Great Music Video Shot on the 7D!! Lil iLL "She Likes My Swag"

I think "swag" means free stuff. Notice he was going through the trash?
Good video
 
editman says rap videos are all the same about a guy rapping into the camera and this and that. As another poster stated we clearly didnt go that route with alcohol, booty bitches shaking butts, guns or club scenes.

I guess editman couldnt tell that this was the complete opposite from those type videos and also that when a kid or band has never done a music video and is not signed to a label, the thing you should concentrate on is introducing their face to the world.
I didnt think I would have to spell it out but in the entertainment biz "SWAG" stands for "shi* We All Get", also "SWAG" can be short for a persons swagger or style, in this case the cart full of interesting things and his kindness and talent to fix cars all came into play in a comic way.

There was also the use of a positive college dance group, the UCLA Jerkers, which with the younger kids these days there is a style dance called " Jerkin"
As for the so called "strobe effect" im not sure if your watching on a 1990's monitor or something but when you play it in HD on Youtube with a solid internet connection it plays like any other video.
If anyone thinks this video was hard to watch (imagewise), I would like to know what you think of videos cut in a faster pace and more flashy effects, probably dont like those either.
Once again I wasnt making a travel video with long beauty perfect focus shots or babies playing on floors and boring shots of wheat blowing in the wind. LOL

It wasnt shot on a Red One or 35mm with a crew of 15 and a mass of lighting equipment. It was on a 7D all natural light, one 650 Arri softbox, one 300 back light in the green-screen, no budget and done all from 11am-9pm.
Hell I even art directed the cart myself!! LOL

If your critiquing this video hardcore then your missing the point of just getting out there and having fun and learning. There are a lot of people on message boards that critique a lot but never really put anything up or shoot anything of quality.

It is true, this place is very technical. There's definitely nothing wrong with getting out and shooting and having fun, I think tht's what people who are shooting boring shots of wheat blowing in the wind or babies playing on the floor are doing as well. Just trying to test their camera out and use it.

It's all welcomed. I don't think anyone meant to make outright negative comments, and there are some positive ones here, as well.

One thing I will say is that, in the end, the details generally just never really matter. If the material is good, everyone just says it's good with a few occasional questions about gear. If the product isn't popular, people may not comment at all. None of that really hinges on how fast a production was completed or with how few crew members.

Either way, you've got a learning experience under your belt with the 7D and you'll be able to look at the video and perhaps see where the image can improve-- if you feel anything could improve, of course.

And, you did a favor for someone who could probably use it. That's also good.
 
This was also hard for me to watch due to the "strobe effect." Just my opinion. Isn't it good to have opinions? That's what makes you look at your own work and see what it is others are seeing.
 
I dunno....I kinda liked this video and how it was put together. The song is ....catchy. Looks like something the "Fresh Prince" would have done. It's not like he was going for "movie of the week"...so the high shutter strobey effect does not bother me.

Um..Zim...Swag is more akin to "Style"...but I always associated it with "walk."
 
Last edited:
Yes it is true any type of shooting with your camera is good,

Yes it is true any type of shooting with your camera is good,

I agree Kholi, and no disrespect to all types of footage posted, you are right as long as your using your camera and learning the ins and outs, thats a great thing.
As far as the "Strobing Effect" that some say about the video I would like to know is it through the whole thing or is there an example in the video someone can point out? Im just not seeing what they are talking about.

I am always shooting a Panasonic HVX200 / Letus or GH1, at 720 or 1080p mostly at 1/24 or 1/48 with 24, 50 & 85mm 1.4-1.8 lenses. Now I usually shoot my interviews or music videos but I didn't this time.
So is the strobe effect due to shooting at 1/24 most the time? The video plays very smooth on my new I-MAC and my tower at work so I trying to understand what parts of the video are strobing?
Here is a link to an interview and photos on a table I shot and im curious if you see strobing in this? It is not posted in HD but you can get an idea.

http://www.billboard.com?bcpid=1444170225&bctid=39647591001

Thanks
MCG
 
As far as the "Strobing Effect" that some say about the video I would like to know is it through the whole thing or is there an example in the video someone can point out? Im just not seeing what they are talking about.
Honestly...I didn't see it myself. I was assuming folks were talking about high shutter...which gives that strobey effect. But....I either missed it totally or I ...I missed it totally.
 
Thank Ian I agree with you...

Thank Ian I agree with you...

Im wondering if the possible Strobing that some people are claiming they see is mistakenly confused for some of the edits and quick cuts or the fact that most players dont always play smooth and on some peoples computer the internet connection speed can make the video seem choppy?

Its weird Id love to see an example of strobing so i can compare it to what some are saying about this video.
 
editman says rap videos are all the same about a guy rapping into the camera and this and that. As another poster stated we clearly didnt go that route with alcohol, booty bitches shaking butts, guns or club scenes.

I guess editman couldnt tell that this was the complete opposite from those type videos and also that when a kid or band has never done a music video and is not signed to a label, the thing you should concentrate on is introducing their face to the world.
I didnt think I would have to spell it out but in the entertainment biz "SWAG" stands for "shi* We All Get", also "SWAG" can be short for a persons swagger or style, in this case the cart full of interesting things and his kindness and talent to fix cars all came into play in a comic way.

