DOC: "The Source" - a short documentary: I respond well to criticism!!

[simonpwood]

So this is the first documentary I have tried filming with a DSLR. Nearly all the shots in this were filmed with a Canon T3i with a vintage 50mm Nikkor lens. Mostly the shots were locked off, but a few were done on a basic rig (made from an old photo safari stock). Other shots were done with a Canon XLH1 (mainly used for wider establishing shots when I needed extra resolution that the DSLR was unable to provide – however none of these shots actually were included in the final edit). A GoPro HD Hero was used for the more ‘extreme’ moments. Audio was recorded on a Zoom external recorder and synched in post.

This was filmed over the course of 3 days, in fairly remote areas along the Nile river. It was a fairly tough shoot, and the weather was against us the whole time (constant wind made it hard to record location interviews, given that there was already a lot of noise from the river, and the villages – damn you goats!!!). We were also subject to constant tropical storms, and harsh sunshine. This was the only time I can remember being badly sunburned while drenched wet and cold. Weird.

I used FCPX to edit, and it was flawless for me. This was a very quick edit (I did it in 1 day). The Synchronize feature saved my bacon (for synching the video clips from the dslr & the audio clips from the zoom). It worked fast and 100% every time; I was really surprised how well it worked. However, before the start of each take I would clap my hand, and I'm sure this helped the program match everything.

This was a simple edit; straight cuts and not one transition. Graded with Magic Bullet Looks.

This was filmed for a competition, and the theme was 'A force of nature'.

One thing to note; Vimeo's compression has introduced some sound distortion into the video in SD mode, and it has become very very soft. Best to watch in HD. With earphones!

Here goes:

 

[simonpwood]

Quick update: this doc won the competition it was made for. Woohoo.

 

[Joost]

Congrats!

Nice you cut with FCPX just like me always cool to hear more people like it. Except I like it best to grade in FCPX not external.
I like the pictures very much. The titel, story, sound, subject are also very good.

The only think I didn't like is the tempo and tention. It has no interesting ritme and line it builds up to.
With the material you have, it could do more to my emotion if it's build up and sequence better and with help of deep intriguing sounds and pause. Can't explane it very good.

I guess you choose to make it more natural and as it is and I respect that choice. I just like fancy a little more.

I'm bussy with the same kind of docu but feature lenght. I got 100 hrs of footage from 5000km in 5 months and endless story's. So I know the problems you walk into. Respect

It could have subtitels in english, I could bearly understand it.

 

[simonpwood]

Hi Joost,

Thanks for watching.

Yup, FCPX is a great little program (and still very misunderstood I feel). I find I can fly through edits with it, and cuts come together in no time. I used to use Premiere (I still have it on a PC), but FCPX just seems a lot quicker and more intuitive.

I use Magic Bullet Looks to grade inside of FCPX (as a filter), so the grading is still within the program as such. The one thing I have still not got used to in FCPX is the 'Color Board', which I find confusing. I prefer the traditional color wheels. Do you use this to grade with?

Originally I was going to make this a more 'extreme' style documentary. I had lots of kayaking footage from different rapids, and was planning to use a lot of effects (slow motion, light leaks and so forth). However, in the end I decided to try and lead slowly into the story, and only show the kayaking at the very end. So yeah, the tempo is definitely a slow burn. This decision came about in the edit, and was not what I originally envisioned. I guess I decided to try and make a story more about the zen like outlook of the character, rather than the extreme nature of his job.

Subtitles was something that I agonized over for a long while. When I showed people the edit, I asked them would they like subtitles or not and the answers were split 50/50. I decided not to keep the subtitles because so much of the documentary relied on short images (only lasting a few seconds) and I reasoned that if people were reading the words then they would miss the imagery. I figured that if people got the 'gist' of the story then that would suffice. As you say some of the dialogue was hard to understand; the kayaker only spoke English as a second language and he had a heavy accent and an unusual way of speaking. I felt maybe this would add a little flavor to the story. But maybe I should have just includes the subtitles!

I feel for you doing a long form documentary; the edit is the toughest part. Good luck with it!

 

[Joost]

Okay, I indeed get your choise. This easy guy may not fit with the smug of a fancy edit. But you can also get tension with simple things that do fit in the charakter. But it's good already.

Here is a good serie of youtube tutorials for fcpx,...A MUCH WATCH for fcpx user. http://www.youtube.com/user/colorgradingcentral/videos

English is also my 2e language so that's might be the reason I have dificulty's. A subtitle might not worth the effort because we get where it's about.

My docu is also goin to be about kayaking we made some previews but still wresling with the form. Whe can go so many directions with the amount of footage we have.
http://www.sumatrachallenge.org/

 

[simonpwood]

Thanks for that link; just started watching the tutorials. Very handy.

I had a look at the video on your website; I like those effects you have in the trailer. It looks like it should be an amazing documentary (and an amazing journey)!

 

[jghenderson]

Really gorgeous footage. Excellent color.

