Trailer: Documentary about Jazz

[Giganova]

Hi all --

First time film maker here!

I have been very busy over the past 9 months shooting a documentary about jazz in Washington, DC, and have just started editing the footage. The doc will challenge our perception of the history of jazz and will showcase the rich history and current status of jazz in Washington, DC. In the movie, I am making the case that Washington DC does not have to shy a comparison with NYC or New Orleans, even though many of the historic jazz venues are lost or are about to collapse.

Over the past few months I have been filming numerous jazz concerts all over town, and had access to amazing people for interviews (some of them true geniuses). Almost everyone that you'll see in the trailer is famous one way or the other. So far I have shot around 70 hours of footage, and there's more to come over the next few weeks.

Anyway, if you'd like to check it out, here's a 3-min trailer:

http://vimeo.com/5812005

I would be very grateful if you could give me some feedback! Keep in mind that I have never shot or edited a movie before.

Thanks,
Gig

 

[Giganova]

C'om guys, give me a little love, watch the 3-min trailer and post some feedback, please!

Thanks!

 

[John Morrison]

I liked it. Jazz is really what I listen to, and play. I had no idea that Washington was a Jazz center, but truth be told - it gives me hope that it is, was, and may be again.

That said - watching it interested me. I'd have more interest though, if a small unobtrusive bar with the artist's name, would be rendered below who's talking. Also, a few of the interview shots seemed to have too much magenta - the color seemed off. Good feel overall though, and the narrator's voice strikes a good and balanced tone. You might get more acclaim though, asking someone like Clint Eastwood (a jazz enthusist and player), or other big names to help revive the area's venue's by providing voice-over as narration.

 

[Noel Evans]

Some very nice shots of Washington there. In fact too many IMO. Theres a cool message working in the words, I think you could reflect this more by mirroring shots of modern society as in people.

One example, when the first guy says Jazz is dead, a shot that could assist this statement at that time, kids on the street skating, raping etc, almost like saying the same thing with your images.

 

[mdslammer]

As a professional musician for over 40 years, I appreciate your effort and commend your
efforts to help preserve one of our most treasured gifts.

Not only did I listen to the Beatles, Stones, Zepplin, Doors etc. I equally, if not
more so, listened to and learned from my jazz heroes. Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis,
John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Bud Powell, and so many more.

Along with the "known" jazz artists, there are so many great "unknowns" who
persevere to keep the artform alive. These are truely the ambassadors who are
to be commended in my humble opinion. They play for the music and obviously not
the money because there isn't any. Take it from someone who know's first hand.

As far as the editing goes, overall a decent job. My only critique would be the
audio mix. Your volumes are competing for space between the narration, dialog and the music.

Try to "blend" them into one smooth audio mix. If dialog is being spoken, then your music
should be a low bed for it to flow over. When the music is being featured, then by all means let it shine.

You may also want to refer to your audio levels by trying to stay at "0" for the most part. Obviously,
you will have a few peaks but overall if you try and maintain
that constant level, it will be less distraction from itself and the film.

Good luck. I admire your endeavour and look forward to the finished film. I will
certainly support it.

Regards.

Mark Dalzell
Drums / Percussion
Las Vegas, NV
www.markdalzell.com

 

[pekar1876]

I agree there's a good message in there. I'd cut the tailer down to around 90 seconds and play with the audio levels.

 

[Giganova]

Hi guys --

Thank you for your excellent suggestions!

I liked it. Jazz is really what I listen to, and play. I had no idea that Washington was a Jazz center, but truth be told - it gives me hope that it is, was, and may be again.

DC is a major jazz player, both historically, as well as present. That was the main motivation for the doc as hardly anyone is aware of this.

I'd have more interest though, if a small unobtrusive bar with the artist's name, would be rendered below who's talking.

I thought about this, but some talking heads are only visible for 3 sec or so, and I thought artists names would only distract the viewer. I'll give it a shot.

Also, a few of the interview shots seemed to have too much magenta - the color seemed off.

My camcorder shots are a bit on the magenta side. I will color-correct that.

Good feel overall though, and the narrator's voice strikes a good and balanced tone. You might get more acclaim though, asking someone like Clint Eastwood (a jazz enthusist and player), or other big names to help revive the area's venue's by providing voice-over as narration.

Clint is on top of my "wishlist"! My next choices would be Morgan Freedman and Laurence Fishburne. I hired this voice-over talent because her "dry" voice is very similar to that of Susan Sarandon (who did the narration for the fabulous "Planet Earth" doc). But first I need to have a rough cut and a final skipt in place. Then I need to raise funds for the narration and see how I can contract these famous actors.

