Graeme Noble
Active member
This is a short teaser trailer to a film I shot last week. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
SHORT: Life of a Spy - Teaser Trailer
- Thread starter Graeme Noble
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if you put some of the other sounds: breathings when running, sound of running (footsteps), some dialogues, it will be surely a lot better.
Even if the recored sound isn't 100% perfect... Having some of those sounds in will make it look more attractive to watch.
Now it looks kinda "empty" to me... there's nothing that "attracks" me for watching it...
Just let hear the other sounds also, and to make that "the music is high level, but I do hear the other sounds also and also hear that VO...one word: "compression"
Even if the recored sound isn't 100% perfect... Having some of those sounds in will make it look more attractive to watch.
Now it looks kinda "empty" to me... there's nothing that "attracks" me for watching it...
Just let hear the other sounds also, and to make that "the music is high level, but I do hear the other sounds also and also hear that VO...one word: "compression"
Graeme Noble
Active member
I understand your criticisms of the lack of natural sound noises. However, this is just a teaser for the film and its just to show a few visual shots of the film rather than give anything away. I'll be posting the film next week, so I look forward to hearing your views, particularly on the sound, once it is posted - if you would be so kind as to watch it. Thanks for the comment.
Is this a short or a feature ? How did you find the casting process ? (your lead actress looks interesting).
I like how your teaser reflects the title of your film. The music fits it well. It reminds me of Kodo. edit: see it in a trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6jxxnusl8c The way you spaced/mixed the personal and action shots had a nice pace and intro'd the theme for your flick.
Some other quick impressions: the staccato editing of the group shot was distracting. The goal was probably to edit it to the music, but the result was overkill (2-4 would get the idea across). I'd cut the shot of her running up the steps - next to your other action shots it looks a little silly. Overall, if you edited it to 35 secs, and kept your best daily life (with her husband?), some running, some action, I think it may be more effective. Another thought may be to add a quick shot of some of her tradecraft (besides the fighting). Does she pick a lock, hand over documents, surveil a scene with a scope ? - maybe add something to show the biz ?
What you did accomplish was get me to want to see more, so kudos.
Cheers, mate.
I like how your teaser reflects the title of your film. The music fits it well. It reminds me of Kodo. edit: see it in a trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6jxxnusl8c The way you spaced/mixed the personal and action shots had a nice pace and intro'd the theme for your flick.
Some other quick impressions: the staccato editing of the group shot was distracting. The goal was probably to edit it to the music, but the result was overkill (2-4 would get the idea across). I'd cut the shot of her running up the steps - next to your other action shots it looks a little silly. Overall, if you edited it to 35 secs, and kept your best daily life (with her husband?), some running, some action, I think it may be more effective. Another thought may be to add a quick shot of some of her tradecraft (besides the fighting). Does she pick a lock, hand over documents, surveil a scene with a scope ? - maybe add something to show the biz ?
What you did accomplish was get me to want to see more, so kudos.
Cheers, mate.
Last edited:
Graeme Noble
Active member
Thanks for the tip. I could have taken more time over the editing of the teaser but I'm glad that you want to see more. It will be online next week.
P.S. For the casting process, the lead actress contacted us a while back about getting involved with film work on a voluntary basis. We have worked with her before and she is talented. This is a 12 minute short film.
P.S. For the casting process, the lead actress contacted us a while back about getting involved with film work on a voluntary basis. We have worked with her before and she is talented. This is a 12 minute short film.
Graeme Noble
Active member
Haha. I do think its important to cast attractive actresses as that wheels in the male viewers even if the film is rubbish
I actually believe that sound is MORE IMPORTANT than the visuals. However, for a TEASER I feel that a piece of music works well to edit some images together. In regards to an actual film, the sound is crucial. I certainly can tolerate bad visuals over bad sound - loud hiss is one of my pet peeves in amateur/independent films!
j1clark@ucsd.edu
Veteran
I watched this several times, which is different than my usual. It was short so, I could do that...
Anyway...
1) Some of the angles on the young woman didn't work for me. It seemed a number of shots were from 'lower looking up'.
