HVX/M2 Reel of last couple of projects

[pdsage10]

So I finally put together a reel of some of my projects. A P51 mustang and Yf-22 Raptor really make the intro stand out. Take a look and let me know what you think.

**new modified version due to advice from your posts**9/8/07
(pc users right click and "save target as"/ for mac I think it is control click)
www.sage-productions.com/video/SageReel2.mov (http://www.sage-productions.com/video/SageReel2.mov)



Thanks

[jonnyh1968]

hmmm. Are you selling yourself as a director or cinematographer? I think there are merits to both in your reel but pick one and refine it. Irregardless, it seems a little drawn out and your stretched for footage. I think some shots (or shot concepts) only need half of the air time they are getting.

Good shots: Right, the very first shot you got is great. Shots 2 and 3 good but too long. The whole first segment good. Guys with pepsi can great. Couple at door good.

Bad shots: The two shots i'd remove for sure are the girl walking into the square light, and the red haired girl that you show twice. A little too much of the glowing girl scenes ... especially the early shot where her face is half lit but her dress is blown out - seems odd. I guess I'm most annoyed when I see the same shot twice - especially if it's not that great of a shot. Way too much of that ghost stuff - conceptually it's wearing thin.

But if your pitching as a director (which it seems you secretly might be) then I get the sense there's a lot of buried talent within you. You just need the footage?

[dcarstens]

Agreed with jonnyh's suggestions. Structurally, in addition to trimming down time spent on each shot, you might try creating a montage to close on. Since your aerial footage is certainly the strongest, a quick recap of projects would allow you to return to it without feeling like you're just repeating footage.

What's that music track?

[pdsage10]

Cool guys, thanks for the input. I see what you mean about some of the shots. This was my first pass at making a reel, so I figured I would put it up here and get some creative input on how to improve it.

To answer jonnyh1968: I am a director and cinematographer, but I wasnt sure how to build a reel that would display both of my skills. Wouldnt a directors reel just be a few scenes with some dialogue? I am not sure.

The music track is from The Island.

[Justin Marx]

I agree 100% with the posts above! GREAT STUFF! Love the planes.. did you really shoot jet to jet in the air? Also, what head/stix do you have?

[pdsage10]

I agree 100% with the posts above! GREAT STUFF! Love the planes.. did you really shoot jet to jet in the air? Also, what head/stix do you have?

The areal stuff was shot from a helicopter with no gyro and just a crappy sholder mount for the camera. The ground shots were done on a manfrotto 503 head and 351mvb2 sticks.

[pdsage10]

Ok so I took some of the advice posted above and recut some of the reel and added some new material. Some of the shots I just had to keep, you know how it is hard not to fall in love with your own stuff :)

New link to footage is in first post at the top of the page. Keep the comments coming, I can always use more creative input from you guys.
Thanks

[emu]

Nice footage, but I don´t think, that the music is a good choice.
When I here this music I must think automaticelly on the very impressive shots of Micheal Bay´s "The Island": this is the music where all clones got free and in this last scene the music supports that feeling very well (there were lot´s of helicopter shots and close ups in slowmo with the nice details what was very emotional in cinema).

In your reel, the music plays a little beside the images (I miss the unity between images and music). The beginning was good, but then it drifts a little away. Maybe it would help to cut it a little faster with more footage. A nice speedramp in the motorcycle shots could also help to make it look more interesting.

But that is only my 2 cents - the footage itself was very good but on the editing side I would change some things.

[pdsage10]

Emu- thanks for taking the time to watch and leave feedback. I really like your idea of ramping the speed on the dirtbike footage.

[pdsage10]

Ok, so made a few more changes and added some new footage in the middle. Let me know what ya think.