First documentary - feedback/reactions welcomed

npm

npm

Well-known member
Hey all,

Recently I finished up my final project in my second year of a video production Master's degree in Grenoble, France. The commission was to do a 7-minute documentary on an artisan, and this is the result. We had tons more good content but had to cut it down to 7 minutes, which was definitely not easy.

Shot with Panasonic AC130, GH2, Rode NTG2 Mic.

Let me know what you think, any tips, what I can do better for my next production!

Thanks

https://vimeo.com/82454698
 
Hey man, as a gh2 owner I watched your video, I love watching stuff from "news guys"...

Couple of shots were just a bit off balance or cut too soon...but that's minor, all in all your video looks like something I one could catch on TV, like a segment from a factual TV program. Very well done.
 
Hi

After I watched it I realized that I forgot to watch it critically. When the video disappears and the content remains then you have got it right.
So I will say I liked it, good job.
 
NPM. . .

Thank you for sharing this.

I figure 7 minutes is a good length of time a documentary. I am about to reduce 20+ hours to about 7 mins so I will be able to see for myself how difficult this is.

My documentary is on a historical site that is part museum, part cultural center. They have around 20 events per year, some indoors, some outdoors. It took one year to generate the footage (the events are spread over the four seasons).

I will post mine when it is done.

By the way, what type of slider did you use in this video? I need to buy one.
 
Bonjour,
The first one , with a blue coat the ( 2) shot was taken to low. Some splice do not work well this could be due to the web upload.

I like the shot inside where the camera going up and you switch on another one similar, maybe some more light will help to give more

dimension to the image ( less flat ) inside. When you shot you need more close-up shot on every thing this help your editor because

you using them as insert and help for the story telling. Le soleil n'était pas très présent, beau travaille comme premier doc.
 
This is a wonderful subject, and nicely shot! Beautiful color, too, like just before the rain.

I also work in short docs, and here are some critical observations:

The first 2:00 are pretty "talky" for such a short piece. Once we know what he looks like and have some time to soak in that lovely landscape behind him, you could cut away to some more process shots, or even just more shots to establish the setting, while he talks.

I would put the part where he pours from the bottles AFTER we see some of the inside of the distillery. You don't need that shot of him behind the laptop. So you could go straight from the interview outside to the cool vertical slide transition.

That high whine during his second interview indoors is pretty rough.

I think your photography is beautiful, especially your landscapes, which I actually find particularly challenging to capture. Thanks for sharing, et bon courage, ami! Sí vous pouvez trouves quelqu'un(e) qui peux faire le son, vous seras très content.
 
Bonjour,
Je te réponds en français car je ne maîtrise pas assez l'anglais (Google traduction is your friend)
Le sujet est original mais il aurait mérité plus de mystère dans l'approche. Un distillateur de wisky en France c'est étonnant, pour une approche de type documentaire, il aurait fallu dévoiler le sujet petit à petit. Là on est sur un reportage.
Quelques fautes de raccords : Le 1° plan en grand beau temps puis on passe cut dans le brouillard (avec des taches sur l'objectif). Un étalonnage aurait été nécessaire pour compenser la dominante verte des plans de fin. On manque de proximité avec le sujet, pas de gros plans et pas de travail sur la lumière.
Pour le son du 1° ITV, il aurait été préférable d'attendre que le camion soit parti. Globalement ça sent le micro posé sur la camera et le mixage (?) ne rattrape rien.
En résumé un reportage sympathique mais sûrement pas un documentaire.
Désolé d'être très critique mais si tu veux en faire ton métier, il va falloir être beaucoup plus exigeant.
Bon courage.
 
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