My Videography Reel

You've got some nice stuff but, if you're not an editor, I would really encourage you get someone else to edit it. The music is very low-energy, a lot of the shots are far too long and the order of them doesn't really make sense. Plus, the footage with the additional graphics confuses and distract me - if you can't get the original non-graphic footage, I honestly wouldn't use it, or crop the image to get it out of there. I don't need to see "Award-Winning Advertising" or "Retail Experience" on there.

This is all pretty much purely editing. I liked a lot of the shots, nice composition and good camera movements. But I probably wouldn't use the Clinton stuff and the like - it's blown out and you don't really fill the frame. It would be a nice intercut, sort of to say, "I also filmed Bill Clinton," but you don't want it as a feature, it's just a cutaway, a bit of gravy. You want it to just be the absolute candy, the stuff that sells your ability as a cameraman to "get the shot."

So, change up the music and tighten the hell out of all your shots, bring in an outside editor to be brutal and toss out every single frame you don't need and you should be good.
 
I think you have some stuff in there that YOU didn't shoot. Am I confused or was there a shot from The Sopranos in there? Also did you really shoot the Clinton stuff? It seems to me that I saw that on a newscast.
You really don't edit well, or you really need to start cutting more stuff to practice.
 
Thanks for the feedback!

maverickstunts said:
I think you have some stuff in there that YOU didn't shoot.
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I can assure you 100% that I shot everything that was on there. Bill Clinton spoke at U-M's commencement, and I was the "podium shot" for Michigan Sports Television. I have never even watched "The Sopranos" so I'm not sure what you're talking about there, but I will take it as a compliment! :)

maverickstunts said:
You really don't edit well, or you really need to start cutting more stuff to practice.
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I actually am in fact an editor for over 6 years, but it's all good.
This is not an editing demo. I felt that I did cut alot of extra frames out, the long shots I left in being to show camera movements/tracking. (crane moves, glidecam shots, dolly shots) There are a couple of times where there is a dissolve from one part of a clip to just a second or two later, to show the beginning or end of that shot (long crane moves, etc.) Are you saying I should just not show much of the move? Keep a couple seconds of it in then get out? I can see that. This just isn't about flashy edits or any editing really... just clips in a raw fashion. (except for the ones pulled from edits)

mrWr0ng said:
The music is very low-energy, a lot of the shots are far too long and the order of them doesn't really make sense.
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I have heard from several sources that most of the time the audio is turned off in a reel viewing session. Since that is the case I didn't want to cut it to the music. As I said, this is a general videography reel. A taste of all the different projects I did. No real focus to it other than my diversity on camera operation. Best footage comes at the front, no? I did try to group together clips from the same project whenever possible, but you're right, there is no order. Just my best stuff in the first :30. I hear that's all that is usually viewed.


mrWr0ng said:
I liked a lot of the shots, nice composition and good camera movements.
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That was the intended goal of this reel. Thanks :)


mrWr0ng said:
But I probably wouldn't use the Clinton stuff and the like - it's blown out and you don't really fill the frame. It would be a nice intercut, sort of to say, "I also filmed Bill Clinton," but you don't want it as a feature, it's just a cutaway, a bit of gravy.
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I don't want it as a feature? Could you explain what you mean here? Clinton is the most important/known person I've captured on video, and wanted to lead with a strong clip that shows I can video important events/figures.

Once again, :dankk2:
 
I can assure you 100% that I shot everything that was on there. Bill Clinton spoke at U-M's commencement, and I was the "podium shot" for Michigan Sports Television. I have never even watched "The Sopranos" so I'm not sure what you're talking about there, but I will take it as a compliment! :)

It sure looked like Robert Iler in the interior car shot, but I could be mistaken.

I actually am in fact an editor for over 6 years, but it's all good.
This is not an editing demo. I felt that I did cut alot of extra frames out, the long shots I left in being to show camera movements/tracking. (crane moves, glidecam shots, dolly shots) There are a couple of times where there is a dissolve from one part of a clip to just a second or two later, to show the beginning or end of that shot (long crane moves, etc.) Are you saying I should just not show much of the move? Keep a couple seconds of it in then get out? I can see that. This just isn't about flashy edits or any editing really... just clips in a raw fashion. (except for the ones pulled from edits)

What do you mean it isn't an editing demo? Editing is part of your reel as well as the footage. The reel didn't flow for me. The shot of the mechanic and the exhaust was jarring at best.
Just creative differences. It's your reel....
 
For sure. I appreciate the comments.

The driver is this martial arts guy Jesse. You can view the entire short film here and see for yourself:
http://wilkinsonvisual.com/Videos/abaddon.mov

"This is not an editing demo" means this video clip is to demonstrate my ability to operate a camera, ONLY. Not to show that I can edit, composite, animate, or anything else. I don't want to bog down raw footage with unnecessary edits.


I like to keep separate reels and resumes whenever possible. Much of the freelance work I go for is just as a camera op. The people who hire me for that don't care if I've edited feature films or rap videos, or if I digitally put Jabba the Hutt back in Star Wars :-p

Saying that, if someone wanted to see an editing reel, you can be sure it would look quite different. I have edited several feature lengths digital films that I did not shoot.
 
Mike,

While this isn't an editing reel, editing is still key. Bad editing is distracting and pulls one out of the moment. When a shot goes on too long or the editing doesn't "flow" between shots, it's jarring, and it pulls a person out. Everything comes together, and that's important to remember. For example, if you were to do an editing demo reel, you wouldn't just cut together a bunch of over-exposed, poorly acted scenes done on a crappy miniDV cam. You pick from good footage because bad shots, even if they're edited well, distract.

The same holds true for the cinematography aspect here. And, while others may view demo reels with the music off, I always watch them with it on. Even if I'm listening to music, I pause it and listen to what's going on in the reel. You want your viewers to get swept away, you want them to think, "Damn!" Even if the focus is your camera work, *everything* should be tight, coherent, focused and work to the best of their ability. If not, people will walk away.

You have some good shots, but if people aren't feeling the flow of your reel, even if it has nothing to do with your footage, they'll turn the reel off and that's the opposite of what you want.

I don't want it as a feature? Could you explain what you mean here? Clinton is the most important/known person I've captured on video, and wanted to lead with a strong clip that shows I can video important events/figures.

Once again, :dankk2:
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I mean, even though it's Bill Clinton, the shot isn't strong enough to use as a selling point. You don't want to go up there with just him and say "Look, I've shot someone famous!" That's great and all, but people don't care *who* you shoot so much as how it looks. I've filmed Clinton, too, but it doesn't go in my reel because the shot isn't a selling shot. That said, it's fine to work him iin there as an added treat. Show great cinematography and then a few quick shots of celebrities you've filmed, and that tells them all they need to know. When you open up with a shot on Clinton, there isn't good lighting, it's not a very attractive shot and it makes me dubious about the quality of the rest of the reel. It's nice that you've filmed him, but that wouldn't make me want to hire you.
 
mrWr0ng said:
if you were to do an editing demo reel, you wouldn't just cut together a bunch of over-exposed, poorly acted scenes done on a crappy miniDV cam. You pick from good footage because bad shots, even if they're edited well, distract.
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Great advice. I will seriously consider this.
 
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