Wedding Highlights film

[N635DC]

Ok so thus far, I have not posted any work because the last time I did on a forum that shall remain nameless, people were totally unprofessional and non contsructive. It took me this long to come back around so this is another try at it.

Anyways about the reel. It's about 12 minutes in length. This was the first job we shot on the HMC-150. This was a 3 camera shoot and at times it was hard to make sure all 3 camera's were exactly matched in white balance (sometimes I find the white balance in the HMC-150's to be a little, hmm quirky and "off".

Further, I realize that some of the shots are a little dark and some a little shaky. To ice the cake this is also the first job that we churned out of CS5 (we used to use edius). Premiere pro is nice in many ways but because I am not as up to speed on all of the functionality, this video is missing some flashy stuff that could be added.


With all that said I am submitting this for critique, but please be gentle as I know about several of the "issues" already. I'm just trying to get some decent feedback from the DVX community. Hopefully I will have better luck this time around.


http://www.vimeo.com/16702727

Password : highlights

 

[pwyll]

12 minutes is way too long for my taste. Just one song - a good variety of compelling shots, tightly edited and cut to the music with a strong sense of pacing.

But I think perhaps the wedding video was 2 hours long? So that you wanted a shorter version, because the long one is never going to get watched?

Am I right?

 

[nismo334]

Here is some constructive criticism take it or leave it. It is not meant to be personal or to say anything about the quality of your work.

I'd say it seems a bit long for my taste too. Perhaps, see if you can take out some of the establishing shots that don't have a lot of meaning. For example some of the getting ready shots feel repetitive. I know they got dressed and put roses on, and hugged, and danced around a bit, but... seeing each of them do it for 2.5 min gets to be a bit drawn out when I could get the same experience with only the best half of those shots. Also the music, for my tastes, is a bit early 90's Christian and doesn't seem very contemporary. Not a problem that it's Christian, just that it isn't relevant in 2010 to me. Now, that may have been what the couple wanted, in which case that is fine. Also for a highlights, I don't think it's worth taking the time to watch each bridesmaid and groomsman walk in. I find it better to establish them in group shot's with the couple. It feels more personal that way. If nothing else I say tighten the cuts up to keep a solid pace and tempo.

All of that said, I think you delivered a great piece of work and I imagine the couple will be very happy with the work you did.

 

[Exact]

OK I had to wait for some rendering so had some time. Are you ready? This is all intended to be constructive, don't take anything here personally, because I'm hoping this will help.

The music doesn't bother me at all. Music is personal choice.

The video.... I'm going to mention the things that really standout the most. You already know there is too much hand held / shaky footage here. The other big problem is being able to see the other camera way too much. Most of our videos you never see the other camera(s) during the entire 90 minutes (or however long the documentary edit lasts). You can see the other camera in probably 30% of your shots from the church onwards. Learn to avoid this when ever possible. Be aware of the other cameras at all times, not just when they are in your shot but standing in a place where you could be in 'their' shot. It takes cooperation between camera operators to do this, but it's an important skill to learn.

So, looking at specific points (with time):

• 0:11 The pan in the church is way too fast. Leave the fast pans to Uncle Bob's home movies! You won't see these on TV shows or films unless they are for a specific artistic reason. Same for the flowers at 0:54.

• 0:15 This is a boring static shot. Take this shot and zoom in from 100% to 104% over the length of the shot in post production (you don't need to zoom in camera - do it in post). See how much difference that makes. If you are going to cross fade in/out then you need to keep the move happening during the cross fade too.

• 0:41 Shot too early in the process. Try getting them almost laced up, it 's looks much more impressive because the hands are near the bottom and you have a full shot of an almost laced up dress. Also (not applicable here) avoid being able to see underwear unless it's something special.

• 1:22 Not an attractive shot to begin with and way too shaky. Posing for pictures like this is not a real highlight of the day.

• 1:28 Dancing too long for my taste. I would have cut earlier - or maybe left out.

Generally too much Bride Prep (as others have said). Leave out much of the posing for photo shots because it slows things down. Highlights are supposed to be either exciting or tearful. Posing for photos is neither.

• 1:48 & 1:50 You cut at a reasonable place but the cross fade left in a bad camera move (pan). Either slip the shot so that the move is not in the cross fade or do a straight cut here.

• 2:12 - 2:25 we see the groom all dressed, but then we see ironing at 2:26 which seems out of context. The previous shot seemed to have jackets on every one. Maybe this should have been included earlier. The groom is dressed (in the mirror) at 2:17 then at 2:31 he is not dressed again. There are lots of context issues and continuity problems.

