Nice pan of all those images. Great effect.

I'd replace the heart with a cross. The glittery heart makes it look a bit like a wedding video. You should be able to get a gold cross pretty easily either from Cool 3D or some other 3D app. It's a simple shape.

Maybe try it without the glittery spark type stuff, Thats what jumps out as maybe "cheesy ", , pretty cool , personally I dont think it needs it.
Good luck

The heart is what my biggest issue was with, but it's part of the theme - "The heart of a servant, Making ministry happen" So I'm reluctant to get rid of it. Plus I like the way that it allows me to reveal the "making ministry happen. I'll have to see what I can come up with. I've only got till this weekend to do it, so I'll see what the clients say and then go from there.

Thx again.

I like the heart. Very nice intro.

I think it is great, and while the spakles may seem a little cheesy, the whole clip does a good job of getting across your theme :)

I really like the pan/zoom out with speed on the images...

Actually, I like the whole clip:)

Just my beginners 2 cents worth
cheers
Rossco

Change the heart in some way so that it is not confused with valentines day. RItate the text inside the heart with the heart. Other than that I thought is was very good.

I also liked the text and the video graphic, although I found it hard to get a handle on the content of the graphic. I also thought it might help to start it slow, for that reason.

The heart is cheesy. It also reminds me of a wedding band, which might fit in with the current marriage hysteria, but will eventually just remind people of bygone politics. Overall, I don't think the heart will age as well as the rest of it.

But the idea of a heart (or center) is important. It just needs a different treatment. Even a different 3D heart might work. Maybe cut from flat stock instead of round.

Rob Mack

That was good stuff. I think the heart was fine. Maybe a different particle effect instead of the glittery look (heart flashes bright then dims to normal color) but it was a great transition and as you said, it's central to the theme. Definitely slower on the scrolling clips, then speed up as they move away.

Muy bien!

Very nice Dave! I Liked it alot.

Jimmy

Dave, I've watched your video a few times and here's my take on it.

There appears to be two different styles competing here. The first is what I would refer to as a "classic" approach--the use of the simple, but effective, animated text at the opening. This is very effective.

Then, we move into the images moving right to left, which works well, too. However, I feel that the brief blackness between the two is too long. Also, there seems to be a lag between when the last of images disappear to when the initial "flash" appears. If it were me, I would have that flash appear at the instant the last frame of the moving images disappear.

Finally, we move into the segment that I think you feel is cheesy. I have to agree with you. The design concept of this third element does not match with the first two elements. It appears very dated to me. Dated = cheesy.

I would suggest you move from the moving images back into the animated text style that you used for the opening. This way the piece has a more unified feel to it.

Just one person's opinion.

I've watched this a few times now and even though I know what's coming next, I keep thinking that when you are letterboxing the images, they are going to turn into the horizontal section of a cross.
I know it's moving away from the heart theme but it could look good if you were to experiment with that. In other words, stop short of closing the letterbox completely then create a second set of scrolling images, top to bottom of screen, and narrowing into the vertical section of the cross.
You could even place a halo at the top of the cross and morph it into your heart.

Alan

I agree with Jay Gladwell. The heart does not work with the opening text. They are different styles. It would be hard to make the golden heart elegant enough for the theme you are presenting.

I would add that I think the images could be held for just a bit in the beginning so we can take it in before it rushes off to the left. I couldnt tell you what was in any of those images after viewing 2 or 3 times. So give us just a bit more time to take them in before your effect --which l like a lot takes them off the screen.

Thanks for sharing!

TomE

Another possibility would be to be less literal with the heart. For instance, if you consider prayer to be the heart of ministry then you could use two hands in prayer. The image could even be suggestive of the heart, held in a position that reinforces the heart idea, or held in the center of the frame in isolation with black behind...

There might be other images that people would easily see as being at the heart of their faith without ever having to display a "heart" shape at all. It's a very "in" audience, after all. You don't have to be too literal.

Rob Mack

I have to agree with others that the heart doesn't fit with the rest.

Pondering Rob's comment, I wonder whether any dissonance isn't because the animated image you show is really describing a different kind of "heart"... the "heart" that unites and (literally, in this case) encompasses two lovers (i.e., Valentine).

Whereas the "heart" you may want to evoke is a "heart" with a different meaning... e.g. the compassion of someone, or the willing humility of a servant, etc.

Good luck and thanks for sharing.

Pierre B.