DP Reel- recent grad

H

HomerS3

Active member
How's it going guys?

I just turned out a preliminary reel for myself concerning my Director of Photography work. I'd like to bounce it off some of you guys before considering a second pass.

Thoughts?
Compliments?
Criticisms?
Compliments?

Any input would be much appreciated. Gimme your thoughts!

Check it out on Vimeo in SD or in all its High Definition glory:
http://vimeo.com/1680909

Thanks guys.
 
Hey man,

You've got some good stuff in there, but really there is only one issue with it...It looks like it's all from the same film. :(

I don't know if you've got other stuff, but I would really suggest cutting the length down by a considerable amount, show me that you can do more than high shutter shakey cam sorta stuff (This may include getting another song...), and maybe make your titles in the beginning and end consistent.

Some of the stuff in the parking garage though was great! Really liked it. Really seemed to stand out amongst the rest.

Anyways, just take a look at it again with a really critical eye and try and cut it down as much as you can. If you've got other footage from other films, I'd put it in as well, or heck man...fake it till you make it, go out and shoot some stuff.
 
RyanT said:
Hey man,

You've got some good stuff in there, but really there is only one issue with it...It looks like it's all from the same film. :(

I don't know if you've got other stuff, but I would really suggest cutting the length down by a considerable amount, show me that you can do more than high shutter shakey cam sorta stuff (This may include getting another song...), and maybe make your titles in the beginning and end consistent.

Some of the stuff in the parking garage though was great! Really liked it. Really seemed to stand out amongst the rest.

Anyways, just take a look at it again with a really critical eye and try and cut it down as much as you can. If you've got other footage from other films, I'd put it in as well, or heck man...fake it till you make it, go out and shoot some stuff.
Click to expand...

Well I think Ryan is actually me from another dimension because he said exactly what I was going to say. Really strange!

Anyway, if this is all you have, then showing less is definitely going to equal more! :thumbup:
 
Man. I hope I never see you in person. If so, we will look at each other and it will most likely be the nexis of the universe.

From there, nothing good can ever happen.
 
You guys sound a lot like that little voice in the back of my head.
Too long with too many repeating faces was my suspicion prior to posting and bingo!

I read an interview with Roger Deakins prior to cutting this thing together in which he said that a crucial element to every DP or Camera Op reel should be the element of story. He claimed that anyone can string together a series of pretty, digitally enhanced images. He said that we should show narrative ability even in a DP reel.

Thought it was an interesting perspective. Not at all saying I accomplished that, just giving you some of my thought process when including recurring segments (two fellas fighting for the gun, guy taking the leap).

Effective? Or should I give it the knife?


Say I decide to prune it down, what do you feel is the strongest? The stuff that should make the cut, so to speak?

Thanks again guys. This is helpful.
 
I thought those two things were great ideas, but as to how much they showed your absolute best stuff, I'm not quite sure.

Basically, if you can find something else to weave throughout the reel, I think you'd be onto something.
 
I would start it at 1:17. The shots before that seem... well, not as good as the rest. Your stuff is very *Clean*, maybe some grit is in order on a few shots, plus it would also match the music better (which I don't think is a very strong choice though, it only has one level- loud.)

It should be like a little movie, with more roller-coaster dynamics. Maybe a few of the actors lines here and there?
 
Alright guys. I've been mulling over all of your suggestions and am cutting a new version, with a new song, and a shorter runtime. I'll post ASAP and get the verdict.

This is really helpful guys. I appreciate it.
 
Alright boys and girls. Here we go:
http://vimeo.com/1721852

A new cut with a different take on it. I look forward to hearing some feedback.

You like it? You have it?
How does it compare to the other cut? Which do you prefer?

Thanks again guys.
 
Small private school in Kentucky you haven't heard of. I spent a semester out here in LA taking some classes as well.

Definitely not USC unfortunately...
 
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definately liked that one better. from the start i felt the music fit the shots better than the previous reel. especially liked when the guy was on the edge with his hands outstretched and how the music protrayed the feeling. good stuff.
 
2ND Reel is MUCH better, but it's still too long. Although you have addressed the problem of looking like it's all from the same film, I think you still need a little less guns. Don't get me wrong I love guns, but I think the bedroom scene needs to go. The guys pointing guns at each other is overdone, and I'm not a fan of the lighting in that scene. (of course that's my opinion).

I say leave the prospective client wanting more of your work, not had enough of your work. If that makes sense.

I agree with Roger Deakins, who's the best DP out there, but I 'd think at our level we need to entice potential clients with content that they "must have" for their film, and we need to demonstrate compentantcy (don't know if that's a word) in photography and in story telling. In that order.

But don't get me wrong, it's a very nice reel, I'm just trying help tighten it up a bit more.

I liked the music in the 2nd cut better, 1st cut was too intense although I liked the song I don't think it fit.

My 2 cents anyway.

Good luck!

- Greg
 
its not too bad, my one issue is that some of the footage needs some color grading, and then it'd look alot better.... the parking garage stuff looks good, but some of the int. house stuff looks too saturated in the reds.
 
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