Youth Group Promotional Video
 

Okay, here's a promotional video that I shot for a small christian youth group. This is a 6 minute version, the full version is a bit longer (14 minutes I think). It's my first time uploading to You Tube. Any and all feedback welcome, including constructive criticism.

Thanks,
Kevin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBRiBWJyJp0

I will just be a critic like you asked. Don't take it to heart in any way.ahhaaa

What frame rate did you use? I could tell especially when the cue ball was hit, it was very blurry.

Also, it is all personal preference. As I am a 16 yr. old, I think if you are targeting youth, you should have just a little bit more flash.

Also, to get variety, I would change songs throughout the promo, but still have "Blessed Be Your Name" as the theme song and use at the beginning and end of the video.

Overall you did a good job.

I did see the squeeze downconversion...personal pref. is either crop or the widescreen look.

What camera did you use, the quality didn't look too bad. Especially as it was on youtube.com

Joseph

Thanks for the feedback Joseph. To answer you questions I used varying frame rates throughout depending on the available light and desired "artistic" effects. So several times throughout the video the frame rate is well below 30fps. I think the lowest I went was 8fps. Did you find the varying frame rates distracting? Did it add anything to the video for you?

The video was done for two target audiences. The first was adults in the town, to show them what the program is doing and to be used as a fundraising tool. Letting kids know about the program and what is offered is secondary.

I used a Canon XL2 with the 20x lens, a Bescor 50w top light, and a AT897 for the handheld stuff and a small three point light kit for the interviews. It was edited in Final Cut Express 2.0 and exported as a high resolution Quicktime file for upload.

Thanks for the note on the song choice, I wasn't sure if it was too noticeable that it was the same song throughout.

Thanks again for the feedback. Anybody else out there?

Thanks,
Kevin

I didn't find the different frame rates "distracting" per se, I really didn't think about different frame rates throughout the documentary, BUT I noticed on some shots they looked WAY too blurry.

There are some good shots with 4 and 8 FPS, but I think those should be saved for something like a bad dream. LOL You know what I mean?

Joseph

I enjoyed it very much and thought you did a great job. Didn't find the variable frame rates distracting but did at first think something was maybe a bit wrong with my bandwidth or youtube. I probably wouldn't reach down as far as 8fps.

Great job...

Jon

Thank you both for your input. I probably did go a bit too slow with the shutter speed. I'll keep that in mind in the future.

Thanks,
Kevin

I think the VO sounds way to serious. I understand this is targeted at adults but that does not mean the voice has to the so strict. I would prefer a more happy and more energetic sounding VO.

After getting some space from the project and re-listening to it, I'd have to agree with you, Alex. Thanks for pointing that out and making me take the time to review the opening.

They've all made some good points. I'm a youth pastor that works with video, and PERSONALLY, I would speed this up a bit. It felt slow to me. I'm 26, and if it feels slow and calm to me, it will feel even slower to the youth. What about quick shots of what's offered set to something like "Comatose" by Skillet? I wouldn't go as far as going cliche with POD or anything, but that's just personal pref's. Good shots, just don't drag them out longer than necessary.

I agree with the above commments are pace. If it involved teenagers, i think it should move a bit faster.

Here is one I did for a local youth organization proting one of their summer camps:

Scroll to the bottom of the page...

http://www.pachristianendeavor.org/2007_sa.htm

Maybe I'm just to mellow myself. I'll definitely work on speeding up the pace in my work.

About using more mainstream Christian rock music - not if I can't get the rights. The copy of "Blessed Be Your Name" that I used was on a royalty free site. I think that I was able to get it for about $20. Also it is/was one of the praise band's favorite songs.

Thanks again for the feedback. I really do appreciate it...

Kevin

Here is my most recent video. I hate it that YouTube has such poor quality...it would look sharp if it was better quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrLwsiFzDBM

All criticism is wanted. I am only 16, so...

I shot video with a Z1U and edited it with my MacBook Pro 17in. with FCS.

Joseph

Pretty well done Joseph... I think you hit it just right and did a nice job..

Dude, I think you hi-jacked my thread...

No worries... I liked you're video, well done...

Kevin

Sorry!
 

I am sorry, I guess I thought since Curt did the same thing, we were starting to put different posts on and add them together. I guess what I thought wasn't right. Sorry :-0

Joseph

P.S. Thanks for your encouragement on the video, I appreciate it.

Was there anything you thoght I could've done better on?