Opinions Please: My Demo Reel

They Live

They Live

Well-known member
Okay guys. This is my first Demo Reel montage out of college. Let me know what you all think. The compression shouldn't be too bad, it's my first time out with that as well.

EDIT: I should note that this is just a montage I'm using that autoplays on my Demo Reel DVD before getting to the actual reel, that includes a 5 minute award winning short I did, as well as scenes from 2 other shorts. So this isn't my Demo Reel per se, rather my Demo Reel montage piece.

Thanks,
Ben

Right click and save
http://dvx-ben.dvxdata.com/DVX-BenDemoReel1.mov
 
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A Few Comments

A Few Comments

Overall the demo reel had a nice pace to it, accented well by the music. There were some minor issues I had with it. A lot of the footage look too much like video, and while some shots had remarkably cool composition, others kind of left me flat.

The movies seemed to get less and less serious as time went on perhaps you should go between serious and funny to shake things up. Also, Forest Fire was the least interesting and captivating of the bunch. I suggest cutting it out all together.

On a positive note the more dramatic movies look really good. The acting could use some work on Dark Lucy, unless that's the style. Taste of Evil has such a cool, grainy look to it. Overall it was the one that left me most curious.

The ketchup lighting was awsome, BTW! The style on Jam was refreshing and a lot of fun.

Overall a very interesting reel. You are a telnted filmmaker! I hope my comments helped, and I hope this reel gets you some work.

-Michael
 
Thanks a lot Michael.

I understand what you are saying about the video look. But bottom line is, it's video, none of it was shot on film, and its compressed on top of that. It was my first go around with trying to compress for the web, and I've found that H.264 seems to wash things out a lot and take away some of the colors. Something I'll have to look into. Its hard when you don't have a DP too. Here's what I shot everything with:

Pilgrims - DVX-100A
Taste of Evil, Dark Lucy - DVX-100B
Forest Fire, JAM - Sony PD-100

Interesting point on things getting less and less serious though. I'll take that into consideration.

And the acting in Dark Lucy is supposed to be over the top. It's a dark comedy, and my first attempt at cloning, which probably didn't come across in the montage. But the shots with the two waitresses are cloned shots, i.e. the actress is playing both roles. This was a big challenge for me as a director and for the actress, but she did a really good job. Still, you don't know all that and the acting looked like it did, so that's something I'll think about.

Thanks again.

All the Best,
Ben
 
im downloading it now, but wow, its taking one hellova long time...

okay just finished watching.

this is going to be really really hard to critique after watching the short video "Graphic" a few posts underneath, which was insanely well done.

but what i can say is that you definately have an original style and look. Just from your framing and so on, and editing. Lighting was not always that well done as alot of your images looked very flat. Try in the future to vary your lighting by using higher contrast lighting, maybe 16:1 ratio. Would give your stuff a bit more crunchy dirty feel.

the mirical whip, haha good stuff.
 
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