Music Video, HVX w/Nikons and raw Letus frame

Vern

Vern

Active member
So, I recently entered the world of lens adapters with this new project of mine. To anyone teetering with the idea of "splurging" on a lens adapter (I went with Letus), YOU WILL MAKE YOUR MONEY BACK ALMOST INSTANTLY.

Here's a music video I did for the band Mando Diao out of Sweden. It's a dance/rock video for their single. It's my first time using the Letus.

MVDanceStill-1.jpg


One thing that caught my aesthetic fancy is the raw framing that's made by the Letus when you're zoomed out. I'm not sure if anyone's used this effect intentionally, but I thought it looked cool, and it was one of the main ideas behind this video, and we ended up doing a lot of split screen with it.

I guess the most "impressive" part of this video is how many hours I spent (lost) editing it -- 95 hours. I incurred my first editing injury with a bruised wrist from too much mouse dragging. I made a wrist guard from an old sock I found behind the dryer and stuffed it with toilet paper. It was all done in FCP.

I'd love any comments or ideas or direct insults. Thanks everyone.

Here's the link, it's the first one you see:
http://www.thehobosoul.com/blog/
 
When I first read 95 hours and a hurt wrist editing I was wondering if you may have gone overboard for a music video but was I proved wrong. I am sorry for your injury but boy was that amazing!!! Really great job!
 
Great work and visual treatment.

I am surprised that it was only 95 hours of post!

Loved the music also.

BTW - what model Letus and what lens set was used?

(I am in the process of purchasing one right now so curious.)
 
That video is SICK! Awesome job man. I wish I had done that.
The song is awesome too.

How did the band respond to it? I bet they were pleased as hell.
 
great work! what was your post workflow like?

edit: just read your line about all being done in FCP. Do you have any BTS photos of the shoot?
 
I have to say this is not a very good video, the editing is really sub-par, the camera work also. Looks very unprofessional and nothing any music channel would ever pick up. With that said, I have to add that I am completely lying 100% and further more I want to say that this is one of the BEST videos I have ever seen on this site. It's very very good, looks amazing, the editing is PRO, the song is rad, and the concept is great! I have to say that this is very MTV2, Fuse, MTVu, etc, worthy. Were you commissioned by a label to make this video? Did you have to write a treatment? You should be able to get a lot more work from this video. Look at Endeavor Media, they've been posting video projects on this site for years and now they're doing really big videos! I think you guys have great things in store for you!! I'm sure you've already been working on some big projects, great work, my hat is off to you!

Nate Fackrell
the F A C K R E L L B R O T H E R S
www.thevaultla.com
 
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thanks for all the feedback!

We used the Letus Extreme with some Nikons -- mostly a 85mm 1.8 and we were going after a Richard Avedon look/feel.

We sorta did the video on spec. We've been working with the band on a feature doc project and they like us and asked us to take a stab at doing the music video for them. The label ended up loving it and it became their vid. Actually ended up getting the highest rotation on MTV in Europe or something. We're really stoked on it.
 
This is one of the only BTS photos I have. It's from the pickup day where we filmed all the people dancing etc. I'll see if i can get some from the main shoot day -- someone has them.
MandoBTSpickup1.jpg
 
One more from our second pick up day. I was amazed at our resourcefulness and the fact that nothing caught on fire.
IMG_2631.jpg
 
Wow. Very nice. If a music video should make you want to buy the CD, you've been successful. That lead singer's got the goods. I don't doubt you injured yourself making that. 95 hours seems quite reasonable length of editing time for all that's going on in that piece. Any ideas you can share with us on how you might save time in the future (workflow efficiencies, or...)?

BTW, love the photo from your driveway. Made me laugh. There are no rules!
 
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That's simply amazing.

How much did you storyboard and how much was "oh that's a good shot, I wonder if I can use it here.." sort of deal?

I for one want to hear how things were planned and what you took away from the shoot!
 
The most amount of time was spent "editing pixels". Just artwork upon artwork. I became really obsessive compulsive for the first time in my life. There's a couple spots in the video that I missed and I will be forever pissed off about those damn pixels.

Honestly, the biggest lesson I learned is: HIRE SOMEONE. Next time, I will hire an assistant editor right off to go through and sync everything for me and put together a proper stringout. That way, by the time I'm ready to do a Rough Cut, I'm not already water the lawn every 45 min (my default procrastination move) and completely over it. I feel my creativity would have been better if I was able to get passed the hours of initial leg work. Anyone want an assistant editor gig?
 
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