Rough cut DP reel for review.

Beat Takeshi

Beat Takeshi

Two-Hip Shakur
Hi all,
Didn't know where to put this since its both DVX and HVX.
This is the first time I have cut a reel together and it was hard as hell. I already see a lot I want to change and delete but I just wanted to get this far at least.
Please feel free to say anything about it and suggestions. I am more than open for critique.

And no, I didn't put the spy fest stuff yet so not to reveal anything and I still don't know how to handle gaffers work on a reel so no Katrina and Bone Hand. I guess I put that at the end but I'm not sure.

Thanks!
Aram

Old one:
http://www.puffinfilms.com/Aram/Aram_DP_reel_Roughcut1.mov


::EDIT::

Here is a new edit but I'm still working on it.
 Right click or command click and save to computer..
http://www.puffinfilms.com/Aram/Aram_DP_reel_Roughcut2.mov
 
Last edited:
Excellent work. It shows great lighting, a variety of settings, some good camera movement, and an ability to shoot with post VFX in mind. It looks great

My only critiques are:

I would tighten it up. Some of the shots are repetitive, and you could probably lose a bit out of each segment, which could get it down to about 2:30 or so.

Some of the scenes looked a bit too dark. I know it's compressed and online, but you may have people looking at it that way. You might want to limit those shots to the "must haves". I've never been a big fan over overcrushing the blacks though, so that is partially just my taste.

I think a few more shots of traditional movement, like dolly and jib shots would round it out nicely if you have them (I could have missed them if they are already there)

That being said, I thought it was badass.
 
Agree with above.

To loooooooonng. And loose the curly looking text that some of the scenes have.

Otherwise good work. Get some new music, it did jive too well.
 
I would agree with Jim Brennan Aram. I think you can tighten it up. I noticed it in the opening shot esp. That is a cool effect, but that whole thing, in my opinion should be like half as long. Always leave them wanting more, I say.
 
I liked it. Some really nice looking footage. I agree it should be tightened up. Lose some of the repition. I also liked the music at first and then it really got on my nerves. sorry 'bout that. I would add your contact info at the end too. If it's on a website I'm not sure how important that is, but it probably wouldn't hurt. Nice work.
 
Thanks for the comments. :) I am trying to cut out a bunch of stuff but you know how it is when its your own stuff. I just want to show everything. I already cut some of the stuff and moved the intro thing to the end. I guess I have to find some new music but I likey. Its from Ghost in the Shell and I guess I just like the build ups to match the footage build ups.
Ok back to editing it. Keep it coming.
 
The color of everything really jumped out at me. Was that all in cam? Post? Did you edit the films as well? The term DP these days is getting more and more vast. I felt it still seems a bit long, towards the end the clips didn`t feel tied together in any way, alot of random 1 shots in there. Great work overall.
 
Aram, great stuff man, very impressive. I would maybe cut down the sequence at the beginning with your contact info but other than that awesome.
 
Aram,

Impressive. It was cool to see so many shots from you that I have watched over the years. You can definitely watch your skills grow (not that they were bad to start).

Chris
 
Thanks guys. I know its still long, for a first reel its like you don't want to cut stuff but I know I have to. I noticed the same thing with all the shots together about the color. You guys are definitely making me feel good because I was bummed a little too. I guess I'm never happy with my work no matter what it is.
Extra thanks Chris. We still need to meet up too. :)
Another thing I noticed was that there is a wide range of styles in the reel but I don't know if thats good or not.
 
Just watched it. I have the same comment about it being repetitive, and I think you can take it a step further. Right now it plays very linearly. You go from project to project and settle on a couple shots within each film. I would cut this down a lot and take a nonlinear approach. Choose the best most striking shots and use those.

Mark already said this, but leave the viewer wanting more. Pick the best shots, go with the epic strong choices, and mix it all up. You've got a lot of strong material, but it loses its punch when you use too much of it.

For a good exercise I would try making three different cuts: One thirty second reel, a one minute reel, and a minute and a half.
 
Aram Bauman said:
Another thing I noticed was that there is a wide range of styles in the reel but I don't know if thats good or not.
Click to expand...

It is what it is. I feel like you have to reach a point where you stop trying to please people and just be yourself and see who wants what you are. So I would let it reflect what you've done and not worry about that. If it were me.
 
Thats a great idea Isaac, Ima gonna try that.
Mark, I definitely have a goal where I want my look to be in the future and I think about it everyday and watch movies pretty much everyday with the style but for now its about getting the gigs. Its scary all of a sudden having no job after 5 years. I guess thats why I want to put everything I can with the hopes that maybe that one shot out of all of them will spark interest.
I also understand that the style I like is super highly art directed also accenting the cinematography and making the movies look stunning but the lighting stands alone from all others to me and its exciting to think that one day I will get there. Its sort of like when I used to play basketball, I had incredible award winning defence(not to brag) and when I came across someone that would have some nasty crossovers and moves that would get by me I would study what happened so next time we played I would lock them up. I used to [SIZE=-1]obsess[/SIZE] over it. I'm kind of like that with this style but cinematogrphy takes a life time to master. Heh, don't know what basketball has to do with DPing but...

Oh I remember why I started on that...what I was trying to say was I feel what your saying Mark and thats what I want to do in my heart but trying to get paid is fogging that because I would just like to study the style I like and stick with it instead of trying to please a wide range of looks.
 
whoa just found this...

Looks good man, it just needs to be shorter. I really liek the stuff yo udid with the kitchen. that short looked good. cut out 90% of the Brevis test stuff, a couple shots are cool, but its long.

Looks great man!
 
Very nice.

When it comes to critiquing these sorts of things, I'm an a**hole, but I'm an equal opportunity a**hole.

You have some great shots and it appears that you have left in some shots that were not nearly as good. Maybe for personal reasons, I don't know. But I'd suggest loosing most of the shots from in the park. Also consider cutting down on the effects shots, we get it you can shoot for the effect but the effects themselves don't help to promote your cinematography.

Shorten it up. There are moments where you create a mood then you cut to someone looking directly at the camera trying to be cool. Are you trying to promote your ability to compose great shots or some actors ability to play to the camera. For me none of those shots worked and really interfere with your style.

I'd also lose the dark interior shots of the stairway and the kids building things, not because it wasn't shot well, but sorry again for me they looked a bit amateurish in that setting. The outdoors shots worked well and I loved the transition from the truck to the orange.

Finally, I think the shots of the young woman along the boardwalk are great but unless this is a scene from a well recognized film that I just didn't make the connection to, I'd cut out of that scene before the guy comes up like a vampire. Didn't look that realistic and it certainly didn't surprise or frighten me so I think it edtracts from an otherwise great sequence.

Please, these are just my opinions and the only reason I chose to share them this way is because I like your style but I had to watch it a couple of times to get a sense of it. My suggestions are just intended to strip away some of the things I felt got in the way.

The only reason I watched it more than once is because you asked for advice on this forum. If you had sent this to me in search of a job I probably wouldn't have given it a second look which would have really been MY loss.

I like your cinematography.
 
ChuckS, dude...your post is exactly what I'm looking for. I didn't feel you were an asshole in the slightest. I feel it's going to take a lot more of these types of posts to get me to see things I would never see being its my own stuff. I want this reel to be short and too the point but at the moment I lack knowing what the point is going to be. Thanks for taking the time to watch a few times and thinking about it as you did. I couldn't ask for more. :O)
Yeah that Brevis test stuff, I hate it and love it at the same time. Heh.
 
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