What could I do to make this video better?

[shakeman0]

Hi all,

I just recently made this video and was wondering if there was anything I could do to make it better. I am new at making movies and any constructive criticism and comments would be great. Here is the movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_xAf3szZ2A

Thanks

 

[chrismacguy]

Maybe a little less of the portrait footage and also possibly a slightly better edit (Im nitpicking here - possibly a few transitions couldve been neatened a lil bit) - but apart from that I thought it was well made

 

[spinnerlys]

It seems your earlier thread got deleted.

First you should get a tripod, the shaky camera was quite distracting.
You don't need a tripod if you can't afford one, just use something like a chair or any other viable object to keep the camera rested.

2. In some shots you had to much headroom above the persons head, meaning there was to much room between the top of the heads and the end of the frame.

3. I can't comment on the acting, as I know that it is not easy for amateurs to act properly.

4. The editing was nothing special, there was no flow in it.

5. Also the vertical shots, where there are black bars on the left and right, are distracting too. Just don't use an effect for effect's sake but for the purpose of telling the story.

5. Play with the light, your shots were too bright in most takes.
Even though you won't have any lighting equipment, much can be done with the aperture of the camera and carefully set lights like lamps you find in almost every household.
Don't use the ceiling lamp!

Have a look here for compositing techniques as that might help you compose better framed images.
http://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds
http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-composition-tips

For editing techniques:
http://www.inpoint.org/pdf/post-production02.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_editing and go from there.

Lighting techniques:
http://www.essortment.com/all/photographyli_rawq.htm
http://www.microfilmmaker.com/tipstrick/lighting.html


General tips: http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/film.htm

 

[shakeman0]

Thanks for the thoughts and the links I really appreciate it!

 

[neonkru]

i like it because of the girl in blonde. she is cute=)

learn final cut express. add some color effects, crop the vertical video, and it will be more enjoyable to view.

using a brainless editor like imovie doesn't give you too much room to move on. good luck