Zachadoodle
Well-known member
I messed up with the color correcting at the last shot, but everything else I tried my best to get right. The footage looks a bit muddy though.
EOS: New Commercial Made with T2i
- Thread starter Zachadoodle
- Start date
I messed up with the color correcting at the last shot, but everything else I tried my best to get right. The footage looks a bit muddy though.
Zachadoodle
Well-known member
The lighting on the interiors was extremely difficult considering the dynamic range of my camera and how everything was situated in bar. The outside was extremely bright while the inside was like half the lighting of a household bulb while outside the sun was shining brighter than had you been in the Sahara Desert. The exterior shots I could do better on. I wish I could establish the location a lot better as when I show the boats you're probably confused why they're there, and that's because the bar is directly on a pier. I think I should have as well been more enthusiastic on the narration. Color correcting could do a much better job too, though again the lighting inside that bar was really difficult to work around.
NorBro
Major Contributor
The dynamic range could be too much for any camera. With no other lights and the best 14-15-16 stop system, the exposure might be passable at the most extreme time of the day with the outside just a little hot.
But forget about that; start with the basics like putting the camera on a tripod. There is nothing worse than shaky footage in a public access-like low-budget commercial, which every single one of us here and every single camera operator on earth has at one point created - just like yours - at some point in their early career.
Then work on the above issues and others in post (like not choosing the shot where the guy looks straight into the camera).
Maybe most importantly: watch YouTube and what Gen Z is doing with even iPhones to get an idea of how far video production has come along. (I do and I personally learn something new every week.)
But forget about that; start with the basics like putting the camera on a tripod. There is nothing worse than shaky footage in a public access-like low-budget commercial, which every single one of us here and every single camera operator on earth has at one point created - just like yours - at some point in their early career.
Then work on the above issues and others in post (like not choosing the shot where the guy looks straight into the camera).
Maybe most importantly: watch YouTube and what Gen Z is doing with even iPhones to get an idea of how far video production has come along. (I do and I personally learn something new every week.)
Zachadoodle
Well-known member
It was on a tripod. The issue that caused the shakiness was, I was on a dock with water coming shaking the bar at the pier.
rob norton
Veteran
Zach, if you're doing everything yourself, don't even think in terms of technical film production, only think in images, then shoot those images.
Staying within your concept:
- Man at pool with VO mentioning lake - replace this shot with people having a good time on a lake - EVERYTHING IS SUPER POSITIVE. Good times at the lake, good times continue at Bluffs.
- watching the game - doesn't look like anyone is having fun, Bluffs commercial can only show people having fun, nothing neutral or negative.
- It's a daiquiri bar - show the delicious daiquiris. This means a table FILLED with food and drinks. Can you take drinks outside? The building exterior looks amazing, I'd get outside. Why would anyone who enjoys the outdoors and doing stuff on a lake want to ruin that vibe by going inside?
Try reshooting with Bluffs instead of moving onto a different business. Focus on what each is image is saying, don't worry about white balance or dynamic range.
Here's a cheat sheet for every shot:
- Is every person in the frame happy?
- have we shown enough drinks?
- does Bluffs look good in the frame? If no, change framing, as in, move outside if possible. Shoot at sunset.
Staying within your concept:
- Man at pool with VO mentioning lake - replace this shot with people having a good time on a lake - EVERYTHING IS SUPER POSITIVE. Good times at the lake, good times continue at Bluffs.
- watching the game - doesn't look like anyone is having fun, Bluffs commercial can only show people having fun, nothing neutral or negative.
- It's a daiquiri bar - show the delicious daiquiris. This means a table FILLED with food and drinks. Can you take drinks outside? The building exterior looks amazing, I'd get outside. Why would anyone who enjoys the outdoors and doing stuff on a lake want to ruin that vibe by going inside?
Try reshooting with Bluffs instead of moving onto a different business. Focus on what each is image is saying, don't worry about white balance or dynamic range.
Here's a cheat sheet for every shot:
- Is every person in the frame happy?
- have we shown enough drinks?
- does Bluffs look good in the frame? If no, change framing, as in, move outside if possible. Shoot at sunset.
Zachadoodle
Well-known member
I'm not usually the best at cheering people up... As for why it looked abandoned, I didn't have that many people to work with as most people are camera shy. They were not wanting any trouble with a camera. Not to worry though as I did this commercial as a favor like the two others I did. It was a busy day that day too so lugging around a ton of equipment would not have been best too. Though this is a lot like my bird photography in which I got to get everything right in one image or its ruined.
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rob norton
Veteran
I completely understand. But the business has to put in effort to get the most out of the video. This is where the business could give anyone participating a free drink etc. while you shoot your scene, now filled with background extras. Don't let it all fall on you, this is a team effort where you and a business owner are working together. If they see every element as being your responsibility just cause you're the video guy then you're doomed to fail.
You can go into a project with some terms to help increase your chances, for example since you're doing a favour, say you'll only do it if they get more people involved since an empty restaurant won't look good. If you're doing this by yourself, that means you're the director and remember, a director directs!
You can go into a project with some terms to help increase your chances, for example since you're doing a favour, say you'll only do it if they get more people involved since an empty restaurant won't look good. If you're doing this by yourself, that means you're the director and remember, a director directs!
NorBro
Major Contributor
The one thing I/we also have to keep in mind is life is likely extremely slow over there compared to other bigger cities so the expectations probably aren't too crazy (not that they wouldn't want the best and a high-quality video but that you can provide them something simple and it probably goes along with the simpler and more relaxed life theme).
Zack Birlew
Veteran
Sounds like a touch of confidence issues and perfectionism going on, if so, it can happen to anybody so no need to get down about it. As far as technical aspects go, the commercial is really wide, maybe a closeup of some food or a drink or something could cut in somewhere. The shaky footage is not good, stabilize it in post or reshoot with a long lens across the way on stable ground. Holding too long on the lady making drinks. Establishing shot of the venue would be great as I would have no idea what I'm looking for if I tried to go there. I don't like the opening of the guy sweating, it looks like a cloudy day and I'd rather see some summer fun or swimming or something happening that implies needing to get a drink to quench thirst or to go have drinks for fun at the bar. A little desk ring light, battery camera light, or a clamp light placed creatively could brighten up those bar shots too, all can be found at Walmart and won't hurt anything in the bar. Here in Vegas we get some local commercials quite often where family members are clearly standing in for the camera, get some family members and friends to fill in those crowd shots and show them having a good time. If there's still time to experiment and work on it, keep at it and have fun with it!