T-West "Black Kid/City Life" OFFICIAL Music Video

Kegan

Kegan

Spam Assassin Mod
Dreamsoft Productions' newest music video!

Dir: Hank Devos
Prod: Kegan Sant
DP: Josh Allen

Details in case you guys are wondering...

We shot with:

- Canon 7D
- Tamron 17-50mm f.2.8 VC
- indisystem ULTRAcompact
- Lilliput 7" 669AH Monitor
- Fader ND
- Manfrotto 519 head w/ 525 sticks
- 4x4 Kino Bank
- Flag kit
- Lowel 3 piece lighting kit
- 95cm Lastolite silver / white reflector

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE
 
Last edited:
Good video, but some suggestions that would make it "pop" better visually.

First and foremost when the artist is singing the hook I would have placed him in a different element. Since it is some wired robotic sound some kind of visual effect or just using it's own scene/location just for that would have done a great contrast from the hook to when he actually starts rapping.

As it is now it does not look right him singing that hook and then he goes right into his verse in the same scene.

2nd critique:
IMO the video needs to be color corrected, it just looks like the raw image was captured and the video was cut like that. CC as I'M sure you know truly brings a different production level to video when done correctly.


Other than those things the video was good and had a great atmosphere from being outside to indoors and that's always good as it adds production value. So, good video, ok song, and just do something with the colors and when he sings and you will have a more complete project IMO.
 
Thanks for the feedback. The video's locked and finished up - no additional scenes will be shot, nor will additional CC be done [it has been color corrected...not all videos need the blown highlights and crushed black look - not saying that's what you're suggesting, but just explaining the different color correction methods and techniques]

Much appreciated that you took the time to watch!

Kegan
 
Hey Kegan,

Good efforts all around. I actually am about 50/50 on the song, he's got a good message that I can personally relate to but at the same time, sort of defeats himself with certain lyrics and assumptions. I guess, though, there are different realities to the same "issues".

Aside from that, I think the concept works. As you weren't the director, it's hard to comment on it but most of what I see falling flat is definitely direction as a whole. He's speaking, but not performing throughout the entire video. So it's more like a walk about versus being an actual music video, if that makes sense.

I like the glass brick interior moments, I think I kind of get where you guys were going with that. I wonder if there was any opportunity to amp up the energy or feeling there? After a few cuts, does it feel like it's a bit redundant?

Just thinking out loud.

On my computer, it does look a bit flat, but that may not necessarily be due to color, but just actual lighting and sometimes composition. All in all, a good learning experience for a decent song, yeah?

Thanks for showing.
 
Hey Kholi,

Thanks for looking and giving us your feedback - it's appreciated.

I agree with you on the points of the song and as a result we went through about 3 or 4 different concepts until we could all agree on one. The song and his intent is sometimes a little contradictory, but he was satisfied with how the song was portrayed in the end...which is I suppose, the ultimate goal.

The director is a member of the board and perhaps he'll pop his head in and offer his POV regarding your feedback.

Hm, I see what you mean - we definitely had the intention of shooting more, but he ended up being a couple hours late for the shoot which definitely put us behind schedule. Unfortunately the budget didn't allow for the additional scenes to be shot, so we had to use what we had.

It was a fun learning experience and I think an interesting song to test our creativity. All in all, no regrets and have learned tons for the next one.

Kegan
 
On the direction end I have to agree a lot of it was kind of redundant, but since I assume you were the DP I do have to say the overall image did look good. The lighting was good and the composition was pretty good. I could tell it was color corrected. I don't think it needed much more, if any, than that.

Do you mind posting a picture of your rig? I've been looking at the ULTRAcompact and I'm curious to see how it is with a monitor? What do you think of the rig? Also what do you think of the Lilliput? Did you have a sun shade for the outdoor scenes? Why am I asking so many questions back to back? Should I stop now?

Phew! God its been a long day. lol.
 
Thanks Jerrod!

I was the producer on this one actually. Josh was the DP. Feedback is all appreciated.

It is my rig though and I'll get a photo of it up as soon as I can. Its not bad with a monitor and a short arm. No sun shade for the outdoor scenes, but used a DIY loupe to gauge exposure.

Lilliput is good - use it for focus, but exposure and colors I wouldn't trust it. I always unplug, check LCD screen on back of the camera and plug it back in to use for focus pulling. Its good for the money, but you have to be able to accept the limitations like exposure/colors.

Carry on with the questions!

Kegan
 
Kholi said:
Aside from that, I think the concept works. As you weren't the director, it's hard to comment on it but most of what I see falling flat is definitely direction as a whole. He's speaking, but not performing throughout the entire video. So it's more like a walk about versus being an actual music video, if that makes sense.
Click to expand...

I more or less agree. I was the director on it.

I am not particularly happy with a lot of the performance I did. As Kegan said, we were really behind that day, about 2 hours. I had to throw out a lot of what I wanted to do to keep our schedule. The system we had going was also a pain in the ass; I couldn't monitor as it was being shot. But excuses are excuses I guess.

Was my first music video so it was a good learning experience.
 
Loki said:
I more or less agree. I was the director on it.

I am not particularly happy with a lot of the performance I did. As Kegan said, we were really behind that day, about 2 hours. I had to throw out a lot of what I wanted to do to keep our schedule. The system we had going was also a pain in the ass; I couldn't monitor as it was being shot. But excuses are excuses I guess.

Was my first music video so it was a good learning experience.
Click to expand...

haha! Loki directing Music Vids? World's ending! Kidding, though.

I wouldn't call them excuses. At this point, we're having a discussion so it's merely reflection, and hind-sight's also twenty-twenty.

I do know, first hand, that sometimes it can be hard to draw a performance out of someone that's usually not used to... well... performing.

Again, learning experience, though. That's all it is.

And YEAH DSLRs are a pain in the ass. You pretty much either have to roll SD out to a small monitor or trust your shooter with the footage.

I keep saying this, but I recommend everyone bypass trying to monitor in HD and just use Standard Def, convert to SDI and break the signal out to multiple sources. It's enough of an image to work with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top