Trailer from my first DVX film

T

thewill

Member
Hello all...

A bit intimidating posting something here but here goes. I shot my first film ever...and it may have been insane but it was a feature doc. in Africa. I got the DVX 100B and went to Angola for six weeks and got a hell load of footage. I'm cutting a rough right now and learning everything as I go. Any feedback and advice would be much appreciated. I got much of story I wanted there and am looking to find archive footage to create the chaotic wartime environment that the story takes place under. What is a somewhat affordable way to get archive war footage on a protected and foreign war? Thanks for any thoughts and feedback. I will continue to make films so although we do plan on distributing the film I also look at it as the mother of all learning experiences and am open to any and all criticism. That is a crash test in filmmaking. Our next project is a short narrative.

Thanks and here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Ck9xSq4y8

Will
 
Your asked for constructive critism.

Your asked for constructive critism.

Generally it has a nice look and heart and does what any trailer should do ie intrigue the audience into watching which I think to some extent it does succesfuly. I do however hope you have a story because if you have lots of footage without a planned story then editing will be tough. I thought the sound was good and it seemed to have layers which helped create an interesting atmosphere. I felt the repeating of the term witchdoctor was unnessecary and thought there needed to be more progression of an idea.

Its a personal thing and I dont use final cut but i recognise the typeface, and i will be honest I hate it, seen it so much and I dont think its very attractive. I would think to use a less used typeface and do somehting creative with it and subtle. I personally would ofset the typeface and not have it central in a typical straight to video way, maybe blending it with appropriate footage like for example the zoom on the horizon.

I dont normally give much feedback but wanted to as this kind of global documentray filmaking is my interest. Good luck with the editing and hope it goes well, James :beer:
 
I think your really into something here, the trailer looks great, and the last scene when the boy is crying really struck me.
 
The "witchcraft" recurring a bunch of times was the idea i had that, perhaps, didn't come across clearly. Up until that point in the trailer nobody has mentioned it, and as that is what the story is ulitmately about- children being accused of witchcraft- i figured i would introduce the idea quickly and with velocity by having a bunch of kids saying it consecutively so as to let the audience know what the film will be about and the expanse of it. All the kids...maybe if I had more of them and have them overlap and sped up a bit it will have the effect I wanted? Any thoughts anyone? Maybe the idea can't be carried out outside of my mind but I'd like to give it another shot. I should also have a high res trailer up soon as soon as I figure out how to do that.

Yeah...thanks on the typeset point. It's true....I'm learning as I go and haven't had a chance to find some interesting typeset for the title and other writing...I'm hoping to have an artist design the title sequence for the actual film which I will also use in the trailer.

Also, thank you for the concern on the story. Yes i do have a concrete story and am right now dancing the fine line, reconciling the actual footage with the story that exists in my conciousness. Trying to find the story that is inherent in the footage and doesn't need a heavy handed manipulation. It's fun and frustrating and takes a long time but the footage itself teaches me so much about where it wants to go...If I may be so new age-ey.

Anyone else have any critical feedback. Irks and whatnot.

Thanks again. I consider these comments with weight. Much appreciated.

will
 
TuTuHimm said:
I think your really into something here, the trailer looks great, and the last scene when the boy is crying really struck me.
Click to expand...

Right there with you -- that hit me too. I really would like to see this.

The only thing I would have liked to see in the trailer was possibly seeing a clip of the ones accusing - the "they" in "they accused me". Just to give the viewer a glimpse of the "bad guys" and "good guys". Does that make sense?
 
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