First Music Video - Selfish Minds

[ponder8n]

I completed most of the editing for my first music video. It was all shot on the DVX100. I used the standard F5 settings.

I'm polishing it now with the final touches and tweaks. I would love to hear you thoughts, comments, likes, dislikes, etc.

http://www.toppup.com/greyskull

Thanks,
Russell

[Mike_Donis]

I really liked the desaturated, high contrast look of the outdoor sequences (with the car)...had a "bleach bypass" look to it.

I didnt think that much of the snap zoom adjustments worked....it was clearly deliberate, but they didnt seem to be uniform enough to come across that way to the average viewer...my two cents...

But again, I really liked the desaturated colour pallete during the outdoor footage. It looked great!

[Mark_Monciardini]

what did you use to make the storyboard?

[J.R. Hudson]

Watch out Ponder! That's a trick question! :P

[Carrington Benz]

That is a pretty cool looking storyboard you got there 8)

I dont storyboard nuttin'.. . on paper a least - it all goes on in my head.

[cinebuddy]

Good job!!! Shit looked hot to me! Your average viewer doesn't know what the hell a snap zoom is anyway.

[J.R. Hudson]

:D

Don't doubt the audience's ability to sense something is off!

[jaronheard]

i really liked the shot of the feet walking down the railroad tracks near the end.

[PurposeDriven]

I agree with the snap zoom thing, it looked off a bit. But like the other guy says, most people don't know or realize that one. Nice storyboards, I'm curious as well to know what you used. I hope not photoshop, would have taken ya a while. ;D

Cheers

[ponder8n]

I used a program called Storyboard Quick (http://www.powerproduction.com). It provides the easy method of setting up people shots. It allows you to rotate them and position them easily.

Thanks for everyone's comments. I do have multiple takes on this, and can easily remove most of the snap zoom effects. I really like the ones that snap to the beat of the music, and may keep those.

Thanks,
Russell

[ExFilms]

Looks awesome. Very evident that you put a lot of work into it. Good pacing and the story is nicely woven in with the performance. Looking forward to see your final cut. :)

[Guest]

That's a great video. Keep up the good work. By the way are you from Texas? I could have sworn the plates on the car were from Texas. If so where? I live in Houston and havent met too many people that have even used a DVX 100 yet. So any advice would be great.

Kris

[darmanb]

Hats off!

I just saw the clip. Great work! Great scenes!
Only one remark: I personaly think you could use a bit
more light in the band playing scene? It looks good but it's a BIG change when the scene jumps from band to outdoor and back.
Otherwise: very good!

[DVX100Shooter]

I agrre with Carrington, I don't storyboardd anything either. I have been shooting News and Entertainment stories for about 10 yrs now. So I am good with putting together a sequence in my head or in post providing I have all the shots that I need.

I cannot comment on the video yet because I am at work but I will comment when I get home.

I use snap zooms all the time but it is knowing when to use them and how to use them that will make a difference in your piece. For example you can slo mo your snap zoom to give your video that blurred to in focus look. Or, you can just use it at regular speed.

The thing about being a good camera operator is being able to think on your feet. Being able use good judgement on shot selection and being able to shoot certain things in a such a way that when you go to edit all of the elements are there.

[shAi]

zooms looked ok.. can't see any problem with it
nice professional work... i'm also a fan of these grey outdoors on the railroad

[ponder8n]

Thanks for everyone's comments. Great stuff. I took most of the feedback and made some changes--removed some of the random snap zooms and tightened up the edits. You can see the third version edit on the same link. We have some more tweaks, but it's moving along nicely.

As for the comment about lightening up the band singing, we purposely lit to contrast the band playing the storytelling. We wanted it to be obvious what was band singing and what was storytelling, since the key actor in the storytelling is the lead singer.

Yes, I'm from Texas. I'm based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. It should be obvious I was from Texas. Everyone here drives huge, 1967 convertible Caddilacs. I just left off the horns on the front. :)

Russell

[DVX100Shooter]

I just got done watching it and I liked the video for the most part. I now see what people were talking about with the snap zooms. To me it looked like the camera operator wasn't sure of his shot and kept fooling with the zoom ring while the the camera was in record. What I mean is that some of the snap zooms were more jittery than an actual smooth snap zoom. I like how you used the exterior of that donut shop as a set for the band! That was pretty cool. The story line wasn't bad either I was able to follow it with no problem. Now did it take you a long time to match up the lip snyc to the Master?

[David Jimerson]

Your average viewer doesn't know what the hell a snap zoom is anyway.

The average viewer DOES, however, know when he/she is getting nauseous.

;) ;)

Not that these rose to that level, but it was a little distracting for me, too. You did say that it's a rough edit, so no harm, no foul. You can recut it.

I didn't particularly care for the song, but I do like videos with cinematic elements, a story being told, like classic '80s videos. Little films with a soundtrack, and especially those with an irony at the end like this one.

And the shots were definitely cinematic. You've got the eye, so I can only imagine the improvements with your next project, your next, your next, etc . . .

[APDieb]

Russell,

I liked the video a lot. I did not find the snap zooms to be distracting at all. I actually found them very much in line with what I see on many videos out these days. I agree that you have a very good eye for your shots. First music video...Very nicely done.

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media
"D/FW, Texas"

[Jeffry]

I looked at v.3 of your video and I think it is much improved. I think the snap zooms look good now, and overall the video is excellent.

For the record - I really like the song, too.

[jaredalv]

Visually: great job. *Nice color and color corr. *In my mind the beauty haze kind of conflicts with the type of music as does the pace of the visuals. *Seems like everything should be grungier and going faster along with the music. *Especially when the beat goes to the double-time piece. Shots like the car turning the corner and pulling up to the tracks seem to kinda hang there a little too long. *Maybe you could throw in more xtreme close-ups of fingers on the strings, sticks flying, bass drum kickin', lips singing, etc. *Just my $.02.

Snap zooms didn't bug me because they seemed to be 'fast' along with the tempo.

As far as capturing some nice footage and having great lighting, great exposure, all is great, sound is great. *Really the images you shot are very, very nice. *Awesome job on the lip synch as well. *The actors and band members also do great. *I also like the band's setting. *Outside the donut shop! *Cool.

Long live storyboards!

Chico

[Guest]

hey where can we buy the cd?

[J.R. Hudson]

VERSION 3

Excellent. I love it. Great song and great combination of performance and conceptual. Great use of editing and post really compliment your work.

Nice.

[strancali]

Russel, i really like the final edit. I think it's perfect the way it is. I have one question for you. Is this a new band or do they already have cds out already? Can you reply so we know? I would like to buy this song, it's great! Let me know.

Thanks,
Sid

[bRAD]

Russell - We can't thank you enough for the work you put into the video. Stellar job! (if you haven't seen version 4, check it out - http://www.toppup.com/greyskull)

For those that like the song...thank you. That makes us very happy. :) The CD will be out in a month or so. You will be able to pick it up here: http://www.greyskull.tv.

Thanks,
brad

[strancali]

cool brad, i'll buy one from you guys when its out but can you please sign my copy! haha