My First try at a Documentary

Discussion in 'Digital Video' started by Jopling, Dec 13, 2006.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jopling, Dec 13, 2006

    Jopling macrumors 6502

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2004
    #1
    Hey, I moved to DC a few months ago and I haven't been doing any film for a long time. Typically I do sketch comedy stuff with my friends when were just messing around. I decided to try something different so I took a shot a documentary. I promote with a company called NiteFX for clubs, so for a project in one of my classes I decided to focus on that. This is the first cut and I've already gone back and fixed some of the basic errors.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iZyPskdxf4

    I'd like to hear what you guys think.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  2. OldCorpse, Dec 14, 2006

    OldCorpse macrumors 65816

    OldCorpse

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2005
    Location:
    compost heap
    #2
    meh

    Purely technically, it was competent... there were a couple audio dropouts, but otherwise everything was A OK.

    Problem was as I saw it, it's too monotonous. Cut to guy 1 to crowd to guy 2 to guy 3 to crowd and back to guy 1 to crowd to guy two to guy three to crowd on and on and on. Snore. The cutting rhythms are sleep-inducing.

    Break it up a bit. When you interview a guy/gal, once we know well how he/she looks like, you don't need to show them all the time while they're talking... show some other footage over their voice, take the camera somewhere, have fun, include other shots, mix up the tempo.

    In this type of "soft" documentary (you're not doing hard-hitting investigative journalism here), the key element is FUN. If you're not conveying the fun you're having, it'll look dead... no matter that you stick an unmoving camera on a dancing crowd. HAVE FUN, and make it show.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  3. Jopling, Dec 16, 2006

    Jopling thread starter macrumors 6502

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2004
    #3
    thanks for the input. I only had one night to film it all and half the tape got corrupted, thats why there is that drop out.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  4. thebiggoose, Dec 16, 2006

    thebiggoose macrumors 6502

    thebiggoose

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2006
    #4
    I liek it alot. What apps and equipment did you use? Especially for the lower thirds (motion or after effects or something else?)
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  5. mac 2005, Dec 16, 2006

    mac 2005 macrumors 6502a

    mac 2005

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2005
    Location:
    Chicago
    #5
    Technically, it looks and sounds very good. Strike me as a commercial, though, vs. a documentary.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  6. Jopling, Dec 17, 2006

    Jopling thread starter macrumors 6502

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2004
    #6
    I filmed with an XL2 and edited in Final Cut, lower thirds I forget if i did them in Livetype or Motion. I like to stay away from livetype, but ive been having problems with importing video into motion and preserving quality. I also used a light on the top of my camera, but it was borrowed from a friend so i dont know much about it.

    I knew it would come off as a commercial no matter what, so I didn't mention the names of the companies.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  7. camomac, Dec 17, 2006

    camomac macrumors 6502a

    camomac

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2005
    Location:
    Left Coast
    #7
    good job. i liked it.
    i didn't quite get what the gut at the very end said, but maybe that was just me. overall nice first attempt.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page