Taking your video to the next level?

PegLeg Media

PegLeg Media

Well-known member
Okay, i have been doing video for 7 years or so, and I feel like my video quality has not improved at all in the past 4 years. I am just looking for some feedback on my videos and wondering what suggestions people have to take my skills to the next level. Tutorials/classes to take? Ideas to make the videos more professional? Anything will help!!!

Here is one of my current videos i feel is exactly the same quality as every video I do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69BfkWt6CEo&hd=1

so how can I improve this and take my skills to the next level? Filmed with a canon 7d, 50mm 1.8 lens, edited with premiere pro and after effects and all shot in 2 hours. Any suggestions/ideas?

Thanks so much everyone!
 
You have a lot of good things happening in your video.
Here are a few things I noticed. Jessie- her eyes are at a weird angle, (I think you have several of weird angles with the eyes) she's looking too far up. Eyes should be more parallel to the camera or camera slightly looking up into eyes. I think it should like we as the audience are standing or sitting there listening to the interview.
Stacey- her audio is not consistent with the rest of the audio, it's too quiet.
John Duff- he has dark circles from using no lighting.. you have to light.... lighting also helps give separation from the other stuff in the background, making your subject stand out. John Duff's audio comes in too hard, it's like you edited it too close.
The graphics are ok, but to make them pop check out Digital Juice.. just a having some motion graphics ups the cool factor.
keep up the good work!!

hope this helps

JD
 
Technique or Concept?
Technique - the young woman at the beginning is looking above the camera. She should look directly at the lens, or slightly off camera at someone whom we subsequently see. She is speaking Valley Speak and can hardly be understood. Her lighting is flat, in jarring contrast to the middle-aged man in the next scene. His eyes are hollow sockets, which fill light off camera left could remedy. Panning a crowd of people talking and leading in with focus transitions and the like do not enhance the film's emotional impact.
Concept - this film is a commercial, and as such, should sell one thing, not three. $5 for CPR seems much easier to get than a blood donation, so let's start there. You might open with a shot of a middle-aged man passed out with his horrified wife looking on. Next we see him being worked on by EMT's, this shot matted over a CU of a CPR monitor which is showing a flat line. We hear a steady tone. As the technician's apply CPR, the waveform emerges, and we hear the heartbeat. This frame freezes and we hear a voice over: $5 for CPR could make the the difference between this - cut to monitor with flat line - and this - cut to monitor with normal hearbeat. At the end, ask for the order, in this case the $5 donation. A Mad Men creative type could do much better than this, but you get the idea. Show the emotional need (fear of death), show how your product answers the need (CPR can save your life), and call the viewer to action.
 
I get the impression this video was to showcase the event, not be some local cable channel commercial spot.

Why is the top of the head cut off for almost everyone? If you can't get the eyeline right without cutting off the head, step back.


The logos are very boring.


Don't linger on interview shots. They are boring. Also, when you cut away to b-roll, it allows you to edit all the "ums" out.


The lighting in on Jessie is at the wrong angle because it's cause her facial features to cast shadows. Move the light to eliminate the shadows (I'm assuming it's a light because it changes in intensity in one shot. I would have cut to b-roll before that, or simply don't adjust lighting in the middle of someone talking, even if it's not good. Nothing calls attention to itself like fixing it in the middle of a shot.)
 
Thanks for all the help guys! Maybe a bad video to show, It was a live event I had no time to prepare for and I had no lights to use so it was all natural lighting.

So far you guys have taught me to pay more attention to framing, Lighting is important and if using natural lighting watch for shadows rather than just making sure the shot is bright enough, maybe invest in a LED on camera light for situations like this). Graphics need to be more entertaining, I will check out Digital Juice! I need to be a better Director with the talent, telling them where to look and paying attention to them if they get off.

I like your idea Curtis, definitely would get more peoples interest. I went to the event not knowing what it was and they had no real goal for me they just said will you film this event for us. I think it will just be shown on their website... I will see if they want me to film something similar to what you said, would be more effective I agree!

Thanks guys,
keep the ideas coming, I am learning a lot!!!
 
Don't let the corrections discourage you either. I'm sure they will be very happy with the video you provided.

But if you're anything like me, good enough just doesn't cut it. I try to improve my work in every way for me, and I'm usually my own worst critic.

Interesting to hear there was no actual lighting used. There's clearly a light change on Jessie's face. Must have been a door or window.
 
there were lots of windows in the building so that must have been it. I work for this company, they didnt hire me to freelance in so I uploaded it to youtube and dont know if they will even watch it.

I dont get discouraged from honest feedback, I just want to learn as much as possible and there are so many professionals on here I want to be as successful as so any suggestions are appreciated!
 
Two life-savers for quick-shooting environments: small collapsible reflectors and small on-camera LED lights (not used on the camera, though). Either one can be toted along for negligible extra weight and provide just a touch of shadow fill or a tiny glimpse of eye light
 
mcbob said:
Two life-savers for quick-shooting environments: small collapsible reflectors and small on-camera LED lights (not used on the camera, though). Either one can be toted along for negligible extra weight and provide just a touch of shadow fill or a tiny glimpse of eye light
Click to expand...

Yep. I often add LEDs to my lighting package simply for kickers.
 
