https://www.californiamuseum.org/gold-mountain

Director: Felicia Lowe

Producers: Felicia Lowe, Kevin White

Gold Mountain: Chinese Californian Stories at The California Museum explores how Chinese immigrants came to California in search of a better life, then stayed and helped to build the modern state. In doing so over the last 150 years, they triumphed over racism and other obstacles with ingenuity and perseverance.

FCSF Executive Director Kevin White’s production company, Full Frame Productions, partnered with Lowedown Productions to produce 21 videos in four viewing environments for the museum’s interactive video stations.

Client:

The California Museum

Agency:

West Office Exhibits

Goal:

To create a video exhibit for The California Museum that highlights the contributions of early Chinese immigrants, pioneering figures of the 20th century, and the diversity of modern Chinese Californians.

Strategy:

Create a series of videos where museum visitors are engaged through a unique blend of illustration, archival material, video, and motion graphics.

Audience:

High school and middle school students (core audience); college students, educators, and families (secondary audience).

Approach:

The historical videos combined illustration, archival material, video, and motion graphics to bring viewers into the dynamic stories. Through this style, we were able to add a layer of depth to the stories, while also making the information digestible for visitors. The videos profiling modern Chinese Californians used a vertical style and candid video footage to draw upon a selfie aesthetic, creating a conversational atmosphere for viewers.

Impact:

These videos educate visitors about the history and diversity of Chinese Californian experiences. Gold Mountain: Chinese Californian Stories continues to be on view as a permanent exhibit and is expected to attract 175,000 visitors each year.