Terry_Lasater
All about the Caption
Re: my first project -- "still human"
Yeah, I liked the camera work as well.
I'd like to see the whole thing.
Yeah, I liked the camera work as well.
I'd like to see the whole thing.
my first project -- "still human"
- Thread starter johncordell
- Start date
HansK
Veteran
Re: my first project -- "still human"
Nice short. I like the storyline and twist in character. Forces me to question who really *is* the bad guy.
The room shots are good, and yes, the opening pan is very nice.
The coloring and intensity of the flashbacks distracted me a bit. Having the flashbacks were fine, just the brightness and stark coloring. Warming the colors a bit would help with the emotional empathy you might be trying to get.
Nice short. I like the storyline and twist in character. Forces me to question who really *is* the bad guy.
The room shots are good, and yes, the opening pan is very nice.
The coloring and intensity of the flashbacks distracted me a bit. Having the flashbacks were fine, just the brightness and stark coloring. Warming the colors a bit would help with the emotional empathy you might be trying to get.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Re: my first project -- "still human"
I can see it going both ways. Warm would def bring empathy but I thought the coolness possibly could be attributed to the 'death' ?
I can see it going both ways. Warm would def bring empathy but I thought the coolness possibly could be attributed to the 'death' ?
johncordell
Member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
HansK: thanks for publishing the links. FrontPage is responsible for the weirdness on the page. I'll look into it and fix it. It probably defaults to using some MSFT extensions that I can inhibit. I'm surprised that IE barfed on it, though.
Nik_Ewan: the CD I mentioned is a library of sound loops -- http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/loop_libraries/ShowLoop.asp?PID=411
HansK: thanks for publishing the links. FrontPage is responsible for the weirdness on the page. I'll look into it and fix it. It probably defaults to using some MSFT extensions that I can inhibit. I'm surprised that IE barfed on it, though.
Nik_Ewan: the CD I mentioned is a library of sound loops -- http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/loop_libraries/ShowLoop.asp?PID=411
johncordell
Member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
ruester: No, I don't have a remote head for the jib. But since it only has a 6 foot vertical range, I am able to hand operate it fairly easily in most circumstances.
ruester: No, I don't have a remote head for the jib. But since it only has a 6 foot vertical range, I am able to hand operate it fairly easily in most circumstances.
johncordell
Member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
Settings: Shot on DVX100A, squeeze mode, 24PA, detail thick, master ped -4 I think, white balance on 3200k preset. In post I did some minor fiddling, such as desaturating a smidge, boosting contrast a bit, and color correcting to remove a little red.
NLE: I am using Vegas 5 and am loving it. One of the main complaints that I hear about Vegas is its non-standard user interface as compared to other NLEs. But since this is my first NLE, that doesn't bother me at all.
Other video: the little girl video wasn't shot on DVX, just home video from a consumer camcorder -- not sure which.
Settings: Shot on DVX100A, squeeze mode, 24PA, detail thick, master ped -4 I think, white balance on 3200k preset. In post I did some minor fiddling, such as desaturating a smidge, boosting contrast a bit, and color correcting to remove a little red.
NLE: I am using Vegas 5 and am loving it. One of the main complaints that I hear about Vegas is its non-standard user interface as compared to other NLEs. But since this is my first NLE, that doesn't bother me at all.
Other video: the little girl video wasn't shot on DVX, just home video from a consumer camcorder -- not sure which.
Re: my first project -- "still human"
how *convienent* or *ease of use* did you find the color correction of V5? I'm new to the program and find it somewhat tricky @ spots. there are a few CC tools in the program, did you find one plug-in more "useful" than the other? Some pointers would be very helpful to me!! Thank you for your responses! i should "pick your brain" a little more on the side, you've been great....Thanks!!
btw~what's your age and where do you reside?
how *convienent* or *ease of use* did you find the color correction of V5? I'm new to the program and find it somewhat tricky @ spots. there are a few CC tools in the program, did you find one plug-in more "useful" than the other? Some pointers would be very helpful to me!! Thank you for your responses! i should "pick your brain" a little more on the side, you've been great....Thanks!!
btw~what's your age and where do you reside?
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Re: my first project -- "still human"
Hi Nik!
Feel free to cruise into the Vegas forum! Jive is the masta as is Barry!
Hi Nik!
Feel free to cruise into the Vegas forum! Jive is the masta as is Barry!
johncordell
Member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
I found the color correction quite easy to use, but being new to it, certainly didn't feel like I was getting anything like what a pro would get.
Tips:
1) I find the 'HSL adjust' video effect to be an easy way to improve things. A little goes a long way.
2) Use the split-screen view on the preview, which allows you to see altered and unaltered video.
3) Dropping effects onto whole tracks is another convenience that a novice might not be aware of.