Any ideas how much $$ I needed for an actor of that caliber??

Some very nice shots of Washington there. In fact too many IMO. Theres a cool message working in the words, I think you could reflect this more by mirroring shots of modern society as in people.

One example, when the first guy says Jazz is dead, a shot that could assist this statement at that time, kids on the street skating, raping etc, almost like saying the same thing with your images.

Great idea! I'll make some shots up rapping street kids and add that. Also, DC has a famous place where skateboarders from all over the world come to compete -- right in front of the Capitol. That could be a good shot, too.

My only critique would be the
audio mix. Your volumes are competing for space between the narration, dialog and the music.

I'll duck the music more and clean it up a bit.

I'd cut the tailer down to around 90 seconds

Pew -- that's a tough one! I couldn't even tell the story in 3-min, so 90 sec is really pushing it. I'll see if I can cut it more (maybe by deleting some DC scenes).

Again, GREAT suggestions which will make the trailer definitely better!

Cheers!

 

[Caritasfounder]

I'm just a beginning filmmaker too, but I was really impressed with what you made. The images of Washington seemed very well-done as did those of the "decayed" areas, the different people and statements they gave worked pretty nicely for me, and the "jazz feeling" was definitely there for me, even though I'm no expert on jazz.

I'm also impressed by the amount of time you've spent working on this. Nine months seems like a long time to me. You're probably more patient than me .

You may have said it and I may have missed it, but what are your plans for this project when it's completed?

 

[Giganova]

Thanks for your kind and encouraging words!

The images of Washington seemed very well-done as did those of the "decayed" areas

A word about the "decayed" places: I am showing the Howard Theatre in the trailer, both inside and outside. What nobody seems to remember (except jazz musicians and historians) is that the Howard Theatre is probably THE most important jazz venue of all times. It opened 100 years ago (1910), more than 20 years before the Apollo Theatre in NYC opened. Duke Ellington performed there in public for the first time, and all greats of jazz have played there. Sadly, the theatre closed permanently in the 60s. I was the first person who was granted access to film the inside of the theatre for more than 40 years, and I was amazed that the original seats were still in there, along with some velvet curtains that are 100 years old. Pretty amazing, huh? It was a very dangerous place to shoot because part of ceiling has collapsed and there are constantly slabs on concrete falling down. When I came out of the building, all my equipment was covered in 100 year old dirt & mud and I had to throw away my cloths.

You may have said it and I may have missed it, but what are your plans for this project when it's completed?

No plans yet. I am still too busy with production. I intend to have a final cut in place by the end of the year and give it a film festival run in the Spring. No other plans, but I hope that I will be able to show the movie to a wider audience next year (broadcast and select theatrical release in the DC area).

 

[Luis_]

I loved the trailer. I think it was great. I enjoyed the tones, the colors, the shades, the "crispiness" of some shots.

In your audio if you can, you can just simply add a compressor and limiter plug-ins to maintain a constant and more even volume. Of course after you mix down a little more that is...

I'm so upset that due to an overload of "paid" work I missed out on recording all 6 of the concerts that I made a promo for. I'm a Conga Player (though these days I'm more into my piano and my HVX200)

If I had known I was going to be so passionate about video by 2007, I would have recorded more in a proffesional way at least the past 13 years of my musical life before everythig started slowing down and I actually have some footage on old sony consumer analog tapes. I Hope some day I have the time to convert all that old stuff to digital. Back in those days mention a firewire was to speak about a long fuse on a fire cracker! :grin:

Anyway...... I'm friends with top musicians in Philadelphia. I play all kinds of music including Jazz. Here is the promo I made for the "Latin Meets Jazz" concert series that I missed out on recording this year: http://vimeo.com/4180900

I am definitely going to try harder to get out and record (season 2) of the "Latin Meets Jazz" concert series.



So before I bought my HVX, I use to take my little sony handycam around to some gigs and here is me playing congas at a small gig with some of my guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKGDuYhkBM

and it's funny because you see a lady trying to buy one our CDs that we had on display while we are still playing! lol...


I can tell your doc is going to be good. I wanted to do a small doc for so long now wtih some local incredible "BATA" players that I know and your video has motivated me to jump on it!

I'm looking forward to watching your finished project, I know it's going to be great.

Thanks for doing it and thanks for sharing it.

good luck with it,
Luis_