Documentary Clip - Traveling Campus Preacher

Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells

Well-known member
Hi all

I've begun work on a documentary that follows a traveling confrontational campus preacher. The footage was filmed for testing and to put together a demo - I hope to raise funds and go filming with a crew in Fall 09 (instead of just me run-and-gun).

I cut together a short 6 minute video w/ some of the stuff I've filmed so far. I'd appreciate comments & suggestions. I'm really wondering if people find the subject interesting enough to watch a longer piece. This is more of a slower section - there certainly will be more charged/energetic scenes.

Just to warn - the content is a bit offensive. Link below:

http://vimeo.com/4469071
or
http://exposureroom.com/fec90fefda5b4b7687f530491ed8b5c8/
 
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Not sure if the content would wrap me up enough to watch a feature length doc on it, but he seems like a good character to focus on (crazy people are that way generally), and I do like the shooting and editing style thus far. Looks like a great use of the XH-A1 in a run & gun style, too (it's my favorite camera for such things and am planning on using a couple for a Doc on the more extreme personalities in the Rock Climbing community that I have in Pre-Pro right now, along with having used them for multiple short form pieces in a similar style to yours).

Actually, after watching it again, get it made and I'll buy a copy on DVD at full price, and I'm a cheap bastard when it comes to buying docs these days and not just waiting for them to land on Netflix. If you can't raise the funds for a crew, go Rebel on it and just go solo Run & Gun if you're willing, I think that such a style may actually ADD to the overall feel of the look at this main. Just as long as it stays objective instead of an advertisement for him, that'll be the test as to whether it has the potential to be great, any subjectivity would absolutely ruin this look at him in my opinion (and I understand it's a tall order to fulfil that, especially with a character like that).

Add me to the mailing list if you have one for promo purposes for it.
 
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Just watched your clip.I think it is going to be a powerful piece. It is interesting. And I thought the sound was good too..Give us some of your technical details especially about the sound. Congrats.
 
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate the feedback.

As far as objectivity, I made the decision early on to make the film from his perspective. By this I mean that I wouldn't interview people with counter opinions or explore whether he is right/wrong - I just want to show what it's like to be him and do what he does. I certainly don't mean that it will be an endorsement of him - simply trying as best I can capture what it's like to be in his shoes. If I do that correctly, people can make their own judgments and opinions.

Now, I'm still deciding whether to have the film be shorter (30-45 minutes) and follow just him - or - make a full length piece that follows three separate preachers. There definitely are others who are interesting enough to follow - I've been back and forth between those two options.

In terms of audio, for the voice over I used a Countryman B6 (wired lav) and Sennheiser ME-66 into a Samson H4n recorder. For the preaching footage, I had him hooked with a G2 wireless lav and had the ME66 mounted on my camera.

Still looking for feedback/comments. Thanks.
 
I feel a little stupid, here. I can't find any button to play the clip. The screenshot itself is not linked to anything. Uh, how do I play it?
 
I made a small change and uploaded a new version this morning. It was probably transcoding when you tried to watch. It's up now.
 
Kevin, you had the G2 on the preacher, with a Lav microphone on him...You said the G2 wireless on him and the mic on the camera...I am not quite following that. Thanks.
 
For the preaching, I had him hooked up with the wireless lav. I also had a shotgun mic (ME66) mounted on my camera to pick up more of the surrounding people.
 
OK, thanks, now I got it. There was a guy like this at my campus (California State University of Fornicatin') back in the '80s. Interesting, but I don't know how much of that guy I can take if he is just spouting off. I suppose it would depend on how much of the doc involves him examining himself, as in the intercut scenes in the clip. I there is good inner conflict there, it will be good.

I saw the reels on your site, too. Very good interview lighting, sound and image quality.
 
I agree- it will have to be balanced enough that the loud preaching doesn't become overwhelming. I plan to offset the preaching with showing what he does away from that - I have had some but not much behind-the-scenes access so far. I'll be focusing on that a lot more when I begin filming again in the fall.

Thanks for the comments regarding the videos on my site. I appreciate it.
 
I'm actually usually in the RTP area of NC (my home & significant other is there). If you ever need a secondary shooter to come out and help (providing this is where you're filming him, or in SoCal while I'm down here), let me know, looks like it'd be fun to observe live.
 
Kevin, sounds like an interesting concept and an interesting character. Personally I would be more interested in following the character around behind the scenes. During the preaching scenes there is nothing new or entertaining really. Maybe its because I did some research on traveling off-centered campus preachers for a short film I was going to make last year, but there was nothing new in the clip. Before hitting play I expected to see the following: preacher with highly distorted twist on Christianity condemning college students, a college student sarcastically mimicking the guy while he's talking, a Christian in the crowd getting pissed that the guy is giving them a bad name, random college kids standing around half interested. After I hit play that's exactly what I got, which is why I didn't finish the whole clip.

However, I was highly interested in the footage and voice over of developing the character and getting to see what he thinks and does behind the scenes. If the content was more along those lines I would definitely like to see the full length program.

Also, the audio was great.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'm more interested in behind the scenes as well - there is some towards the end of my clip. I think that is what can make the piece work - the preaching can be interesting/funny/shocking/etc... but it can get old quick. Seeing what it's like to be him (apart from the preaching) is what I really want to show.
 
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