4) Any of the UI elements that can be dragged to control an effect can be clicked on to be selected, at which point the keyboard up and down keys make minor adjustments. (For example, the tiny circles in the color corrector effects.) I find this to be more controllable than dragging. Often times I will use this to change things just to enough to be noticeable, then back off a notch. Same thing applies to any of the controls with slider bars -- the thumb can be selected.
6) Using the mouse scroll wheel has become hugely important to me now that I'm getting used to Vegas. I am surprised by the fact that I'm continuously zooming in and out. For example, rather than ever scroll left or right in the timeline, I will zoom back out so that the entire timeline is visible, click where I want to focus, then zoom back in.
But I probably shouldn't be giving Vegas tips, I really am very new at it.
In answer to your other question: I'm 46 with a wife and a five year old boy. We live in Los Angeles. In fact, I used to be a software developer and am now starting a second career as a screenwriter/filmmaker. So far I've only done this first project, but already I can tell I'm going to like filmmaking.
Feel free to private message me if you want to do any more brain picking.
I found the color correction quite easy to use, but being new to it, certainly didn't feel like I was getting anything like what a pro would get.
Tips:
1) I find the 'HSL adjust' video effect to be an easy way to improve things. A little goes a long way.
2) Use the split-screen view on the preview, which allows you to see altered and unaltered video.
3) Dropping effects onto whole tracks is another convenience that a novice might not be aware of.
4) Any of the UI elements that can be dragged to control an effect can be clicked on to be selected, at which point the keyboard up and down keys make minor adjustments. (For example, the tiny circles in the color corrector effects.) I find this to be more controllable than dragging. Often times I will use this to change things just to enough to be noticeable, then back off a notch. Same thing applies to any of the controls with slider bars -- the thumb can be selected.
6) Using the mouse scroll wheel has become hugely important to me now that I'm getting used to Vegas. I am surprised by the fact that I'm continuously zooming in and out. For example, rather than ever scroll left or right in the timeline, I will zoom back out so that the entire timeline is visible, click where I want to focus, then zoom back in.
But I probably shouldn't be giving Vegas tips, I really am very new at it.
In answer to your other question: I'm 46 with a wife and a five year old boy. We live in Los Angeles. In fact, I used to be a software developer and am now starting a second career as a screenwriter/filmmaker. So far I've only done this first project, but already I can tell I'm going to like filmmaking.
Feel free to private message me if you want to do any more brain picking.
johncordell
Member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
Oh, yeah, Vegas forum. That would have been a good place to take my "tips". Oh well, next time.
Oh, yeah, Vegas forum. That would have been a good place to take my "tips". Oh well, next time.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Re: my first project -- "still human"
Glenn_Gipson
Active member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
That was great! Good acting, good camera direction, nice music, and it all came together at a good pace. Well done! Nice dialogue to. The only thing that I would have considered doing differently is the lighting. I would have went for a more moody, low key, or maybe even night time lighting setup as opposed to the relatively high key bright lighting that it has. Keep up the good work, though!
That was great! Good acting, good camera direction, nice music, and it all came together at a good pace. Well done! Nice dialogue to. The only thing that I would have considered doing differently is the lighting. I would have went for a more moody, low key, or maybe even night time lighting setup as opposed to the relatively high key bright lighting that it has. Keep up the good work, though!
kylelewis1
Well-known member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
Great video. I liked the little twist when you find the man "tied up" is really a bad guy.
I thought your shot were great and loved the movement of the camera, especially at the beginning with the transition from the title to first shot.
The only part I found awkward was when the guy was speaking but the shot was so tight you couldn't see his mouth. As a viewer, I felt like I was missing something during those few seconds.
Great job!
Great video. I liked the little twist when you find the man "tied up" is really a bad guy.
I thought your shot were great and loved the movement of the camera, especially at the beginning with the transition from the title to first shot.
The only part I found awkward was when the guy was speaking but the shot was so tight you couldn't see his mouth. As a viewer, I felt like I was missing something during those few seconds.
Great job!
Steve_VanHaaster
Active member
Re: my first project -- "still human"
awesone job, i also really liked the moon short. in the human one:
i really liked the color and most of the composition. i found the "screamer" shot to be a lil tight.. CU's are good but a lil wider would have maby been a little more affective.
Diddo on the camer movement, and the jib seemed to bring a certain feel to the flick.
Found the first flash to the kid a little bit "un-provoked" and too quick...dont know if this was intentional.
I wanted to see more so it was obvously good.
thanx for sharing.
steve
awesone job, i also really liked the moon short. in the human one:
i really liked the color and most of the composition. i found the "screamer" shot to be a lil tight.. CU's are good but a lil wider would have maby been a little more affective.
Diddo on the camer movement, and the jib seemed to bring a certain feel to the flick.
Found the first flash to the kid a little bit "un-provoked" and too quick...dont know if this was intentional.
I wanted to see more so it was obvously good.
thanx for sharing.
steve