I must admit, Shanghai has never really appealed to me. I live in one of Asia's megacities, Seoul. I'm used to the incredible pace of life and constant chaos. But Shanghai always seemed like that little bit too much. That was, until I saw JT Singh's "Shanghai Forever." Watching it has given me an acute desire to visit the nooks and crannies of this giant metropolis.
This fast-paced short film whips its way around Shanghai at a speed only the locals can keep up with, slowing down just long enough to introduce us to the individuals that make up the city's life-blood. As China's most populous city, Shanghai holds a wealth of culture at the bases of its 4,000 skyscrapers and in its narrow alleys. Singh gives us a tour of the city that makes us forget for a moment that high above rises a modern-world city.
Expert editing and clever transitions introduce us to all walks of life and leave us with a desire to visit Shanghai for the human stories it holds. Channeling his inner Wong Kar Wai, Singh takes us through keyholes and doorways from the modern metropolis to streets of the old city. Through his eyes we get to see a side of the city not often shown in the media, its vibrant day-to-day life and human stories. He takes us deep into the city's beating heart and leaves us wanting more.
When you're done with Shanghai Forever, check out the other shorts on Singh's Vimeo page. Of particular interest is his look into North Korea, yet another very different look at a society closed off from the world.
Damn that was entertaining!!! Very well done!
I lived 3 years in Shanghai, my daughter was born in Shanghai, I can tell you, is a fascinating city, in fact it has become one of my favorites citys
We left right before our daughter was born. I used to work for Ryan Pyle while living there. What years were you there?
2013 until november 2016, I worked for an Italian company while I was in China
Great video. There are a lot of people listed in the credits at the end. Is Singh the sole shooter? I wish I had more background on this video.
Singh is the director. Full credits are listed under the video on Vimeo.
https://vimeo.com/187462742
I lived in Shanghai for 2.5 years. 07-09. I relived so many of those cuts. This pulled at my heart strings. If you haven't visited China, make sure you add it to the list!
People tend to emphasis too much on the cliche when making films about Shanghai. As someone who spent a good 18 years in the city, i rarely had to spent time in those Housing Alleys. This video is a stunning piece in its own right, but it certainly failed on showcasing the grand scale and the diversity of the city. I would probably rename it as "永远的石库门"
Wow! What an awesome piece of art! Does anybody know what the transition technique is called? I would like to learn more about that.