2) Just a 'photog' thing... her handling of the camera in the first shot did not feel like a 'natural' grip on the camera for a photographer... The left hand is usually supporting the camera body, left fingers gripping the focus ring, right hand griping the right camera body side, and just enough finger movement to snap the shutter, strap wrapped around one or the other arm, with the idea that if someone jumps you, you have a handy weapon in your hand... well, back in the olden days when 35mm were all metal... but I digress...
3) running. Again the 'angle' doesn't work for me. I would have thought about 'tracking' then allowing the woman to pass to 'reveal' the pursuer.
4) I'd tighten up the shot of the 'group' in the parking lot. No need to show them walking in... just have them there. As a note this shot 'feels' too bright for a shadowy parking lot meeting.
5) lose the woman running off on the steps...
6) lose most of the kissing shots... the shot right after the parking lot scene stops the 'action' dead. If you have to have the shot, cut it right at the initial kiss, trim the 'walking away' protion.
7) Beach scene out.
8) Shorten the shot of the woman with the bus in the back ground, hair blowing...
That is if this is to get 'thriller' type excitement...
I have to agree with all of the stuff mentioned above. Looks like it really has potential but a lot of the editing and framing kills it for me and simply screams amature. I don't know who handled the camera or who did the editing, but just have them revisit the basics of it - We have a great sticky thread called Being Cinematic in the Cinematography forum that explains the basic principles great :beer:
Putting that aside I think your lead actress looks interesting (Getting that Alias feel), and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the final short
jghenderson
Well-known member
First of all, if you do nothing else, please get rid of the shot at 0:26 of the girl running away on the steps. The way she runs away is really awkward and completely killed the mood of the trailer for me.
Aside from that, I don't mind the lack of sound. I kind of like the MOS quality to it, though perhaps having some sound in the beginning and leading into a fast paced cut of the running with that music would add to feel.
Also, having 2 kissing shots in the same one minute trailer is redundant. I would leave in the 2nd kiss, the first one played a little awkward for me.
Aside from that, I don't mind the lack of sound. I kind of like the MOS quality to it, though perhaps having some sound in the beginning and leading into a fast paced cut of the running with that music would add to feel.
Also, having 2 kissing shots in the same one minute trailer is redundant. I would leave in the 2nd kiss, the first one played a little awkward for me.
Graeme Noble
Active member
Thanks for the comments everyone, and the suggestions!
Interesting you say this. I am the editor and the cinematographer for the film. I have been editing films for 4 years and I can't ever recall my editing being referred to as AMATEUR. In fact, several professional editors (those who make a living out of it) have commended me for it and said I ought to do it as a career. If you could let me know your thoughts on my editing, and my cinematography for that matter, on the final film when I post it next week then that would be great. I edited this teaser in 20 minutes and I don't think it truly reflects my capabilities in terms of editing at least. Thanks for taking the time out to watch and comment.
Interesting you say this. I am the editor and the cinematographer for the film. I have been editing films for 4 years and I can't ever recall my editing being referred to as AMATEUR. In fact, several professional editors (those who make a living out of it) have commended me for it and said I ought to do it as a career. If you could let me know your thoughts on my editing, and my cinematography for that matter, on the final film when I post it next week then that would be great. I edited this teaser in 20 minutes and I don't think it truly reflects my capabilities in terms of editing at least. Thanks for taking the time out to watch and comment.
Well, if you edited the teaser in 20 minutes I don't think you mind me not praising it. It looks very well-lit though. I also may have to clarify that what I am pointing out is only directed towards the teaser as a product in its own and not the final film. I think the teaser sucks, and that's my honest opinion - I think it sucks as a teaser. By this I'm not saying I think the final film sucks. Don't take it too hard though, because it is after all just a teaser :beer: (And I may or may not be using the word "suck" more widely than most). I will refrain from making further comments on you as a filmmaker until I've seen the final film, after all, 20 minutes is a rather impressive time to whip a teaser up in.
Graeme Noble
Active member
Haha. I appreciate your honesty - the last thing any filmmaker should want is false praise. I would really appreciate your comments on the final film. It lasts 12 minutes. Thanks again.