To my wife

scharky

scharky

Veteran
OK, So I have this project that I have been working on for about 3 weeks. It is due tommorow night and I figured, where better to go to get critiques than the fine people at dvxuser.com.
Let me explain a little about the project as you don't have the benefit of having an artists statement. I have been married now for almost 2 years. For these two years my wife and I have also been fulltime students. I also work full time, and try to do weddings and small projects on the side. THis keeps me pretty busy, so as you can guess, this can put a strain on the relationship. This short film is basically about how technology has taken me away from the more important things in life, such as family. At this moment in time there really is nothing that either of us can do about it, so I thougth it would be interesting to follow myself for an average day and see what kind of relationship I have with my wife. Now I must admit I did this over several weeks, all of the same day (as my schedual stays pretty set) so it wasn't actually all one particaluar day but it is everything that I do in one day. After I was done getting all my footage it depressed me to see that the only time I was with my wife for this entire thing was when we were asleep in bed. Pretty sad. Hopefully I can change that soon.

As for right now any tips you can give me would be great. It is a project for class, so be harsh, as that will only give me a better grade. thanks in advance and heres the link.

http://www.stefweb.net/draft1.wmv
 
Re: To my wife

I loved it! Your wife is going to trip! That was so creative! What effect is that (cartoony look)? Is that CC or a Plug In? I really liked this and not to be weird; romantic. Your wife will love you long time.

I felt the peice effective when the intercutting pace was fast (a couple seemed to hand a little too long)

Great job and a nice idea!
 
Re: To my wife

The cartoony look was actually a very long process. basically, I made a very extensive action in photoshop. I exported a tiff sequence and then let photoshop do it's magic. I have actually spent quite a bit of time trying to get just the right look, and the render time is horrible, as I was also upsampling to 1280px to get the outlines right and then downressing at the end of the action back to 720x480. Unfortunatly the very compressed file seems to have hit the cartoon look the hardest as it is much less jumpy and jittery on the actual footage.
Thanks for the comments. she actually hasn't seen it yet, I am trying to get it just right before I show it to her, or my class.
 
Re: To my wife

Skettalee, is it the cartoon look in general that you don't like or is it just a particular aspect of the effect that is unnapealing.  Anything that you could suggest to improve it? here is a full rez frame grab that you can look at more closely.  this is actually the frame that I used to base the whole look in photoshop.
http://www.stefweb.net/grab1.jpg

here is another one
http://www.stefweb.net/grab2.jpg
 
Re: To my wife

I thought it was way cool -- the idea, the film, the cartoon look. ;D

And, I never cease to be surprised by what people actually look like in real life.
 
Re: To my wife

[quote author=skettalee link=board=Clips;num=1081983262;start=0#6 date=04/14/04 at 17:45:45]well did you ever see anything professionaly made that had a cartoon effect like that? nah i doubt it. It just doesn't look professional. [/quote]

???
 
Re: To my wife

What's wrong David? I didn't see anything.

I like this cartoony look myself. I am not sure if I would ever use it or where I would use it (Music Video? Probally). I think this is a nice piece to dedicate to your wife and understand how hard it can be to juggle each element.
 
Re: To my wife

Yeah, it's kind of wierd starring in your own film. Now that everyone knows that I don't look like Brad Pitt I have lost all my power :'(
 
Re: To my wife

[quote author=John Hudson link=board=Clips;num=1081983262;start=0#7 date=04/14/04 at 18:15:26]What's wrong David?  I didn't see anything.
[/quote]

Looks like skettalee removed his post.
 
Re: To my wife

Very cool. I like the effect. Kinda reminds me of the old Ah-ha video for "Take on Me". It's like you're trapped in this surreal world trying to get out to the world where you really want to be.

For the time-lapse sequences did you shoot with the camera in interval mode or was that all in post?
 
Re: To my wife

[quote author=Brad Thames link=board=Clips;num=1081983262;start=0#12 date=04/14/04 at 19:31:13]Very cool.  I like the effect.  Kinda reminds me of the old    Ah-ha video for "Take on Me".  [/quote]

It was VERY MUCH like "Take On Me," only in color.
 
Re: To my wife

The time lapse was a mix of post work and in camera. I used the in camera time lapse for really long periods of time, like my classes, my 8hour work day and some driving sequences. the rest was all in post.
I remember that video, and really didn't even make the connection with it until you mentioned that just now. The difference is that they spent hours hand drawing everything. I spent hours waiting for the dang thing to render. :-/
 
Re: To my wife

I, for one, really liked the cartoon effect. The office scene was especially convincing. Too bad it took so long. I've imported stuff into photoshop frame by frame as well. I haven't done it since because it's time consuming.
Great job.

Maybe if you tell us more about the nature of your class project, we could be more "harsh" in our critiques.
 
Re: To my wife

Also, what did you use to keep the camera steady in your car? Please don't tell me that you 1) had it wedged between the dashboard and windshield or 2) have money to blow on some expensive car-stablizing contraption.
 
Re: To my wife

Also, I've seen a plug-in that does a somewhat cartoon effect. But it really looks like dirt compared to what you did. Your's was great. (In fact, I was hoping you were going to say "Oh, it a $99 plug-in for Final Cut Pro" but no such luck.)
Maybe you could show it to one of those plug-in developers and they could create the "scharky" plug-in.
Maybe Fox will release a new prime time cartoon show done with the "Scharky" effect! (now there's a way to pay those college loans).
 
Re: To my wife

I feel bad for your wife, how can you do this to her >:(
 
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