Another Project Posted For Your Crits

mjroddy wrote on 1/15/2005, 1:01 PM

I just "finished" a little promo-style vid for a friend who performs flea circuses. He just flew out to New Orleans to be interviewed by National Geographic on the topic. We put together a fun vid that tells a little about flea training - sort of.
I would really appreciate professional critiques of the piece. I've been in video production for about 7 or 8 years now, so if/when you find stuff to comment on, I sincerely want to hear it. I really want to improve all aspects of my video production, so no comment will be too small. Be as detailed as your mood strikes. I look forward to knowing how I could have done a better job.
A minour warning; the site is a promotional site. I'm NOT trying to sell anything to anyone or promote the performer. But it is interesting all the same.
There are three sizes to choose from.
Please visit www.flea-circus.com and link to the videos.
Thanks very much.

Comments

ArmyVideo wrote on 1/15/2005, 8:56 PM

A pretty funny piece. The single camera angle made it drag a bit in places, but over all I liked it. I really liked the CG work. What program did you use for the title cards? The banner/poster was very clean. I'd be interested to know what program you used for that as well.
My only other bit of "constructive criticism" would be that there was a bit too much head room in the studio pieces. Good lighting and sound overall though, and a nice clean edit. The addition of the kid at the end is nice. I have two little guys of my own, 4 and 5, and they manage to make their way into a lot of my outtakes as well. Keep up the good work!

Brian

groovedude wrote on 1/15/2005, 10:06 PM

Wow hahahaha, that is good stuff. I second everything Army had to say. However, I love the Flea song at the end, I'd like the piece to open with that and some of the artwork, maybe animate some of the drawings. The CG banner was very well done, but a some of the drastic angles made it hard to read. It would have been nice to have a tighter framing on the studio shots. Good acting, kept my interest. Where did you get the backdrop?

nickle wrote on 1/15/2005, 10:28 PM

I liked it. The sound was very good too

My only criticizm would be the film effects over the curtains. It worked well in the other places but the curtains are too rich and colorful and solid for film effects I thought.

At first I thought it was a rendering glitch or something.

mjroddy wrote on 1/16/2005, 11:26 AM

Thanks for the positive comments! It was fun to make, as I had hoped would come across.
ArmyVideo: For the CG, I used Corel Draw for the titlecards. Exported those as high quality JPGs. Then a lot of FilmFX, obviously. The marquee/banner/poster was originally created in Corel Draw. Then I took that high res pic into Lightwave 8. After a LOT of experimentation (and a few tutorials), I got the cloth dynamics to result in what you saw. I could be more specific if you'd like. You're right about the head room. I don't know how I let myself get away with that. Typically I like to shoot with someone watching my monitor, but this one was just the talent and me. The kiddo at the end was the talent's son. I thought he did just a fantastic job. He actuall did some Acting.
groovvedude: that Flea song was written by the talent. He'll be pleased with your comments. And I would have loved to animate the little fleas. Problem is, I have NO 2D animation skills. And, as you may have noticed, this was shot on a budget of- well, nothing. So I couldn't hire out for it. I thought it would have been fun to have little animations happening on the banner/marquee. The backdrop was just a fortunate set that was in the local studio here. It's used for a public access show and we thought it fit perfectly with our theme. I hear it was expensive, but I really don't know. We went in expecting to use the black cyk.
nickle: You're probably right about the FilmFX over the curtains. I think I like it, though. I was trying to set a theme that continues through all graphics.

Thanks again, gang, for the encouraging words and suggestions.

mark2929 wrote on 1/16/2005, 12:48 PM

Great Effort Mat !

I liked the Attention paid to safety issues By not putting any water in the High dive ! Made me feel itchy just Watching...Liked the Attention to THE pOSTER Ads ...

If I Had a Crit it might be that IT could have been spiced up by a few camera angles..In the Library/Preentation Sequence.. More Circus Closeups.. Perhaps even some handheld which would suit its Light Hearted nature but also Fine as is and some great Presenting Would love to have My own Circus but the Acts would probably go awol as I have Five Cats..

Very Entertaining

mjroddy wrote on 1/17/2005, 9:32 AM

Thank Mark.
Yes. That is the general consensus; I needed more camera angles. My problem was (and this is no excuse) that he was winging his delivery. Going to a closeup meant risking continuity problems. With a script, that would have been no problem, with ad-lib, it's a bit tougher.
But you (and everyone else here) are right; I should have found a way.
Thanks for the encouragement, though, and taking the time to watch.
Much appreciated.