Surfing Documentary

T

timwhanson

Member
Hello everyone,

I finished working on a short 3 minute mini-documentary, and with all the respect I have for this board and its users I wanted to get some feedback. Searching the posts here is such a great resource, and I have learned a lot, and just want to add something for once instead of just looking at other peoples stuff.

Just click the link below, its a 90MB Quicktime file so give it a sec. Or on the page you can download alternate sizes.

http://www.shuttlecockmedia.com/reel/surf/

Thanks !!

T
 
Looks nice and clean, my only complaint is no action shots. If the guys couldn't surf, didn't you at least get some good wipeouts on tape? But good job, brings me back to my first attempts.
I've been skateboarding since 85, and I've got the utmost respect for surfing. It's the hardest thing I've ever tried!
 
First of all, congrats on finishing. So many of us start a projects and never see it to completion. So kudos for that.

Course, this is just my opinions and I'm sure you'll find people who will disagree with everything I think but I'll give it to you anyway. :)

For me the opening shot is a little to low contrast for me. I like shots that are more contrasty with a bit more snap to them.

I thought there were to many shots of the guys trying to get into their wetsuits.
Their really wasn't any real surfing going on. These guys are saying how much they love to surf yet all we really see if them getting ready to surf and then crashing on the beach after they surfed.

The wave crashing over the camera is killer! That's the best shot of the whole film for me.

I liked the interviews in B&W but I would have loved to see them surfing in color. It would almost be like on land, they're not complete and thus in B&W. But once they hit the waves everything explodes in color.

Anyway, just some of my thoughts on it.
 
RE: N8ture

RE: N8ture

I totally agree with you on a few points, but sadly these things are a product of lack of options. See this was shot with a crappy 300 dollar camcorder. I have no control over the rampant overexposure in the whole thing. I did my best to bump up contrast in post but it just shows you how blown out some of the shots were to begin with.

Secondly I too wish there was actual surfing footage but the problem was they never even made it past the breakers lol. This was a documentary project for film school and the deal was I got two friends from Bumfuck Tennessee to come out, threw some boards at them and stood back and record the failure. I wish I could use some of the shots from them trying to surf but honestly the footage is terrible, the zoom was useless on that camcorder and I waded hip deep and still could not get close enough to see much of anything.

So pretty much this is the best of what I got. I can't afford a DVX at the moment but I'm just trying to keep the skills sharp until I can afford some real equipment.

Thanks for the comments!!!

T
 
Hey Tim,
But like I said at the beginning of my post, you finished it and that is more than allot of people do! Neither Deepfocus88 or myself said it was bad, we only said what we thought could be done to make it better.

You're getting out and making the most of the gear that you have. Believe me, it'll pay off in the end.
 
Awesome

Did you say Ocean Beach ? Like San Diego ?

Hey man; it takes some balls to get out there and surf (try too)

Cool !
 
timwhanson said:
Hey guys, I took your advice and re-edited in some new "surf" footage. Tell me how you feel now. Thanks!

http://www.shuttlecockmedia.com/reel/surf/
Click to expand...
Yeah, now thats what I'm talking about. Those clips really add to the overall piece. And like I mentioned before....been there, done that. (nothing like getting wacked by a flying board) :shocked:

The surfing shots seem to be of a lower quality (not as much contrast) than the the other shots, but now I'm just nit picking....
 
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