OT: See my newest 30-second commercial spot...

ken c wrote on 11/9/2008, 11:06 AM

Hey editors,

Just wanted to ask for your (candid!) comments on this 30+ second internet commercial spot I just finished editing, using Vegas 8.0c, at:

http://www.DaytradingUniversity.com/worldsbesttrader.htm30-Second High-Energy Financial Day Trading Promo Spot[/link]

It's on the top of the page, and auto-plays. I used a variety of 1-to2 second jump cuts, dutch angles (thanks Vic M!), sound syncs to major cuts (thanks Spot!) and other techniques. Still probably needs a bit of work. Thanks to all of you for 'schooling me' in how to do this stuff right. It's taking years to learn the craft.

Audience: we're all a bunch of hyper energy/ADD-type day traders, all 8,100 of us, so that's why the high-energy frenetic pace, to get folks jazzed up.

I'm trying (reaallly hard) to make my stuff more professional-quality commercials, vs my early car-salesman type videos... thanks over the years to all of you who've pushed me to improve my stuff, I've taken heed and worked hard to get better.

I started this thing yesterday morning, total edit time roughly 8 hours ...any suggestions for improvement? Mostly it's designed to get attention, there's no call to action in this specific video; I may use it as an intro for other projects.

thanks all,

-ken

Comments

Avanti wrote on 11/9/2008, 11:39 AM

Ken,

Since you asked. This is a good start. If it were me, I would add graphics, text, light flares and multiple layers of video to make it look like the CSI TV show style opening.

Charlie
http://www.avantibiz.com

ken c wrote on 11/9/2008, 12:06 PM

Hi Charlie, great idea, will do... I had thought about flares, esp. on one of the aerials, but haven't done them in AECS3 KLF yet... will do... and good idea re sliding video layers... I'd done that at trademastery.com and it turned out well .. thanks!

-k

tcbetka wrote on 11/9/2008, 12:28 PM

Wow, it looks great! I'd love to see it after you've made some of the changes you guys were talking about.

Great job!

TB

Coursedesign wrote on 11/9/2008, 1:27 PM

It looks real nice as usual, but where is the final action? Meaning where is the part where the prospect thinks, "I gotta click here or I'm toast!"

Also, when your mug showed up, it looked like you were about to say something really important. Then you apparently changed your mind.

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 11/9/2008, 1:59 PM

Ken, it looked Great visually, however it did not hook me. In fact there seemed to be a lack of any real message other than the name of your company a couple time. It looked like a lot of flash, and no bang.

I personally think that you don't have a message being delivered. If it's just to say "Introducing the day trader" it takes way too long, and I don't associate one line of text to the other, nor should it be 40 seconds to just say that one thing IMHO.

If it were me, I'd either try and say something more, or cut it way back and deliver the message all at the same time. rather than splitting it across 20 or so seconds.

I'd also change the green screen shot to you looking like your teaching, or possibly a different smile that's a little bigger, the one you're using now seems to be kind of bland, I can't tell if you're happy, or uncomfortable.

Just my .02, but I hope it helps.

Dave

ken c wrote on 11/9/2008, 2:51 PM

Thanks - great tips, I'll work on improving it... I really appreciate your taking the time to take a look and let me know, helps me sharpen it up. When I'm in NYC next Feb, I'll have a videographer (know any shooters?) do an hour or so of b-roll type stuff where I'll be in front of wall street/NYSE for location footage, which will look better than the generic clips in there now... and right re the message/call to action, hmm I need one.. trying to figure out what to do ... good points on that... most of my videos are sales type direct response ones, this is more splash/branding ... agree it should have a hook/cta, will do.. *thanks!*

-ken

tcbetka wrote on 11/9/2008, 3:55 PM

Yes, I guess now that I go back and watch it again, I am not sure what the message is? I saw the "Daytrading University" at the end, but maybe there should be some sort of message to solicit customers. And the video does freeze occasionally, but I presume that's simply an artifact of my internet connection?

But I still like it though.

TB