Want opinion about music

[Macville]

Hey guys, my friend and I produced a short film and we are now in the end of the post production. The problem is, he (writer/director) and I (producer/DP/gear provider) have different opinions about the music to use for the film. I would love to have your opinions on the music in it. Below are two versions of the film, one with the music the way he likes it, and one with the way I like it. Would like your honest opinion on which clip's music works better.

Just to warn you, the movie is 14 minutes long (x2 clips!) But your time and opinion would be most helpful.

Each clip is 31.2MB
http://www.macvilleproductions.com/larrytest/larrytest1.mov
http://www.macvilleproductions.com/larrytest/larrytest2.mov

Matthew

 

[Gord.T]

Brutal but honest (and maybe wrong mind you) review coming up.

Well so far I watched 20 seconds of the first one and didn't like it and ended it.
The static transitions don't work for the intro. It's a smooth melody, so I expect to see smooth transitions visually. I'ts off to a bad start and not working.
That's the 'other guys'.


Your version in a sec...

 

[Gord.T]

Part 2: Scattered thoughts and opionions, not to be taken to heart. Just off the top of my noodle.


The intro looks the same. What annoyed me is still there during the intro.
I think the intro transitions are too abrupt. Try doing a fade transition
to make it smoother to fit the music. Once it's introduced I think your okay.

At about 1/4 way through and all of the shots are static. Need some dolly
shots or a cheap steadycam move to add some life.

At about 1/3 and the camera moved once so far. I'm visually bored.
The actual lighting and shots look great but they're boring to look at.
Needs some life.

For example the TV newcast about aircraft landing outside major US cities.
There was a great oppurtunity to do a slow zoom into the TV.
As if to bring the view closer to the subject.
And instead of cutting back to the guy sleeping, you could have drawn them
in a little more to the announcer and the subject.

I don't know. If you want I can watch it again tomorrow but it seems
riddled with little problems. It's not good directing. I think everything else holds up so that's good.

Yeah, the directing was brutal. Happy with everything else though.

Just my opinion though dude. I'm not anybody. But you asked for an opinion
and here it is, hehe. Yeah man, looks good and everything, but the directing sucked. Just can't get that out of my head. Otherwise I was happy. IMO.

//Edit:

Really, what you need is a guy like Jack to come in here and review it. Maybe send him a PM and I'm sure he'll be happy to give a professional breakdown.

 

[Erez Henya]

PM sent.

Also:

Try doing a fade transition to make it smoother

Much agreed.

 

[Macville]

The intro looks the same. What annoyed me is still there during the intro.
I think the intro transitions are too abrupt. Try doing a fade transition
to make it smoother to fit the music. Once it's introduced I think your okay.

When we sat down to edit I had put in transitions, but the director didn't like them. Personally, as I look at it now (and trying transitions again), they don't work with the current music. Is what's bothering you the quickness of the cuts once we see the house and the inside? If so, I totally understand and will try to figure out a way to give them more time (it depends on the music I use though.) I have found that unless a fade is at least 2 seconds, it looks very, let's say video'ish. Feature films either use cuts or 2-6 second fades.

At about 1/4 way through and all of the shots are static. Need some dolly
shots or a cheap steadycam move to add some life.

At about 1/3 and the camera moved once so far. I'm visually bored.
The actual lighting and shots look great but they're boring to look at.
Needs some life.

The lack of movement is very much on purpose. Larry's life is dull, and un-moving. I tried to make the composition and lighting strong, so while it is dull, it's not boring. We also were going to do everything outside handheld, but my 40lb+ RED was too heavy to shoot for 6+ hours handheld. I do think I will go back and add some handheld shake to some shots (I should have caught that long ago, but the ENTIRE movie had to be foley and that's taken me about two months.)

For example the TV newcast about aircraft landing outside major US cities.
There was a great oppurtunity to do a slow zoom into the TV.
As if to bring the view closer to the subject.
And instead of cutting back to the guy sleeping, you could have drawn them
in a little more to the announcer and the subject.

You probably can't see it on the small web version (and I probably need to accent the effect more), but when it cuts back to him sleeping while the guy says we've been invaded, it does a slow push on him. It's supposed to communicate that this guy's life is so borning that he sleeps through even being invaded. The story is supposed to what you never see in an alien movie: the guy who gets ready for the aliens but never sees them.

I don't know. If you want I can watch it again tomorrow but it seems
riddled with little problems. It's not good directing. I think everything else holds up so that's good.

I'll also be the first to admit that this is probably not a good film to watch on the web. I tend to have a short attention span when watching stuff on the web and probably wouldn't have gotten though it myself. But thanks for your opinion!

Matthew

 

[Gord.T]

When we sat down to edit I had put in transitions, but the director didn't
like them. Personally, as I look at it now (and trying transitions again),
they don't work with the current music. Is what's bothering you the
quickness of the cuts once we see the house and the inside? If so, I
totally understand and will try to figure out a way to give them more time
(it depends on the music I use though.) I have found that unless a fade is
at least 2 seconds, it looks very, let's say video'ish. Feature films
either use cuts or 2-6 second fades.

Yeah, that threw me off. It's too abrupt. Maybe extend the cuts or do some
fades, but like you say, that didn't go over. Still, I think you need to be
more gentle with the intro. Possibly it's the difference in scenes that your
cutting to that's causing it. Maybe they are too different visually end to
end. At this point I'd personally seek more advice because it's getting out
of my legaue.

The lack of movement is very much on purpose. Larry's life is dull, and
un-moving. I tried to make the composition and lighting strong, so while it
is dull, it's not boring. We also were going to do everything outside
handheld, but my 40lb+ RED was too heavy to shoot for 6+ hours handheld. I
do think I will go back and add some handheld shake to some shots (I should
have caught that long ago, but the ENTIRE movie had to be foley and that's
taken me about two months.)

I understand the still shots for Larry,makes sense, and maybe a few of the
TV grabs. But there were too many in a row overall.
A slow movement, however small, keeps the mind active. Even the slightest
pan or zoom, say an inch over 4 seconds, adds a lot.

You probably can't see it on the small web version (and I probably need to
accent the effect more), but when it cuts back to him sleeping while the
guy says we've been invaded, it does a slow push on him. It's supposed to
communicate that this guy's life is so borning that he sleeps through even
being invaded. The story is supposed to what you never see in an alien
movie: the guy who gets ready for the aliens but never sees them.

Ahhh, quite possible I missed it.Yeah I did on the first pass anyways.

I'll also be the first to admit that this is probably not a good film to
watch on the web. I tend to have a short attention span when watching stuff
on the web and probably wouldn't have gotten though it myself. ...

True. I was a bit tipsy but, typical of your viewing audience, and yes our
attention spans are very short these days. Particulary with the web.
But even movies keep people visually active. Static shots like you say have
thier place and are common. But they should be not overpower else you end
up with comments like mine, from, hehe, guys like me, lol.
For example, I would never say that about a movie like Tom Hanks 'Cast
Away' There is a lonely guy, and look what they did with that.

It comes back to the directing for me , sorry. Like I say, the rest was
good, else Lord knows I would have harped about that.
Music was fine as well, and the story was good. Visuals, audio, no problem.
It all worked.

So, ummm, that's about all I can add I think.
Allllrighty then.
Good luck m'man. Nice running into you.