The Hungarian Government wanted to build a new bridge and a road through a residential area and a forest of Budapest which resulted in a city planning conflict between local communities and the road project. We created a series of short explainer videos for the campaign of the Hungarian Green Party.
It featured a politician who was personally involved in the local community which was campaigning against the new ‘Galvani bridge’ project. Many organizations, individuals and local communities raised their voices. Eventually the government stepped back.
More Cars in the City?!
What we learned from it?
- Chances to win a city planning conflict can look slim at the beginning of a campaign against large projects of governments. But as you start to be visible by the public, new forces notice you and come to reinforce your efforts.
- Never lose your sense of humor. For example, we created video content which highlighted the hidden aspects of the project. We filmed a great rust zone which is located next to the proposed highway and then created a ‘money rain’ in animation above the field. This scene explained the real estate speculation behind the Galvani project.
- Be as personal and informal as you can. This will make the explainer videos more entertaining. We even recorded off the camera talks during a bicycle ride with our main character and used them in the videos (with his approval).
- Never let your main character read up text in front of the camera. Make them speak out of their own thoughts.
- Do interviews with the characters before the actual shooting so you understand what he or she has to say. Then on camera just remind him or her what she wanted to speak about and prompt her to speak freely.
- Make the video short! If you have a complicated topic, such as campaigns in city planning conflicts, then split it up in parts and make a video series.
- Be entertaining. People will watch and share your video if they enjoy it.
- Be absolutely clear. Explain everything from the start.
- Use animation only when it is needed. Animation is expensive. Manipulate video images with animation instead of creating animation only scenes.
- It is never you who wins. It is an organic process that you are part of.