• 2:54 Increase the middle range on the color corrector exposure here - it's too dark.

• 3:01 Lots of people walking in - too many for a highlights video.

• 3:17, 3:25 you should be able to stablize these types of shots in post.

• 3:28 - There's the camera man right in the middle of the shot. Try to avoid!

• 3:43 Do you really need 'everyone' walking in for the highlights? I get distracted by the presence of the other camera and that fact it keeps turning back to the door. Try to avoid being in each other's line of sight at all times.

• 4:06 If you want to stand on this side of the isle then the camera at the back should also have been on this side so you aren't shooting i to each other. Same at 4:15. I normally have the front camera on the Groom's side of the isle so we don't have this problem. It also get the shot of the bride looking at the groom as she arrives without needing to move the camera, and sees the Bride's face during the vows and exchange of rings.

• 4:26 I was expecting the music to stop and then to hear the audio from the ceremony… I was disappointed.

• 4:31 - Audio from the exchange of rings is good at this point if appropriate (it's not always). Otherwise, try to stick to shots where people are smiling rather than talking. If they are obviously talking I want to hear what they are saying.

• 4:46 - if the guests applaud at this point - include some background applause!

• 5:03 avoid cross fades that have shaky footage, it really confuses the eye. I would probably have left out the roses to mothers in the highlights and left that to the final film. Generally, get the bride arriving, the exchange of vows or rings, the couple kissing then walk out.

• 5:38 onwards : Applause please! I can see people clapping but I can't hear them. It adds a sense of authenticity.

• 6:04 I would probably have left out the photos in church - it seems to be taking a step back (even though that's what happened chronologically).

• 6:30 Try to stabilise these types of shot - Mono or Tripod

• 6:40 Random zooms drive me nuts If they don't look as if they were planned, leave them out. Don't zoom out then zoom back in in the same shot. Like the fast pans, leave the random zooms to Uncle Bob's home movie.

• 6:44 You are never going to get stable shots hand held & zoomed in.

• 6:51 The fade to black as too quick followed by a long time black and a quick fade in again. Stretch the fades more. The long time black made me think for a moment there was a problem - then it came back again.

• 6:55 If you can't get shots like this to be stable - leave them out.

• 6:59 Zoom and pan is pretty much a no-no. Cut the Zoom out and go straight to the close up (if you can stabilise it). Same at 7:11.

• 7:24 I know what you wanted here, but hand held and walking don't go together. You need a Steadicam for this. You may be able to smooth out the walk in After Effects but it will never be perfect.

• 7:34 cut here while they are still kissing !

• 7:38 Nice shot (needs stabilising)

• 7:41 There you go with the zoom & pan again Don't do it! If you want wide then close by all means zoom in - but cut the zoom out of the footage. The Pans are WAY too fast here and all this should have been cut to something like the wide shot at 7:40 then cut to the close up at 7:52 then cut again. The pan at 8:03 for the station name would be cut too. Either get that in a steady framed shot on it's own, or including the entire group, or not at all.

• 8:06 - The guests are clapping - so we need to ambient audio from the day here. Do we really need to see 'everyone' walking in on the highlights? If so then we should have been listening to the same music they were semi-dancing to as they came in. The entrance of the B+G is usually enough at this point in the highlights. Also, the two cameras are once again shooting at each other. Avoid this!

• 9:06 we definitely need to some ambient sound here - get clapping from some where else if you don't want to (or can't) use the clapping from here. Grab clapping from the church as an example.

• 9:10 - There is always ONE isn't there!!!!

• 9:26 Get the couple on their first dance - but not too much! Keep them interested in seeing the final video.

• 10:07 Try to get clips of video when they are pausing between sentences and the audience is clapping. Add the ambient clapping sound. That way you see that some one gave a speech, you are not wondering what they are saying and you can hear that the audience appreciated it (clapping). It's not always possible, but better if you can.

• 10:18 - Back to dancing? I wouldn't have included these in highlights.

• 11:27 There's that cameraman again !

• 11:33 too much of the back of her head and the shot doesn't really lead anywhere

• 11:36 Cut this wobbly pan shot completely and go straight to the shot where she throws the bouquet!

Highlights really want to be between 2 and 6 mins. Much longer and people get bored. You want to have only the very best in the highlights so people want to watch it over and over. Don't fall in love with specific shots and insist they have to be in the highlights, cut them if they don't fit.

If this video was as long as it was because that's how long the music lasts then I absolutely recommend practicing cutting songs down to match the video! Learn to cut out verses etc because it can make things a lot easier in the long run.

As I said at the top, this was all intended to be helpful and not criticism for criticism's sake.