AC130: 2012 TRANS AM Mini Documentary with AC130 Question?

A

ashclever

Well-known member
If this is not a good place post this question, Happy to post it in a better section with a little guidance of where. Thanks!

Hey guys, so I am in the midst of having to finish a mini documentary for TRANS AM DEPOT here in Tallahassee Florida. They are the exclusive worldwide licensee of the 2012-2013 TRANS AM. It is a very exciting project and the largest most complex one I have had the opportunity to create to date. Also, I have never made a mini-doc! It has primarily been filmed with the AC130 along with additional footage from a couple of T3i's and a GoPro.

So here is what I was wondering, our initial plan was to make a 7-10min video for web promotion. There is a lot of interesting stuff here and it is looking like upon my first base layout, it could run a good 13 or 14 min. and still not have gone over all the topics as in depth as I feel they could have gone, while still being very entertaining. Please believe me that I am trying to be insanely picky as whether I still feel like it has good momentum to run that long. So, even if it was entertaining from start to finish and ran a little under 15min., is that too long for something like this to gain traction for plenty of plays on youtube? Also, and this is why I posted this question here, has anyone using the the AC130 or AC160 seen their footage blown up on a theatre screen? Does it hold up? I would be interested to see if I could possibly enter it into some festivals...

Obviously, this is an opinion thing, but for those of you that have done their share of promotional content, commercials, and/or documentaries primarily focused for web, advice is much appreciated. :)

If curious, this is the first video I made for them as an intial promo vid to just show off the cars and that they exist.

 
ashclever said:
ran a little under 15min., is that too long for something like this to gain traction for plenty of plays on youtube? Also, and this is why I posted this question here, has anyone using the the AC130 or AC160 seen their footage blown up on a theatre screen? Does it hold up?
Click to expand...

Here is my take on mini docs, I prefer allot of small vignettes each with a purpose, so it does not get boring. I find that the average person will only watch someone else's video for 1-3 minuets. Then after having many small footages, I might link them into one long video tail to head so it tells the complete story. I like a story for there is a purpose to it the viewer then knows there will be something at the end. So to answer your question I feel that 15 min is way too long. As for the footage blown up, as long as you are shooting full 1080 in the highest quality should be fine. However if you are going to go full size I am assuming you will be using a HD player and blue-ray and not a compressed version or your final work.

Also your footage looks great nice camera work!!!!
 
Thanks for the advice. Well, I think my client would be okay with splitting it at least in to a part 1 and part 2. I think then, we would be looking at maybe two 7min clips if I can keep it to 14min. I don't think he wants to cut it up more than that, at least not for this first one.

This looks like it will be turning into an ongoing thing in some fashion or form as there is a larger production company out LA coming down next month to film a sizzle reel to pitch as a reality show. They are planning to use some of my edited work from both the mini doc and the first promo vid you watched above, along with having access to my raw footage. Giving them access to all my material to make the sizzle reel better as they will only be here for 2 days to collect footage, was part of my pitch to still move forward with making this initial mini doc even though the other production company was already scheduled to come. While they promise to give me credit for the footage and edits of mine they use, does anyone have some advice on what I should look out for to protect myself. Another words, are there precautions I should take to ensure I still have the right to show this footage as mine on my site and also to make sure my name is associated with the footage they use for the show? Me being one of their regular camera operators seems very likely based on the interest they are expressing to the first video so I am looking to develop a running relationship with them.

Thanks again for the knowledge!
 
As for your question about precauations I use custom made forms unless I get a sign off before I start any video projects. My version is all the footage is mine and they are leasing it, same as photos we take. I can use the footage as long as I do not profit from it (sell it directly). This way I can use it for promotional items website hand out etc. And my name company must always be given credit if the footage is used by someone else. I have everyone that will be in it sign a release (just to protect me). Now if you have not had anyone sign any forms, then now is not the time.

This is just what I do, I would guess other have onther ways they conduct business.

From what I see you do very nice work, I hope your cleint see's this.
 
Hey thanks! That info gives me couple of ideas. I know there are all the options in the world out there on how to handle this type of stuff and nothing is cut and dry but, a few pointers here and there like this are much apprecitated in getting heading in the right direction.

Thanks for checking out the video. If curious, even though I did a lot of color grading to it, all the shots in that first video started as one of the Barry Green scene files that came with his book. I know most people like to try and achieve the flattest look right out of the gate on their scene file for the most flexibility in the color grading, but I actually have been enjoying starting off in a direction I like with a baked in scene file look and then going nuts on color grading it. That is just what I have been doing lately, might change, but really happy with this method currently.

I will be sure to post this mini doc when it is up and running as well. Loving the AC-130! I am also pleasantly surprised how good the T3i footage is coming out to splice with it. I used the T3i's a lot more with this project than the last so I had more to compare too. They are amazing little B-cams for extra footage that in some cases, I like the look of even better than the AC-130......in some cases. The AC-130 is so much more versatile though and capable of being a lot sharper. Also, sound is directly linked to the vid making it so, so, so, much easier and quick to work with in the edit.


Thanks again,
Ash
 
Hi ashclever,

I watched your video with interest as I do have a fascination with American Hero cars, but found myself quite bored about half way through.

Upon reflection I thought it concentrated more on the quality of the filming than on the cars themselves.

Very little sound (of the V8s?) to get the senses going, except for several shots in the intro, and far too many repeated or similar shots of cars going down the road.

Not many shots of interiors or showing the different features of the cars. Maybe some quick vocal grabs from the builders about their aim of producing the cars etc.

Yes, I thought you could cut one song out, and edit it MUCH tighter and show more of the cars at the same time.

Don't wish to put your filmaking down, as there are some great shots in there, but as I'm 62 and interested and you couldn't keep my attention, I think you got "buckleys" to try and keep the attention of the younger generation on youtube if you leave this at 15minutes.

Just my point of view.

Good Luck and cheers,

Vaughan
 
Hey, no worries Vaughen, appreciate the constructive criticism. Just to be clear and make sure you do know, the video you watched is not part of the Mini-Doc. I feel pretty confident that at least as far as all the tech info from the makers of the cars along with engine sounds you requested, will be covered in the MINI DOC which is sitting on very different platform than the above soft sale piece. But, I can only get so technical with the mini doc as well in 15 minutes which has now officially, through a discussion with the client, will be released in two parts so you don't have to watch it all at once. Also, you can decide if you would like to continue at all. Obviously, I hope the first half will get you enthralled enough to carry onward. This will be the first video I have released in two parts so I am intersted to see how many plays the second part acquires in comparison to the second part.

However, regardless of all that, I still understand your recommendations of how you would have executed the soft sale piece above differently. After sitting on that piece for a couple of months, I myself too, could see it being a tad shorter. Maybe not as much as you would cut yourself, but of course that is the beauty of different artist exploring thier own styles and niches. I will Keep you words in mind as I review where the MINI DOC is currently sitting in it's last days of the edit.

Thanks again
 
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