OT: A teaser for a full documentary

xjerx wrote on 5/4/2006, 9:57 AM

This is a teaser for the full length documentary I'm working on for an organization called Mercy International. This organization is formed out of my home church and they take medical, dental, eye, evangelical and various other teams to third world countries all over the globe.

This particular documentary follows the teams to the Congo. Thanks in advance for your feedback. Remember..this is just a teaser.

Congo Teaser

Thanks,
Jeremiah

Comments

jrazz wrote on 5/4/2006, 10:57 AM

Very good Jeremiah!
I think the teaser is a stand alone piece by itself- a well done piece at that.

Question- where did you get the music from? One more- is this the same trip that you were talking about going on several months back when you had your short up (the guy who went to go preach in the middle of field that had a guy in a tree)?

If so, what did you wind up taking with you and how was the advice that was given concerning equipment, traveling, etc.?

j razz

jkrepner wrote on 5/4/2006, 10:59 AM

I'd love to watch, but 75 megs is a bit much to ask... how long is the video?

jrazz wrote on 5/4/2006, 11:17 AM

4 min and 9 sec
- it's worth it.
j razz

mjroddy wrote on 5/4/2006, 11:57 AM

Well shot, well edited, good story telling.
Well done.
I'm working on a T1 here, but it buffered immediately and played within seconds here.

Good show.

jkrepner wrote on 5/4/2006, 12:02 PM

I'm downloading... when I clicked it my browser got funny. Okay, I'm watching now.

Pretty heavy stuff there. I guess anything that raises awareness of the situation in Central Africa is a worthy cause. I won't comment on certain aspects, but I think the piece works as a whole and effectively communicates the dire situation there.

Best of luck with your doc.
Jeff

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 5/4/2006, 12:04 PM

Very good, I have nothing more I can say but simply very very good.

Dave

apit34356 wrote on 5/4/2006, 12:38 PM

xjerx, very strong intro, good finish! Maybe review some of the flow in the middle, but lot of issues are "impact of message" issues for market. That said, great editing!

Bob Greaves wrote on 5/4/2006, 1:02 PM

Excellent! Nice editing and good score.

Wes C. Attle wrote on 5/4/2006, 2:09 PM

Outstanding imagery and storytelling. Some beautiful shots and pans.

I think you could use more harsh images in the intro to better reveal the depth of the suffering and devastation. This would grip the audience more. My guess is you did not want to shock anyone, but I think the intro could go a step further by supporting the text with stronger visual examples of the pain. This would disturb the viewer more, thus more likely to trigger support or a donation to Mercy.

Just a suggestion to help Mercy's cause. The piece is great the way it is though.

xjerx wrote on 5/4/2006, 2:16 PM

Thanks guys...all your comments are much appreciated. I have to make several versions (Church version, secular version, medical version) so all your advice is helpful in knowing how to best reach each audience.

I know the middle is not as tight as it could be...and I am going to have some "harsher" images in the beginning to go along with the text. What I have online right now is a last minute piece I put together Tuesday to fulfill a requirement I had at school. So, there will be another version as soon as I can wade through the many hours of footage.

jrazz -
This is the same trip I was talking about a while back. Due to certain restrictions and lack of man power I was only able to take the smallest amount of equipment. I had a camera backpack which I used to carry a VX-2000, shotgun mic, Canon Rebel XT, a bunch of batteries and tapes, a reflector (which I didn't use), and of course my ipod (can't travel without it). The advice given on the forum was very helpful in giving me an idea of what to expect and how to go about shooting this documentary. As far as their advice on equipment....I would have loved to taken more..but it just wasn't possible.

...all the music on the teaser is from "Gladiator"....i know....copyright music....maybe cinescore will help me out soon....

thanks
jeremiah

Bob Greaves wrote on 5/4/2006, 6:13 PM

Would you want help scoring it?

xjerx wrote on 5/4/2006, 6:54 PM

I would love help with the scoring....however....i'm on a no budget budget....

I won't be done with the full project for a while...so maybe by then this little teaser will generate some money for that sort of thing because I will definitely need something for the full documentary.

thanks for the help and offer...

jeremiah

Bob Greaves wrote on 5/5/2006, 4:41 PM

I sent you a private email about doing a score.

tumbleweed wrote on 5/5/2006, 9:39 PM

.."Well done, thou good & faithful servant"..

apit34356 wrote on 5/6/2006, 4:02 AM

Xjerx, nice work with the XT and VX-2000. I would not use all your "best" shots for the leader/promo. Remember, how many movies put all their best scenes in the ADs, the movie crowd always felt let down when when the they realized the ad was best part. I would suggest cutting down the lenght a little, mostly work on the content in the middle, maybe 1/3 or more could be interweave. Due the serious nature of the subject, watch the colors, play a little with FOD for subject focus. Again you have some really nice work, and your work for the cause A+++.

xjerx wrote on 5/7/2006, 7:04 PM

Thanks for all the comments...I will rework the middle section and post it when I get it done...

jeremiah