SHORT: 2 minute maker video

I found this quite satisfying. Brief, clean, informative. For the most part the subject pulls off the illusion of being unaware of the camera, and not staging the action. The only blip in this for me was the CU of the lacquer cloth at 1:30, which does feel somewhat directed.

Really enjoyed the setting, the simplicity, and the product. Nice work.

p.s. I hate hassling people but that guy's mom or wife should maybe hassle him about eye protection.
 
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Nice work!

The extreme close-ups were in equal measure self aware, playful and a surprising deviation from the more "objective" tone of the overall piece.

Great frames, pace and color. Good wardrobe change, too! ;)
 
@Charlie thanks for the feedback. Fair enough about the cloth at 1:30, I think I liked the dripping sound too much and thought it was a worthy payoff to hear it despite maybe staying on the cloth too long.

@Rafael, thanks! It was shot over two days, different weekends... happy to have the different clothes haha! With the extreme close ups, I think the sound is doing most of the work. In my head I just thought "blade", this will look good. Then of course it's moving so fast to where it's all a blur, something to keep in mind for future projects - what will things ACTUALLY look like. I've attached a photo to show what I mean. The still blade looks great, the moving blade is completely different. Although with the ECUs I don't mind how you just see a line moving across... 3 blades.jpg

@doubledark/charlie, I'll pass on the safety tips.
 
Very nice! It was so calming to see a video whose only audio was the rhythm of natural sound. (How did you record it? Just the on-camera mic? Sounded really clean.)

That quick montage of closer and closer shots of the cutting was, I think, inspired.

I will gladly take more of these than another video with ukelele music, effusive sound-bites, and ever-sliding camera moves.
 
Thanks for the comments.

Sound was an AT4053b (hyper cardioid) going into a sound devices 702 recorder. I had it on a c-stand with boom pole, which let me make adjustments easily around the workshop. It let me get height easily for the wides then as the shots got tighter I'd get the microphone closer and closer.

My single location made it easier for sound recording but I agree about videos that heavily rely on music. Because I committed to this format (sounds of the action only), it was a constant reminder to keep the edit as short as possible too.
 
Thanks for the info. Sounds like a good set-up for good sound.

rob norton said:
Because I committed to this format (sounds of the action only) . . .
Click to expand...

Why did you make such a commitment, might I ask? I think it's a fine choice, and I have seen other videos like it here and there. I'm just curious if there is some kind of story behind your commitment.
 
I could've added music after the fact so it's not really a commitment in that I would have had no other options, I just knew I wouldn't use music at all to begin with.

It's lame when people are so heavily reliant on the music. For example there are so many videos where if you turned the sound off they'd be complete garbage (they still are garbage with the sound on).

Imagine if you told Coldplay that their official music video was going to be a compilation of average wedding footage, they would be insulted... I think wedding videos are the biggest perpetrators in this regard, but who cares because it's better than facing the wrath of a bridezilla right? Sure there's a time and place for music with videos like mine, and musical options from artists who would probably be happy to have their stuff used in a video but in the end it was a gut feeling and I went with it.

You could say me going with the 2.35:1 aspect ratio or doing colour grading is a crutch similar to those including popular music so who knows maybe I'm just as bad as them!? I guess lines have to be drawn somewhere.
 
I really loved this! I know other people have said this but your use of sound was really, really immersive and felt organic. I also loved the natural color and feel of it, and the pacing and close ups lent it this nice feel that really carried across the craftsmanship and personalized nature of the carpenter's work. Really, really great.
 
Nice! Seemed really natural instead of like a scripted production. Also makes the viewer feel confident in the craftsmanship.
How did you do the shots where the wood shavings are flying at the camera? A flat glass protector placed in front of the camera?
 
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