Be Gentle

John Foundas

John Foundas

Well-known member
This is my first stand alone client project with the AF100.
I produced, shot, logged and edited this in 3 days. It's incomplete in two obvious spots.
Still getting comfortable with the camera. Be gentle.

http://vimeo.com/24669062
 
Couple things .. the audio is weird having all the dialog left and music right. You need to pan the dialog dead center.
If you have a compressor in your audio tool-suite .. use the dialog channel as the key signal and have it duck the
music while he's talking .. it won't be so obvious.

There's this Sephora powder that we use to take the shine off of bald(ing) heads that works great ..
the make-up people call it "freeze" .. but it works great .. may want to use that next time.

There's also a weird "photo" text at 0:38 or so .. The shots are good . some of the effects (particularly
on the architect guy) are a bit overdone (IMHO).

Other than that .. it's a very good first outing with the camera.

jeff
 
Thanks Jeff,

I'll look for the powder and make sure the audio is centered before delivery.
The "photo" texts are just place holders for photos to be added of "George" as a kid and in college.

Thanks again amigo!
 
A couple of things you can improve this draft with is to skip dissolves, do a proper audiomix with smooth transitions between music and syncaudio (sync in mono and music/fx in stereo), remove the B/W look and the one slowmotion walk, also you don't have to have the subject in picture more than enough time for a nametag the first time and maybe just have a short glimse of each from then on. A tip when you edit is to lay out a sound version first that gives you a complete draft of how timing and what is being said feels. Then on the second run add clips to cover gaps and talking heads.

On the next shoot I would have the camera closer to the one that asks questions so that the interview subject talks closer to the audience.
 
I think the quality of the video is good throughout. I found the numerous fade to blacks annoying. Maybe you want to change some of those to cross or additive dissolves.
I liked the concept.
 
The name of that Sephora stuff is amusingly "HD : High-definition powder" ... but it does take the shine off pretty good.
 
Using songs from Apple's soundtrack is a giveaway of "amateur" video. I'd buy a proper audio track if possible. Footage looks good, though!
 
ikander said:
Using songs from Apple's soundtrack is a giveaway of "amateur" video. I'd buy a proper audio track if possible. Footage looks good, though!
Click to expand...


Mmmmm? I'll use what's available to me.
If my client likes the track, they like the track. I think that statement about "amateur" was a bit off putting given the nature of the thread.
Remind me to show you the Emmy's I've won in the "amateur video" category.
 
Hey John all good but..

can I add a gentle suggestion.

Choose a BG and placement for your subjects carefully. Consider that the BG is as important as the subject. It has a story to tell as well.
What you were doing : selling "the house": is a good example and so you need to see "the house" maybe a little more clearly in some instances. (less DOF)

But primarily I wanted to say...dont let bgs become distractions from the subject by having stuff in them that doesnt need to be there. The eye naturally scans entire frames despite your focal interest, and it trys to work out what it can see. Odd things that look like "junk" are distracting whether sharp or in focus.

I am almost inclined to think that this "junk" is more distracting out of focus because we try harder to work out what it is.
 
Johnf said:
Mmmmm? I'll use what's available to me.
If my client likes the track, they like the track. I think that statement about "amateur" was a bit off putting given the nature of the thread.
Remind me to show you the Emmy's I've won in the "amateur video" category.
Click to expand...

I wasn't implying that you were an amateur (hence the quotes). I was implying that it makes your work sound amateur. That particular track has been used more times than you can shake a stick at.

Friendly advice. Sorry, if you took it wrong...didn't mean to offend. Best of luck. :-)
 
Like said above, great concept, needs a little polishing to make it "mmmmuhhh (hand to mouth gesture)" as the italians say. Has great potential to be very moving.

I am curious why you didn't use the art and photos as B-roll to place between the interview shots instead of the dissolves? Did you have a certain length you had to hit? I would have used the shots of the houses and rooms to reenforce what the people were saying.
 
Ryan-Guy said:
Like said above, great concept, needs a little polishing to make it "mmmmuhhh (hand to mouth gesture)" as the italians say. Has great potential to be very moving.

I am curious why you didn't use the art and photos as B-roll to place between the interview shots instead of the dissolves? Did you have a certain length you had to hit? I would have used the shots of the houses and rooms to reenforce what the people were saying.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ryan,

Yes there was a time constraint. Photos are still to be added in spots but now after the client has seen the first draft he wants to lengthen the piece and add more homes etc...yeah me!
The owners son hired me to produce a bio/tribute piece for his dad.

Thaks again

J
 
John,

for me, sequence starting around 1:20 is the strongest - the most cinematic and it really gets me excited about the house - I feel like I'm there and the customer testimony is credible. If it was me, I'd shift this to the front, then introduce the company that made this beautiful home possible (taking into account the other comments in this thread)
I don't care for the music - especially the electric guitars - seems a bit at odds with the fine ambiance of the home.
I'd go for simpler titles, and since the two Georges aren't famous - maybe identify their roles (owner and architect I assume)
The stills are nice, but I would sequence them to close at fairly pace, and I wouldn't group three in a frame.
I agree b/w slow mo should go, instead using as cutaways for a more consistent interview sequence with George.
Closing quote is killer - it makes me feel good about George - that he cares and is trustworthy.

Thanks for sharing...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top