I wasn't crazy about the music choice, but it didn't distract all that much. Biggest problem is that it didn't have much of an impact, I think due to no build in tension. It also would have been nice if you had a second camera so you could have gotten a closeup of the guy's interview as well. The line "I know i'm alive" was just begging for a closeup.

Overall really great work.

 

[OldCorpse]

People covered the good, so I won't repeat that. I must also say I was not crazy about the music - perhaps something done with local musicians on local instruments (from a CD) could have worked better. Also, I wanted more environmental sounds, but that's just me. But those are nitpicks, overall pretty great.

 

[simonpwood]

Really gorgeous footage. Excellent color.

I wasn't crazy about the music choice, but it didn't distract all that much. Biggest problem is that it didn't have much of an impact, I think due to no build in tension. It also would have been nice if you had a second camera so you could have gotten a closeup of the guy's interview as well. The line "I know i'm alive" was just begging for a closeup.

Overall really great work.

Hi JG, thanks for watching; I appreciate you taking the time.

Glad you like the footage and the colour. The grade was done in Magic Bullet Looks (used the Blockbuster preset as a starting point and tweaked it, and then used it at around 50% opacity I think).

Hmmm...I hadn't really thought too much about the music until you mentioned it. I had kind of aimed for a 'zen-like' mood and tone, and thought a sort of Moby style song would fit. I had a few Royalty Free 'Chill-out' songs in my library, and that one seemed to fit best to my ears. You and OldCorpse both mentioned it though, so I guess it is something people are picking up on.

A 2nd DSLR would have been a really great help. I actually had a second video camera with me, an XLH1, which is a great run-and-gun camera and very nice for wildlife documentaries. I did the first set of interviews on the first day using both cameras, and that night when I reviewed the shots I realized that there was no way the cameras were going to cut together. The audio was also messed up due to the background noises, so on the 2nd day we did some more interviews and I didn't even bother using the 2nd camera. A new DSLR is definitely on the list of things I want to buy though; some close ups would have been very handy, especially for the scene you mentioned.

 

[simonpwood]

People covered the good, so I won't repeat that. I must also say I was not crazy about the music - perhaps something done with local musicians on local instruments (from a CD) could have worked better. Also, I wanted more environmental sounds, but that's just me. But those are nitpicks, overall pretty great.

Hi OldCorpse, thanks for watching and commenting!

Thats a god idea; I might actually try another cut with some traditional music to see how it fits.

I had sacrificed the location audio on most of the shots as I had recorded them on the dslr (with the internal mic, which is not very good). I actually had a Zoom audio recorder that we used for the interviews, but I was too lazy to use it during the non interview scenes (and saving hard drive space)! I often forget basic stuff like this though. Note to self; next time record a minute of ambient audio at each location!

 

[simonpwood]

Big review done on by a guy on another site. Some interesting points raised here:

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[TD="class: kmessage-left"]Thank you for sharing your fine work with us, Simon. Technically I found the piece admirable. While reading your intro, I wondered why you'd not used any transitions, even simple crossfades, but once the viewing began I understood your method more. Loved the opening titling with the expansion & fade on "the source."

Do you mind sharing how you did that? I'm figuring keyframing & spacing the final letters with reduced opacity, but wondering if there's a preset.

Knowing the subject of the competition from your description, I wondered at the Kierkegaard quote, thinking it to be more internally philosophically oriented than nature-force focussed. The quote, in conjunction with knowing what the competition was about, set me in a slightly conflicted frame before we'd got into the video. In hindsight, the quote fits perfectly with your hero & his endeavor.

Perhaps "endeavor" is not the best choice of words, but I'm reluctant to diminish such a challenging or even life threatening activity by calling it a hobby or pass-time. However, we're broaching on why I assume you didn't win the competition. We'll come back to this...

In the opening shots, it quickly became apparent, your transitionless editing fit perfectly with the music, though a couple bars in I felt a tinge of predictability. Your soundtrack was excellent & worked wonderfully. Visually, the location was stunning & fascinating, not to mention that shot I'm sure everyone is curious about; the "Avoid Morning Sex" sign. What a curious message. I'm certain a poll of all your viewers would show the sign's backstory as high on their level of inquiry.

Your combination of the various camera formats seems relatively seamless, of course we all knew when we switched to the GoPro. Loved the GoPro's underwater kayak roll footage.

From the "force of nature" standpoint, I think you captured the churning ferocity of the river viscerally. This is starkly emphasized when you shoot from the darkness, silhouetting him against the seething cauldron rushing by. The audio recording of your talent was outstanding, the opening scenes where he's sitting & talking while looking out over the river, were exemplary. Not seeing a mic on him, knowing you'd used the portable Zoom recorder, I was wondering how you mic'd him for that wider shot. Lovely imagery in his description that the river flows into the Nile & then to the pyramid. It's been my experience with Western viewers, there is a modicum of irritation when having to listen to foreign accents over any extended time. Even typing now, I have to chuckle at this subtle form of racism, or at least xenophobia. Alas, that has been our experience in test marketing projects with focus groups, though they are slightly more tolerant when the piece is comedy or drama. Yours could be countered with the juxtaposition of another voice, announcer or narrator, perhaps a British female or American male, for instance. However, on this piece, that probably would have broken the intimacy.

