.
Damo Nantha Listen to Nikitch - Deku Trees (Original Mix) by CHATEAU BRUYANT ♜ #np on #SoundCloud
soundcloud.com/chateau-bruyant/nikitch-deku-trees-original-mix
Beautiful cinematography, the editing was really pleasing, and a fascinating subject matter :) Keep up the amazing work!
The footage you guys took is phenomenal, that intro music is fantastic and I love the cuts/ transitions! Great work! 😎👍🏾
That was so beautiful❤ That pleased my eyes lol
The music is so legit
So far the Hong Kong series is my favourite. Make more videos this way :)
These series are truly beauitful. Thanks, Vox!
I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH
Neon
Pros - look good
Con - Expensive - power consumption is high - high maintenance fees - hard working on it to get shape
but even most of the detriments are benefits in a sense.
The more you put into something, the more important it is to you. Efficiency and convenience are great things... but they cheapen everything they touch. They only bring advantage in that they allow the effort and cost to be moved to something else significant.
If you sent me an email or a text I'd barely care. If you sent me a physical hand-written letter, I'd carefully read every word, likely more than once.
seigeengine So you're saying that high power consumption is a good thing?
Then develop a way for the neon light's power source to be efficient. I'm no engineer but I'm sure at least someone has thought of this idea.
seigeengine the planet will be thankful both for the LED lights over Neon and the email instead of a physical letter
Exactly. I don't get the point of the video, it seems to me a good thing to replace these old neon tubes by newer and better LEDs. There is no point to stay in the past.
Such a simple topic, such a short video. Impressively researched and presented. Johnny's content is consistently of a very high quality, as a viewer I appreciate all the effort you put in and will never miss a video, thank you.
_NEON_ is the Past, _LED_ is the Future, But it's okay to appreciate the Past
Say that to Copenhagen, that place is pretty much going through a neon renaissance right now, even if not on nearly as huge a scale as what Hong Kong used to be.
Neon is coming back and is trending now in Europe, America...simply because LED is mass made and looks cheaper compared to the neon artistry.
@Chuck Chuckson examples?
Why do we even have it when the “Furture” isn’t better than the past
and then steve aoki be like neon future
kudos to the video editor... the transitions in the beginning + the music was so good
Vox with all the cinematics in that opening sequence. Hot damn! 🔥👌🏽
Vox Borders never fails to impress
New music every time placed at right places, 6 minutes of joy, i just wish there was one everyday.
4:15
How did you translate what he said from installation to "simple installation"
It kind of puts him in a bad light, almost as if to trash on LEDs considering he produces neon lights
RIP Tokyo Drift
Yes but there is still a neon light aesthetic in the Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift film. The same for Ghost in The Shell.
ImInfinite MidWest DesertStateInEu OOOOOOOO YOU JUST ROASTED THEM😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Tokyo has a much different light aesthetic.
I don't ever want this series to end. Being brought up around this culture (my parents are from Hong Kong), but living in the UK for my entire life, there's so much I recognise. But this series is teaching me that there is still do much to learn about it
When neon signs are used the right way they can look good, but if there are too many of them, they lose all the beauty and become quite hard to look at
So glad that Vox is doing a series about Hong Kong, thank you!!🇭🇰🇭🇰
Hong Kong, what a nice and interesting city! Would love to go there someday and see all the sights like the Tian Tan Buddha, Hong Kong Disneyland, Victoria Peak, ride a Star Ferry, ride a double decker tram, Ocean Park, and the Happy Valley Racecourse.
Avery Lopez-Baines Hong Kong is not as great as you think lol
Kenneth Lao yeah for a trip it’s nice but when you start living there it starts to become boring, but the food is always amazing
been a handful of times and it seems to slowly get dirtier each time... still amazing seeing the buildings and views at night though
Just took a trip last year, it’s amazing.
Even then, there's some foods in Hong Kong that's not good.. NEVER get Vietnamese food in Hong Kong. Even tho there's Vietnamese speaking people in the restaurant.. it's not authentic..somehow everything is either not authentic or just plain nasty
I luv vox!
edit: thnx for 200 likes :D
and i love you
*love
Michi Brain learn memes luv is a slang of love
E 8888 wat?
*makes a well thought out and funny comment, gets 0 likes*
*says I luv (the youtuber) gets 200 likes*
*Amazing video Vox. Keep up the fantastic work* 💙
Very interesting content, excellent editing. Keep up the good work
One word: cyberpunk
I love the editing of this video omg is so good!
i love this series so much omg
Dat editing is lit. AF.
The feeling of watching a borders vid about your hometown
it’s great
man, i miss hong kong. :'( i remember wandering through the peaceful streets as child, at a time when everyone went asleep. only the sound of crickets were heard. idk if it's just from the place i'm from, the vibes outta here just felt a whole another level. 💗
This whole season of Borders is like an ode to Hong Kong and I LOVE IT!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this. I have been a regular visitor and once resident of HK since 1995. I'm also a photography enthusiast and one of the things I have been documenting about Hong Kong from the start is neon signs. It is sad to see so many iconic signs disappear, taking Hong Kong's visual identity with them.
I love the work you do on this series brother. Keep it up!
Always on top! Good editing, good music and interesting subjects. Good job!
*I work with Neon and yeah, they very sensible to work with, and you need a lot of safety before work with one, they look awesome when installed but cost more, not only installation but consumed more energy than LEDs, so yeah I would use LEDs before Neon, now they're making LEDs that look like Neon signs, they're using the same glass that use in Neon but instead of gas in it, they put the LEDs strings in it*
Boldly put. Thank you.
There are new version of LED strip. Look a lot like neon, they call the, neon flex.
Neon flex is the future. I can only hope it will bring some soul back to city signs.
Another beautiful video well done guys well done.
Goddamn the Vox is killing it with their Editing and cinematography !!! One of the main reasons I'm subscribed !
Love this series, keep up the amazing work
0:12 nice combination of future bass and neon theme! Love it 👍