Video Location: Mt Victoria, town belt

Mt Victoria is one of Wellington’s most distinctive landmarks. Rising to the east of the harbour, it serves as the divider between the main city and Mirimar. The town belt covers most of Mount Victoria on side facing the city as well as the ridge extending along Newtown.

The concept for my film is going to be the ascension of Mt. Victoria, starting from the base and showing various aspects of the trails and paths ascending upwards. Mainly using footage from walking up the mountain as well as possibly cycling scenes, I want to show off the uniqueness of the bush while always ascending upwards. once the top is reached, (the lookout) a long zoom outwards from the top of the lookout into space will heighten the feeling of being “on top of the world”. Even though it’s not the highest point in Wellington, therelatively isolated mountain feels like the highest CENTRAL point and so feels almost like the middle of the city. I’m intending for the footage to be strung together using mainly a combination of fast cuts up various trails, using footage mainly recorded while walking on foot. At certain significant spots on the mountain, the action will turn to pans over sky through the trees and generally slow down to focus on important elements within the scene.

Style: Casual style constant beat in background, subdued chords during slow focus sections

Footage will start from the bottom of the mountain, probably from the entrance coming up from the basin reserve and progress upwards in order of height but not necessarily in order of location. Footage will be shot at different times of the day from noon, to sunset, night, dawn and back to early morning for the final shot upon the summit. Filters during the day will focus on enhancing lighting, predominantly concerning the play of light from the sun coming through the trees during the sunset.

The main response that is planned to be evoked from the viewer is one of realizing the natural beauty of such a location, even within a dense city area. There are so many locations upon Mt. Victoria that can be used for this purpose, that it will be interesting to choose the right ones.