On initial viewing, your finishing appears flawless, Magic Bullet Looks 2 really gave you some gorgeous tones with the lush foliage. You did the exotic location justice with your color treatment. May we ask what Magic Bullet settings you used? (not sure if those are exportable...)

So, from a nuts & bolts standpoint, fantastic job. Seeing the polished result & knowing the arduous trek, difficult conditions & taxing shoot, it's evident you must have a rapturous level of passion. After all you poured into this project, I'm sure you hoped to win... would you like to know why you didn't?

We're going to move from the exoteric into the esoteric now, & some get a little offended when this sort of light of scrutiny is shone on their work. Of course I'm fully aware of the emotional commitment one puts into a piece of art like this, it's very difficult to hear a completely detached perspective, but that's what I'm paid for as a consultant. (Chuckling again here, knowing that any advice or recommendations that are offered without charge are usually viewed as worthless.) In my business we say the perspective of your target demographic must be lived. You're aiming at video competition judges...

The subject of the competition aligns with the current global trend, of environmentalism, which has taken on almost religious tones. By this I mean it's taught to children as a moral absolute, stresses the need for repentance & or a coming judgement, etc. Western ideology has assimilated these themes into modern cultural acceptance & promotion of this enviro concept, especially over the past 20 years. The theme is multifaceted & ubiquitous. Appearing everywhere; women's fashion magazines, children's cartoons, car adverts & movies, it's no surprise that it manifests as a video competition subject. Sorry if I'm being presumptive in assuming you didn't win, I just thought you would most likely have told us if you had. Perhaps it hasn't been finalized yet? Searches didn't bring up much, other than things that reiterate what I'm saying here - a David Suzuki film on Forces of Nature, an Eco-Comedy video competition, etc. Could you provide a link where we could see the winning video?

You committed the cardinal sin of Westernizing the subject. Let me explain...

Even if your cinematography & post production were perfect, the judges would be left with a twinge of dissatisfaction. Some of them might not even be able to put their finger on what exactly didn't wow them. On a subconscious level the film didn't connect to the ethos. But why not? Because 20 years of religious programming of sorts, ingrains a foundational substructure of thought forming the world view, & your film goes against it. Here's how...

Your African man is indigenous, still in his mysterious native land - so far, so good - we're firing on all cylinders. His English is pretty good (this could be a slight cause for beginning of the disconnect), he's wearing bright colors (accepted as African cultural norm, but the T-shirt does seem a bit Western style - disconnect continues). His talk of the river, draws us back, the fishing, his life, his heritage, his father & grandfather did it (we're completely brought back). But then, speaking of bright colors, the electric pink plastic kayak (wow, it's confusing at first, the disconnect amplifies, what is this?). Then we see, he's riding the river for his own thrills, it's a hobby or pastime, in that this aspect of his relationship with the river, is not for the survival of his family, but rather for his personal enjoyment. Yes, it's a zen thing for him, & we get that & the connection with the Kierkegaard quote. However, in the context of Eastern & Western ideologies & especially in the light of our new "religion," his whitewater river rafting is a very Western style joyride.

Some might try to suggest that this view is "racist" or some other politically correct form of labeling, but it's actually the reverse. Since we in the West, have abandoned our traditional religions, we really need natives to reinforce our new one. We seek aboriginals that encourage us in some sort of pseudo-spiritual connection to the rivers & trees, bolstering our confidence in our current cultural religious shift.

Some might argue that natives have always enjoyed playing in nature while respecting it & not desecrating it. Fine. But to the Western minded judges of this competition he's too Western, in that he's got too much time on his hands to pursue such a, granted zen empowering, but none the less frivolous activity.

Concededly, the judges probably won't articulate this position, as previously outlined, most of these introspective undercurrents are subliminal in their world view. However, if the judges were unWesternized Africans, you would have won, with him being their hero.

Here's how you could have won the current contest. The exact same video techniques, music, location, river, even the same guy but with a major thematic alteration. He's less Western, more African. Instead of a boogie-boarding displaced South-Cali wannabee, he's all mystical with deep dark African wisdom. We meet his family in a hut by firelight, dressed in textured earth tones, darling little children, supportive smiling wife. He speaks of the reverence for the river, handed down from his father, & grandfather before him. We see him in a dugout canoe bringing home the fish that keeps the family alive, bartering fish with others. The relationship of the children with the river is shown. The family lives BY the river, in every sense, they depend on the river, it represents life, God, all. He risks his life on the river, for his people, to continue the legacy. He has no time or mind for hobbies, but all is for the love of his family, culture & of course the blessed awesome river.

Final scene, he's on the porch of the hut, overlooking the river at sunset, little one sleeping on his lap, wife preparing fish by the fire, he's looking out over the water, eyes glaze over as he recounts someone dying in the rapids (perhaps his brother)... "The river gives us life... but sometimes takes away..." (baby cries in the distance)

Fade to black.

==

Is it no longer a documentary, has it moved into docu-"drama" now?
Well... do you want to win or not?

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