There was also the use of a positive college dance group, the UCLA Jerkers, which with the younger kids these days there is a style dance called " Jerkin"
As for the so called "strobe effect" im not sure if your watching on a 1990's monitor or something but when you play it in HD on Youtube with a solid internet connection it plays like any other video.
If anyone thinks this video was hard to watch (imagewise), I would like to know what you think of videos cut in a faster pace and more flashy effects, probably dont like those either.
Once again I wasnt making a travel video with long beauty perfect focus shots or babies playing on floors and boring shots of wheat blowing in the wind. LOL

It wasnt shot on a Red One or 35mm with a crew of 15 and a mass of lighting equipment. It was on a 7D all natural light, one 650 Arri softbox, one 300 back light in the green-screen, no budget and done all from 11am-9pm.
Hell I even art directed the cart myself!! LOL

If your critiquing this video hardcore then your missing the point of just getting out there and having fun and learning. There are a lot of people on message boards that critique a lot but never really put anything up or shoot anything of quality.

I did watch it again and I still don't like the strobe effect. And yes I still think the video could have been more creative.

I was part of making rap-videos as early as 1993 and really not much has changed. Maybe that's the intention, to appeal to the rap-scene in such way you indistinctly know it's a rap video you're watching? But I think a video should appeal to everybody in some way. This wasn't for me and nuff said.
 
So if you were apart of making Rap music videos since 1993 then...

So if you were apart of making Rap music videos since 1993 then...

have you done rap videos that are not what you dont like? Maybe you can post a example of a rap video you did that was creative and didnt have all the usual elements that most rap videos have.

I have no problem with anyone critiquing my stuff or other people as well and thats how you learn, but also sometimes certain peoples critiquing is personal about a style, culture and whatnot, which in the end is basically because you personally dont like all of that.

I always respect fellow directors or cinematographers that can voice there opinion and then show something they have worked on to back it up.
Its tough to take people seriously when now in the internet age everyone is a critic but not everyone is going out there creating quality projects or also doing it for a living.
So thats why I take the time to explore why someone feels the way they do and maybe invite them to give examples so that their comments dont come off as a personal feeling.
 
Hey Mike,

So what I really like is there was a lot of though put into your video. The fact that you did this in one day makes it even better. One day shots are TOUGH! Heres mine with a crew of 2:

http://www.funnyordie.com/healthcare

I think you did a great job. You know your audience; so you should also know that posting here we're going to look through it much more technically then other audience...we like the BTS as much as the finished product.

It was a very stylized pieced, it felt like a modern Kubrick style, and that opens up a lot of debate. I would love to know the feedback he would get if he posted his work here!
 
I did watch it again and I still don't like the strobe effect. And yes I still think the video could have been more creative.

I was part of making rap-videos as early as 1993 and really not much has changed. Maybe that's the intention, to appeal to the rap-scene in such way you indistinctly know it's a rap video you're watching? But I think a video should appeal to everybody in some way. This wasn't for me and nuff said.

Huh? Rap videos are waayyyy different then they were in the early 90's. You had a dominant NY scene, with a rising West Coast scene. They had plot and story line like any other music genre. You can't name a Tribe Called Quest video with any of todays subject matter, Black Moon, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, the humor of Biz Markie Vaporz. Heavy D and Father MC with the love scene motif. Public Enemy, Brand Nubian, Poor Righteous Teacher with the righteous movement in video. NWA/MC Eight/Ice Cube with LA documentary style. What part of 1993 rap videos were you workin' in?
 
Well said Cinebuddy! I agree the ones back then were way different and

Well said Cinebuddy! I agree the ones back then were way different and

all of them were of a different context or made a statement and now days its all a constant party scene showing who has more bling or chicks with the most part.

Lil Wayne and Chris Browns "Transformers" is really awesome and well done.
 
Hey Tim I liked your story and

Hey Tim I liked your story and

The ending was great, very well written and a timely subject. Maybe could have been a couple more DOF shots, but the audio was really well done and for something like yours thats really important.
Lastly if you can reload a version at a higher quality since it looks a little pixalated due to compression maybe?
 
I did watch it again and I still don't like the strobe effect. And yes I still think the video could have been more creative.

I was part of making rap-videos as early as 1993 and really not much has changed. Maybe that's the intention, to appeal to the rap-scene in such way you indistinctly know it's a rap video you're watching? But I think a video should appeal to everybody in some way. This wasn't for me and nuff said.



I have a word for you & it's called "Hater", google that one.........


Now this message is to the original thread starter, everything looked great minus the green screen. The green screen seems like it was not properly lit and has a lot of noise in the picture.

All outside shots and creative artwork look great. Including the dancers was good as well. In all honesty I would have left the green screen/white background out as that is the only that downgrades the video.


Other than that I give the video a solid 8 and the HD footage looks very good. The story line was also great and you did an excellent job ( minus the indoor lighting)


peace
 
Lil Wayne and Chris Browns "Transformers" is really awesome and well done.

I have to disagree with you. Transformers was a video that they rushed. period. Directed by Joseph Kahn. He's done a lot of music videos in the last decade. His best work was back in the mid-late 90's. Transformers video could of been a lot better. If you watch Joseph's work, you'll understand where I'm coming from.
 
I have to disagree with you. Transformers was a video that they rushed. period. Directed by Joseph Kahn. He's done a lot of music videos in the last decade. His best work was back in the mid-late 90's. Transformers video could of been a lot better. If you watch Joseph's work, you'll understand where I'm coming from.



I thought the video was good. I seen some of your work and I must say it seems you are in a different league. Amazing work and personally I do not need to reach that level as I am happy doing more personal projects without all of the "flare"

Op you had a great video and sometimes I like that look more than these "hollywood" blockbuster videos that just look beyond corny/foolish to me.
 
I have a word for you & it's called "Hater", google that one........

peace

Have I ever written I "hate" it? I can have what ever opinion I want and express it. You don't have to agree.

The only thing I wrote was that it could have been more creative and the technical aspect of the strobe effect. You better check your eyes if you miss interpret what I write so severe.
 
Back
Top