Hi Ogul

Like other who have replied, I'm having quite a bit of difficulty with the music and how it relates to the purpose of the video. And the FXy dissolves are more of a distraction for a travel video - that type of dissolve is probably more at home in a music video or the like. For me, if an arty approach is going to be used, it is probably better if it is an approach used (sparingly) throughout the video so it provides a "theme" or a "look". Of course, there are ifs, buts and maybes to that in that there are many reasons that an arty approach for a sequence would not be used throughout a video such as if a dream sequence is used, or it is something like the Dali sequence in Hitchcock's "Vertigo".

But most of all, I confused as to the market you're aiming at. Is it meant to be a travel documentary (which is what it looks like it's aiming to be), or is it meant to be promoting a specific hotel resort or chain of hotel resorts (as you have posted that that is an aim)?

If it is meant to promote a specific accommodation destination (e.g. hotel), then that sort of video tends to concentrate on the hotel/resort property itself but also highlighting the local attractions. This is usually very aspirational advertising. It's sort of like, "Come to the beautiful so-and-so hotel resort at blah-blah-blah, snuggle into your king-sized bed in your sumptuously decorated suite, relax by the infinity pool overlooking the dazzling cobalt blue blah-blah-blah ocean, be pampered at the day spa, and then enjoy a delicious tasting menu created by our Michelin starred chef, accompanied by an exceptional choice of the world's best wines. During your stay, visit the world renowned opera/theatre/etc, catch up on history at the so-and-so museum, see the works of such-and-such at the art museum, or visit the nearby zoo/vineyards/mountain view/etc/etc/etc, and have fun, fun, fun".

I think that its also important to take into account that a lot of hotel selections are made after researching websites such as Trip Adviser as comments from other guests can be a good indication as to the standard of the property (yes, I know that Trip Adviser has been criticised for being susceptible to positive postings from the property's marketing team, or to negative postings by a competitor). Also, hotel websites these days seem to be designed more to give information "at a glance" such as what facilities are available, room sizes, descriptions and floor plans, and restaurants and bars at the property. Nearby attractions tend to be dotted pointed rather than detailed. And the all-important ability to book a room is easily accessible, sometimes on every page. That's my experience anyway - and I've researched enough hotels around the world over the last 10 years or so.

I'm trying to think if any of these hotel websites have videos on the web pages, but none come to mind. The nearest thing that I can think of are 3D views of rooms. If there was a video on a hotel's web site, it would need to be short (say up to a maximum of 180 seconds). If I saw a length of 9 minutes, I wouldn't watch it. The video I would be expecting to see would be heavily promotional as it would be surprising that a property would put anything else up on their web page.

My reaction was that your video is more a travel documentary. Like others, I am not seeing the "story". Nations promoting their country internationally or locally tend to follow a story of, "Come to blah-de-blah and see [list of unique geographical attractions], immerse yourself in [list of history/nature/art/theatre/opera/stage/etc], participate in [sport/extreme sport/adventure/leisure/etc], mingle with the friendly locals, and enjoy local produce/wines/etc at cafes/restaurants/bars/etc." It's generally a mixture of all or some of culture, history, entertainment, food, sport, adventure, nature, people.

Similarly, travel documents tend to take the same approach (especially some which seem more like advertorials than independent documents) of looking at the broad attractions you can see, and some also look at a unique aspect of the city/town/village (e.g. the local artisan who makes fully functioning ICBMs from discarded soft drink cans). Travel shows that take this approach in one way or another this include Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Passport to Europe (Samantha Brown) and Lonely Planet (Globe Trekker). Though they are 'presented', they nonetheless have a story - a beginning and an end.

One really good travel/food doco which had a strong story was Rick Stein's French Odyssey (2005). This followed Rick as he travelled by narrow boats on the canals of southern France from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The purpose of the documentary was clear, it had a story (with lots of subplots being the villages he visited along the route), and left the viewer (I imagine many of them anyway) with the desire to go and visit or revisit southern France even if that wasn't practical or possible.

In a nutshell, I believe that the purpose of a promotional travel video is along the lines of: What do you want me (as the target viewer) to do? Why should I do that? What am I going to get out of it? Why should I spend my money on doing that rather than going somewhere else?

