60-second TV intro sequence - comments welcome!

Sean Michael

Sean Michael

Well-known member
Here's an intro sequence for a TV project I'm working on.

This is in "draft" format (still got titles to add) but you'll get the idea.

I'm trying to create a "vintage" feel for this sequence. It doesn't have to be a 100% period piece, but something that calls to mind the past. Any tips would be appreciated.

It's a 19MB WMV file.

http://www.walkaboutclub.com/clubintro.wmv
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I thought it looked good. The one thing that set me off a bit though was the house, I'm not sure if it was the way it was shot, how it was handled in post, or just even the house it self but it definitely didn't seem very "vintage" to me. But other than that everything else looked good. Good Luck!
 
Thanks for your feedback. Good point about the house. I will consider whether we need a different location shot. Like I said, everything doesn't have to be vintage....it's a modern show with a "retro" spirit.
 
The look was great, the car shots, and the house ext. shots were amazing!

I think if you wanted to make it more fintage would be to add a bit more treble to your audio track to make it sound like it came from a phonograph or something... and maybe more scratches? I don't know. I like it how it is though. The music is pretty good too, where'd you find it?
 
Thanks dj! I must admit, I was proud of the external house shots....those were among the first shots done with my newly-built Rowe dolly. :thumbsup:

The music is Bolero by Ravel. Classic British march... Check out this link for royalty free stock music:

Stock Music of Ravel - Bolero
 
I've watched this clip about ten times and I think I've finally nailed what's bugging me. Take this "as is" constructive criticism...

I think the car and house exteriors work well - and the music is fun 1960's British BBC. The interior cu's don't work for me the way they are presented. You have a great eye for composition - GO WITH THAT!!! You need to establish the correlation between the guy in the car and what's happening in the house. I think it would be cool to replace the fountain shot with a reveal of a mysterious woman in a vintage red dress walking down a hallway towrd the den away from the camera. Now that you have established the man in the car and the woman in the house, you can be creative and have fun cutting between the two scenes... The guy in the car... an elegant hand throws some ice into a low-ball glass... guy in car... cu of elegant hand pouring scotch... guy in car... woman walking toward humidor... guy pulls up in front of house... woman cast a suggestive glance out the window... cu of the woman lighting the cigar... guy enters den... then your big reveal - same dolly, but have the guy with the cigar with the woman seductively standing behind him "The Walkabout Club".

I would also bracket in a little everytime you go back to the shot of the guy in the car to envoke some suspense.

I may be totally off the mark with what you're trying to accomplish, but I get the feel of a cool, 1960's Playboy Mansion, James Bond, Explorer's Club feel.
 
I must admit, I don't really get a sense of what the show is supposed to be about until the title comes up at the very end. I like Davecon's suggestions -- I think his idea would be more interesting visually. But, I think what's missing, overall, is a connection between the show theme/topic/cotent and the intro -- as a TV viewer, I should get some idea of what the show is going to be about from the initial open that's -- hopefully -- going to hook me in.
 
Ms. Manhattan, the concept is a humorous travel show, with its headquarters being called The Walkabout Club. A few clues are planted--the passport, the spinning globe. I think that over time, the nature of the show will become clear (think the intro of Six Feet Under...general images of life & death, without a lot of exposition).

Davecon...you completely nailed it! You may be interested to learn that we shot footage of a "seductive female" at the house (but to make a long story short, we were racing against the setting sun, and lost). I plan to reshoot the female's scenes and redit this piece.

Your comment about "losing the fountain shot" is well taken. You know how it is...we fall in love with the lighting, etc. of a shot and keep it, when prudence dictates we toss it in favor of something else. Consider it hacked.

The "Explorer's Club / Playboy Mansion" comment is spot on. That tells me we're on the right track. I'm going to keep tinkering with this ... stay tuned for "version 2.0" and thanks to all for your feedback!!!!! :beer: :beer: :beer:
 
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