ToTellIt wrote:
Thanks Jimmy. I'm just starting to experiment with DSLR video. There are still a ton of things that I need to learn. I do know enough to not "zoom", but I'm about to invest in a slider because I don't always want a static shoot. I also use a separate recorder and sync the sound, as I also do the editing. I guess you could say I'm a one man crew. I had been using camcorders, as I said, but I'm very interested in DSLR video. The reason the ability to use various lenses stood out was I went to a bull riding event and was able to capture video with a 200mm lens that looked so much better than with the camcorder's fixed lens. Previously, I did some genealogy type interviews, but I now want to do more than the static type of filming. Here is a link to a documentary that I did. It's about 17 minutes long, so grab a cup of coffee 8-).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTHX8SBqsvAFeel free to comment, as that is how I will get better. Once again, THANKS!
Thanks Jimmy. I'm just starting to experiment with... (
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Okay, about your piece. Here's some things I noticed.
Audio: The recorder is probably doing the best it can but there's lots of room echo. That tells me the mike was too far from the subjects when they were speaking. That would include your opening statement.
Are you using a table mike, a lav, shotgun, what? 0ne thing you might consider is some sort of mike stand for this situation and place the mike on the table between the two subjects and much closer to them. You'll get rid of some of the echo that way.
Video: There was a little too much camera movement in the beginning. You were apparently panning to reach proper framing but that should be done before you roll.
Always advise your subject that the shot is fairly tight so they can't move around too much. I didn't see much subject movement so perhaps you could have re-shot that portion of the opening interview to get around that framing movement.
During much of the two shot interviews the camera appeared to be tilted to the left so the entire set appears slanted to the right.
Editing: I found it choppy and difficult to watch. Particularly during the younger lady's portion... the gal who was speaking for her mother. Even if you had to show that photo of her "young" mother several times, that would have helped to cover up those cuts. I know the reason for the cuts but for me there were way too many of them.
One more thing about editing. If you have to make a cut during an interview for sound, try to do so smoothly with a one-second dissolve rather than a wipe or other transition.
Long interviews are difficult at best especially when you have compress for time.
One more: The gentleman who was showing his book. It would have worked much better to go back in later and dissolve in a still shot of his book rather than tilting down and back up again. You could even shoot video of his hands holding the book and dissolve that in rather than tilting.
Sorry if I sound too critical but I'm speaking from a professional point of view. If I'm expecting too much sorry.
Thanks for letting me look.
Jim