Cheers

Here’s my two cents. Start with Ephesus or Istanbul itself. Ephesus is a huge draw. So is Istanbul. Private guides use videos and stills to promote. Work with them -- for very little or for free if necessary to build a Showreel. Would there be a way to work on commission if the video produces bookings? If your stuff is good, it will lead you up the ladder to bigger things (and bigger money) like renting yachts (gulets), houses etc This will lead to other things. If you like shooting travel, you need to meet people in the travel business and to learn the business of website development (or find partners). I think that private guides -- unique vacations -- are a growth business all over the world. But customers need to SEE and TRUST what they are getting. Still pictures, video and websites are tools of this market. You are in the right place for growth. Turkey. Start there. Seems to me Turkey is a place a little guy with talent can make friends and get a start. Frankly, the video work is not where the money is – what you should do, to start, is form partnerships with good, honest and reliable private guides and later tour companies, hotels, etc. It’s a simple idea. You bring them customers (via the Internet) doing what you love to do. They share the profits.

Here’s a little travel video that I made while taking a tour. But imagine how much better I could have done if the guide was fully co-operative and on a private tour. Cruise ship passengers look for private tours in places like Samoa. Would you take one with Tasa?

I'll throw in my two cents worth as well but it could get ugly. After a couple of days shouting at a builder I'm in the right mood for "ugly" :)

1)
Production values. I'll take just one shot here, the one looking out the back window of a bus at the bus behind. These kinds of shots can add a lot of bling to the narrative.
Problem is this one looks worse than rank amateur and it doesn't have to. Hire a vehicle you can put a camera on the back of on a tripod and a driver and you're good to go for not a whole lot of money. We did this when I was 17 years old and shooting with a clockwork Bolex and we were paying for it out of our pocket money. If a bunch of kids can do it, only one of whom had a drivers license, anyone can do it. Even taxi would , you just need to get one that's a station wagon or a hatch back, give the driver a few dollars more and all's good. Money speaks everywhere and you don't need a lot of it.

2)
Talent: You cannot afford them you say. What if you could, what if some hotel manager slaps down $20,000 in cash and says go get some talent and make me a great video?
Based on 1) I'd say you're going to be in serious trouble. Talent need direction, they kind of want a script.

Bottom line, in any pursuit where you're making or doing something you have to have control of the tools and the process, no control results in somewhere between a sad but harmless mess if it's a video camera to dead people if it's a gun or a plane. All of us have the creative spark inside us, it's how we take control of the medium we're using to realise that spark that is the difference between those who do it and those who don't. Even if you're just doing it for the fun of it, doing it with purpose is hugely rewarding, just fluffing around half hearted is the quickest way I know of to put out the flame.

Bob.

farss - re "Bottom line, in any pursuit where you're making or doing something you have to have control of the tools and the process" ...

You are so right. In 2010, I did a Scenic Tours river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. On the ship was a film producer and cameraman doing pick-up shots (credited as Additional Photography) for season 3 of a travel/classical music series called Classical Destinations (it went to air only mid-last year). I can't recall the camera type, though I'm pretty sure it was Sony, but it definitely was a high-end professional unit. Anyway, every set up was plotted in advance for shots both on the ship and at stop-overs on route. They also had a car arranged between some stop-overs so that they could get land-based shots of the ship sailing by. They knew what they were doing. Prior to the voyage, Scenic Tours sent film releases to the ship's passengers with a provision to refuse permission to be filmed. There was seemingly nothing hit-and-miss or on-the-run about the production's arrangements - it was very professional.

xberk - I liked your travel video a lot - it has a satisfying flow to it, and the music choices were very good. I guess that the clip you posted on Vimeo may be part of a bigger production given that it was a shore excursion from the QE. I suspect that you may have done a fair bit of filming on the QE and on other shore excursions if you went on any other ones. It's very timely that you posted the travel video because I'm currently preparing for an ocean cruise on the Queen Mary 2 departing Cape Town in 2½ weeks time - and I'm getting a bit more excited about it each day. Though I'm not looking forward much for the around 22 hours it will take to get to Cape Town by air. And nor to having to fly on one of Qantas' aging 747s which are now so old they have to use a zimmer frame to help themselves get down the runway.

Cheers

There is a great deal here for the OP to digest ... Personally I think the video he posted shows he is ready to work with clients as I outlined above His work need not be as slick as the top tier travel videos to start .. it just needs to get results for his clients. This is what my Dad use to call the School of Hard Knocks. In the Army we called it OJT. (on the job training) .... No substitute for real world experience. My final advice. Seek out some private guides in Istanbul. Tell them you can increase their business with a video. Be willing to work in partnership if necessary. Enough said. Go.

Dexcon --- Thanks for the kind comments .. I'd love to share some of my travel videos and discuss your upcoming QM2 adventure but let's take that offline .. e-mail me .. pilot@berks.com .. in fact, anyone interested in Travel videos e-mail me. --- Paul