Project Overview
Vancouver Ondo is a dance group that performs at the Sakura Days Festival, held every April at VanDusen Botanical Garden. In 2025, we performed at the final event on the first day, dancing from the stage in the center of the garden to the entrance, along with attendees and other groups performing at the event that day.
Vancouver Ondo did not have anyone specifically capable of videography and editing, so they were looking for someone with those skills. Having studied Premiere Pro and After Effects in college, I explained my expertise in editing and was entrusted with the role. I also received permission to include my work in their portfolio.
Problem Statement
The video was to be uploaded to Vancouver Ondo's Instagram account. Therefore, the video had to be no longer than one minute. Furthermore, the video needed to be uploaded both before and after the Sakura Days Festival event.
The purpose of streaming the video before the festival was different from that of streaming it after the festival. The video before the festival was intended to promote the exhibit. To get as many people as possible to participate, it's important to highlight how enjoyable the event and initiative was. On the other hand, after the event, the goal is to convey the joyful memories and healing experiences of the event.
To clarify this distinction, I needed to keep in mind why I was shooting the video and what I wanted people to know or communicate when filming and editing it.
My Role
The primary tools used for this project were Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After Effects.
My responsibilities were photography, videography, and editing. I edited the photo and video content in Premiere Pro and added animation in After Effects. I also used Photoshop to crop still images and edit the cropped content to create the captivating screenshots at the beginning of the video. Finally, I thought it would be best to create a logo for Vancouver Ondo that matched the image, so I used Illustrator to achieve that.
Concept & Creative Direction
For the Vancouver Ondo video, I was asked to create two versions: one for the pre-event and one for the post-event. As I was creating the videos, I noticed some similarities and differences between the two.
Core Theme: Festive Fun
They're both festivals, so they're undoubtedly fun events. Therefore, I thought it was important to create a fun atmosphere for the viewer.
Distinct Objectives
The pre-event video serves the purpose of advertising, encouraging people to participate in the festival. Therefore, the video needed to convey the atmosphere of the festival, including when and where it was held.
On the other hand, the post-event video focused on gratitude. Based on that, I thought it was important to express appreciation to those who participated, and I included that message in the video.
Process
Because the objectives were different, I focused on creating videos tailored to those specific goals. For the pre-event video, I selected and created content based on materials provided by the organizers or stock photo websites to suit promotional goals.
For the post-event video, I focused on conveying the sense of realism that only my own personal experience of attending the event could convey. I thought this would help viewers understand what the actual festival was like.
Technically, I used Adobe software for trimming unnecessary parts and creating dynamic thumbnails in Photoshop to ensure the still images felt energetic and engaging.
Final Output
Two videos were selected for social media:
- Pre-Event Video: Focused on advertising and event information.
- Post-Event Video: Focused on highlights and memories.
Results & Impact
We received positive feedback for both versions. Regarding the pre-event video, viewers mentioned that the content made them want to participate, and the clear information about the date and location helped them decide to attend without hesitation. I was pleased that the video fulfilled its promotional role as intended.
Furthermore, the post-event video resonated emotionally with the audience. Some people noted that it served as a fond memory and a source of healing in their hearts.
Reflection / Key Learnings
One area for improvement was being more specific about the target age range. While the organizers were welcoming to everyone, I believe I could have created a higher-quality video if I had developed my own persona based on the previous year's content rather than just following a general "all ages" approach.
On the other hand, I am glad I could apply the Premiere Pro and After Effects skills I learned in college to a real-world project. This opportunity allowed me to move beyond classroom assignments and put my knowledge of subtitles and presentation techniques to practical use. I intend to continue improving these skills in the future.