I think you made a fine video. As others mentioned, I would spice up the lower thirds and pay more attention to framing your subjects.

I would pay attention to making the video "cleaner." Make sure your framing is perfect. On every. Single. Shot. It all comes down to effort when you're shooting these things. You shouldn't just see things and get a shot of them quick, you should stop and think for 10 seconds - How can I show this in an interesting way that lends itself to the final product?

My second suggestion is to use more wide angle shots. Get a nice wide lens - something equivalent to a 22mm or 24mm on a full frame camera. I find myself shooting with wide lenses really often. The way I see it - films that shoot in great locations shoot with wide lenses to show those locations off. Films with no budget shoot a lot of close ups to hide their crappy location. So if I'm shooting at a nice big location that helps drive the video forward, a nice wide shot from above of all the participants in this video for example, would be really nice. Good luck!
 
well, for me, videos shouldnt be covering "everything". usually I would let a friend watch it, and he must tell me where he starts to lose attention, and I would fix that.

for your video, I lose my attention in the first 3 seconds. no offense but for web sharing where everyone has the control of fast forwarding to a select time, you must create a video that prevents them from doing so.

for me, its all about the first 30 sec, if you cant make the first 30 sec interesting, there is no point for editing the video over 30 sec.

In short, the first thing you should do is to make it short and intense, cut out any unnecessary information, Dont say your employer told you to do so, he aint know nothing about film making, it is your responsibility to make it good on the first hand and then shut their mouth by your excellent work.

for this video you are sharing, Id say listen to what they say, again and again, eventually you will build a senario yourself.

Always challenge yourself. Keep thinking, if you find yourself not improving, take a vacation, do some different type of works, some personal ones. for passion.
 
Shawnvfx said:
Dont say your employer told you to do so, he aint know nothing about film making, it is your responsibility to make it good on the first hand and then shut their mouth by your excellent work.
Click to expand...

Some people have absolutely zero taste. When it comes to battling with the person who is paying the bill, sometimes you lose.
 
ASchear said:
My second suggestion is to use more wide angle shots. Get a nice wide lens - something equivalent to a 22mm or 24mm on a full frame camera. I find myself shooting with wide lenses really often. The way I see it - films that shoot in great locations shoot with wide lenses to show those locations off. Films with no budget shoot a lot of close ups to hide their crappy location. So if I'm shooting at a nice big location that helps drive the video forward, a nice wide shot from above of all the participants in this video for example, would be really nice. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I agree here completely! I am using a Panasonic GH2 and i own a Canon EF 28mm and 50mm lens, then a 28-105 Minolta... I have been looking for something wide with good low lighting for my GH2 but dont see anything on the cheaper side, I am leaning towards a Tamron (I think) 14-50mm 2.8 for my wide angles, unless someone has a better suggestion?

The framing was hard since I had the tight 50mm lens with my Panasonic GH2 and the subjects wouldnt hold perfectly still. I have been looking for a new LED light to use on camera at weddings and as a kicker for quick live events such as this project... The only problem is the LED lights are more expensive than getting a 150w or 300w small tungsten light. I bought one cheap LED light and it was terrible and broke on the 2nd shoot, so is it worth it to drop $300 on a LED light over a smaller tungsten light?

Any suggestions on how to create better motion graphics... I have used lynda and video co-pilot to learn but dont seem to be getting to the next level with their tutorials.

Also, here is a more controled situation video I created, still simple and looking for ways to make it a higher budget video: https://vimeo.com/47132033#at=0
 
You've come to the right place for advice on boosting your skills. (that's not to say I'm about to unleash anything useful) :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

I think this piece is certainly more good than bad. You seem to be taking a lot of flak for the first interview (Jessie) Actually, comparatively speaking, I like the lighting & DOF on her. (I agree with the framing comments) Oh wait! I just saw the light flare. Yeah, that should have been covered up with some b-roll. The next guy, he just looks all shadowy & awful……it is what it is. Milage is gonna vary, but I don't have a problem with how you clipped some of their heads. I like the shot of Maggie. Bottom line, some people are going to be photogenic right off the bat. You may have to work harder to achieve a good shot with others.

Back to the framing issue for a quick sec: I did a series of interviews last year where the interviewer was 6' plus. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I took the footage back to edit, I realize most of the people we spoke to were looking up and it did make things kind of funky. Live & learn.

You could knock about 4 or 5 seconds off that opening graphic and I would animate the logo somehow in After Effects.

A lot of the b-roll camera moves are pretty basic. If you wanted to punch it up, maybe try using a slider or a glide cam? I saw some nice locked down shots like the hand pumping the blue thingy.

Look, I know 100% where you are coming from with time & budget, just some suggestions. I am trying to get back into video production after a slight hiatus. (I was doing more photography/photoshop work) All I can say is practice, practice, practice. Use that b-roll to CUT DOWN your overall pieces. Take out all the umms and ahhaas. It will work wonders.

The Tokina 11-16 is a great wide angle for Canon, do they make it for the GH2?

best regards,
Scott
 
Gary Huff said:
Best option is the Nikon G version with the Novoflex adapter.
Click to expand...

This is what I use, and I use it with a Fotodiox / Rainbow Imaging adapter from Amazon (until I can budget for the Novoflex). Works like a charm and well worth the investment!
 
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