A scene from our first feature....

Adam J McKay

Adam J McKay

Veteran
I decided to post this in here VS the thread I have in the user films section because I am going to be restarting that thread in the coming weeks. Anyway, I just figured I would share a preliminary edit/grade of scene 52.

 
My only criticism would be (for my taste) just no reason for handheld in most of those shots. Prime example being the opening shot of them entering. You're not following anybody, there's no reason to use handheld for dramatic effect, why wouldn't you shoot that from a tripod instead of having the camera floating all over the place?
 
^ That was my only critique as well. It was a little distracting. Agreed about the organic look though - well achieved.

Kegan
 
I thought the steady handheld shots worked fine. Maybe I view things the opposite as most here but I think you need to justify a locked off shot as the exception, not the norm. If there isn't a good reason to lock it off, don't do it. Probably just me :)
 
Snazzy Flapper said:
I thought the steady handheld shots worked fine. Maybe I view things the opposite as most here but I think you need to justify a locked off shot as the exception, not the norm. If there isn't a good reason to lock it off, don't do it. Probably just me :)
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Not JUST you, but not the norm either I don't think.

In my aesthetic movement is created either with a dolly/slider, crane, pan/follow from the sticks, etc... or through editing. You only ever use handheld if there is a very specific storytelling reason to do it or there is just no possible way to get the shot otherwise. Doesn't mean right/wrong, just a taste thing I think.
 
Snazzy Flapper said:
I thought the steady handheld shots worked fine. Maybe I view things the opposite as most here but I think you need to justify a locked off shot as the exception, not the norm. If there isn't a good reason to lock it off, don't do it. Probably just me :)
Click to expand...

Totally agree with you, by the way.

I don't see anything wrong with the handheld here ,and focus is being pulled quite well. Comps are decent. I think the 2.35:1 bothers me, but the handheld certainly does not.

Well done.
 
Adam J McKay said:
I decided to post this in here VS the thread I have in the user films section because I am going to be restarting that thread in the coming weeks. Anyway, I just figured I would share a preliminary edit/grade of scene 52.

Click to expand...

While I'm not a fan of 'handheld'... and fortunately there wasn't 'shaky cam'... the thing that bothered me the most was the on the nose, expository dialog...For example... there was mention of the mother's penchant for 'orderliness'... I would have had a shot with the 'orderly cupboard contents', and perhaps a very brief 'she never changed', or 'as always'... or 'just like mom'... etc.

Since the couple are coming into to the house 'exploring', I'd have more exploring shots, rather than fixed on the couple and their dialog.
 
Thanks for the feedback. To speak to the handheld, there are 2 distinct parts of this story and that take place in 2 very different locations. We decided early on that everything that takes place in Toronto was going to be cold and locked off, where as everything that takes place in the North was going to be warm and handheld. I am going to be doing my full write up in the coming weeks in a new thread. I also totally agree that the dialogue is a little on the nose, if I could go back and re shoot it I would do things a little differently, but such is the challenge with making films.
 
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