First Demo Reel (Need Feedback)

Hey Kris -
Greg here - we met at the Pizza Expo show.
Just checked out the demo. Looked really cool but some of the footage looks way overexposed. Mostly the guy running stuff.
Also, seemed a bit slow at times. I think you should shorten it up a bit and choose a track that allows some faster editing.
Of course this advice is coming from someone who keeps putting off getting a reel together.
 
Hey man. That's awesome. That's the kind of advice I need. I've never cut one of these. So I'm looking for whatever I can get. You know I lost your business card. E-mail me sometime.

Thanks for the advice,

-Kris
 
I liked it. I thought the over exposures were interestint. Its obvious you were going for the look and not an accident so it comes down to artistic appreciation. some will like it, some wont. The only clips i didnt like were the two clips involving the birds flying. Both seemed like they were hand held and the picture was a bit jittery which was not the case with your other clips so they stood out. Again its your vision but that is what i noticed. goood luck with it.
 
I think that the reel does need to be paced a little better. I do like the choice of music though, and I think it works with the clips you have. I would just shorten it and I would put the first running shot a little further into the reel as opposed to the opening as it seems to be one of your money shots and I would like to get hit with that after I settled into the feel of the reel...good luck and keep shooting...
 
I did like the music however like everyone is saying its gotta be paced up for a demo reel. I really liked the lighting and color of that one seen where all the guys are hugging. How did you light it and what NLE and cc did you do to it?
 
Yeah it needs to be paced up and sliced up a bit. I really want to thank everyone for watching it and giving me their opinions. That's just going to help me make it better. Avatuar, I used Final Cut Pro, and natural lighting for every shot. The over exposure was intentional, it was meant to symbolize the afterlife, and a sort of surreal environment. 50% love it, 50% don't. Artistic expression, just like smithgallTV said. Thanks again guys, and any more comments would be greatly appreciated.

-Kris
 
You're headed in the right direction! I like your eye, especially with the subway stuff. There's just a few things you may want to avoid... the distorted black and white's looked cool at first, but were on screen for a bit too much time...

Another thing I would suggest is avoiding a zoom in. The shot of the picture frame should have been a track out rather than a zoom out... I liked the fact that you did a lot of handheld work, but I would suggest smoothing out the handhelds with either a weight on your camera or a simple steadycam...

I think you've got some hardcore talent bottled up, you've just gotta work on a few techniques to improve that stuff.

Keep up the excellent work!

Also, what music was that? I know everyone has asked that, but I'm dying to know! Yo-yo ma? Maybe?
 
ktdmoviemaker said:
The over exposure was intentional, it was meant to symbolize the afterlife, and a sort of surreal environment. 50% love it, 50% don't. Artistic expression
-Kris
Click to expand...
It's really not that i didn't like it. I'm sure if I saw the original video and understood the context it would make sense. But the way it's cut into the demo reel with no explaination it just looks like over-exposed footage.
Hope that helps... Maybe bring in the audio at some point if that would explain it more.. just an idea...
 
Pretty cool stuff. I thought the zollies looked cool. Little too much overexposure, its a little tiring to the eye. But overall very good effort.

John
 
I thought it was really good. I like the seagull part. Did that bird fly into the scence like that or where following him?

Good effects. But why did the girl kill the guy anyway?
 
The music is from the movie The Village. A piece entitled "Gravel Road." It was really the only thing that stuck out to me in that movie. Also I am posting my short films as fast as my G5 can compress them and upload (which won't be very long ;) The first one is Runnin' which is less than 3 minutes. Please let me know what you guys think. I made this short for Project Greenlight a year ago and was blessed to make it into the first round with it. One of our fellow DVX brothers, Scott was fortunate and talented enough to stand up to the big guys until the last round. We're all proud of you Scott! The Reunion will be posted soon. It was also viewed by Tom Hanks and the LA Short Film Festival. I've had this stuff sitting around collecting dust, cause I just figured out how to upload video onto the web. I really, really appreciate you guys taking your time and giving me your advice on my work.

-Kris

Link to Runnin': http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2K3PZNGZWI6JE2EKHNRJW0SB5D
 
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