Vegas 30-sec commercial intro...feedback?

ken c wrote on 5/8/2006, 12:09 PM

Hi -

Thanks to all of you for your help... here's my first professional-quality video intro for an upcoming trading seminar DVD system, created w/Vegas:

http://www.TradingVideos.com/LiveTradingProfitsIntroGood.mpg

(22 megs, 30 second spot)

It's my best work yet in Vegas ... took me 6 1/2 hours though! sheesh, for a 30 second spot...

>> What do you all think?

Quick question: I did a png and gaussian blurred it for the background "Live Trading" scroll text, however it's still jerky when it scrolls, using track motion...

any ideas on how to get SMOOTH graphic element scrolls in Vegas?
I had the same problem with another video, eg anytime I try to get an image (png w/transparent bg) to scroll, it's jerky vs smooth...

appreciate your all's comments + help!

I'm finally getting decent at this stuff - thanks to you all. Especially Spot. You guys rock. And Fisher's vegas noise reduction dvd is brilliant too, superb tips.

the "no longer a vegas padawan, I'm now becoming a Vegas Jedi Master" lol,

ken

Comments

mjroddy wrote on 5/8/2006, 4:09 PM

My opinion:
Good effort! but...
While :30 is a VERY short period of time, this seemed long to me. It needed more energy if you're going to keep it going that long. If you're aiming to keep your :30 mark, throw in some sweet graphics about why we want to watch these guys...
I'd also suggest something more upbeat for music. I know there is a "sound" associated with money/investment/positive thinking, etc. Your music is very relaxing. But that may be what you were going for. Music is VERY subjective. When I search for music, I call it "going into Audio Hell."
It was pretty, but there wasn't enough information or action to really keep my attention. I was more distracted by what I considered to be unprofessional edits (or camera work). Again, this is just my opinion, but a camera move should be motivated if it is going to be used. You had a couple places where it looked like the camera was looking to settle and you used that part of the take. I would suggest letting the camera settle into its mark and then cutting in.
I would probably also not cover your talent's faces with your opening graphics. You have lots of room at the lower portion of the screen, why not use that area for your graphics?
There are a few other artistic things I would have done differently, but those are even MORE opinion than the above.
Overall, it's definitely watchable, but with some tightening, you'd have a slicker package.

ken c wrote on 5/8/2006, 4:49 PM

thx, good point .. agree re music, I'll get something more upbeat... good points re camera angles, and intro graphics, I'll fix all that .. appreciate it!

final version will also have a voiceover in it, so that'll add to the energy .. will do re adding xtra graphics text w/benefits .... excellent points.. thank you.

ken

Jim H wrote on 5/8/2006, 8:26 PM

Very nice. I didn't think it dragged at all, in fact when it stopped I thought my player was hung...I wanted more.

I would take a look at your text placement. You've got an entire screen to play with so why cover up people's faces at the beginning?

The background with the cut out has almost a 3D tunnel thing going - looks nice.

busterkeaton wrote on 5/9/2006, 10:51 AM

My eye kept being drawn to outer edge of the screen.

The background was too distracting for me.
Perhaps if you reduced the opacity on it or slowed it down, it may have a different effect.

[r]Evolution wrote on 5/9/2006, 11:07 AM

I guess I'm just not patient enought to wait for a download that takes this looooong.
3 minutes into the download I aborted.

DGates wrote on 5/9/2006, 1:19 PM

You've always been too impressed with the bells and whistles of video editing, whether it's moving overlays or virtual sets. You want to be a infomercial producer so bad, you don't realize how tacky it all looks. You've been doing these videos forever, and you're still blocking faces with text.

winrockpost wrote on 5/9/2006, 2:50 PM

Too busy for my taste,,
my 2 cents,,,, I'm a believer in having a producer in the edit, another pair of eyes, if you write it,star in it, direct it ,and edit it, thats a lot of elements for any one person to do,and do well. Maybe hire a producer or an experienced assistant just to see things from another perspective. Worth every penny in the long run.
By the way I have spent way more than 6.5 hrs on several :30 sec spots:)
good luck !!

ken c wrote on 5/9/2006, 3:26 PM

hi - thanks for the helpful comments!

ken

dand9959 wrote on 5/10/2006, 8:33 AM

Ken,

any chance of posting a smaller wmv version?

ken c wrote on 5/10/2006, 11:11 AM

sure thing, once I update the sound track and get the titles outta the talent's faces... :p within a few days..

ken