New XL2 Redrock Cleveland Music Video
 

Just finished shooting/editing this Music Video for some local Cleveland Hip-Hop Artist. Shoot was a 11-7 day on Thursday August 23. Video was complete Sunday night after editing for about 35 hours.

Just ask if you have any questions, All feedback appreciated

http://www.nbfilms.us/videos/roof.mp4
(33mb) - save Target as, Pllease


They Loved the video :)

The song is garbage. I can appreciate the technical aspects of shoot though...

appreciate it! sucks most people hardly understand what all I have to do, with constanly focusing the manual nikon lenses to not even having image stabalization. Thanks

Any feedback is appreciated as im trying to really step my game up. What would take my videos to the next level?

For starters, a different subject matter. This genre is so stale and tired. A bunch of black guys using the "f" and "n" words over and over again, trying to look tough waving huge wads of dollar bills about. I mean, really, is that the best their imagination could come up with?

Sorry to be harsh, but I'm tired of this type of video that promotes a very unhealthy, anti-social lifestyle. I don't think it would be "cool" to be any one of those guys. I imagine their life is pretty desperate and sad.

On the technical side, you could start thinking about jib/dolly moves, maybe just some more dynamic camera angles. What you're shooting looks fine, but maybe you just need to take more creative risks to push your style more, like some high contrast lighting scenes. Don't take my first paragraph personally, you didn't write the song...

thanks for the reply. I personally like the song, taste obviously varies.

Did you actually watch the video though after finding you didnt like the song?
,..cause i did use a dolly and jib lol

First time round I just watched a little less than half, didn't really notice the dolly/jib shots. I watched some of it again, I see where they are now, and I really stand behind my first post. You need to be more dynamic. Do you notice that a lot of you camera angles are very "head on" and pretty conservative? The shot composition is good, it just seems like you need to step out a bit more as a DP and do a bit more visual story telling. For sure, the corrections on some of your dolly moves are a bit sloppy (you need a really good fluid head for that, and a steady hand. Its actually tough if you're using a lighter weight camcorder).

As far as the "taste" factor goes, did you listen to the lyrics? Its a song about being a criminal, saying "f*ck to feds, and anyone starts snitchin, then we're bustin heads". Sorry, I just see no value at all in promoting this type of attitude these days. There is plenty enough crime and violence out there in our society, we don't need to celebrate it or make it seem like its a cool lifestyle. The language and subject matter in the video are a terrible role model for todays youth. I honestly feel sorry for you that you have chosen to express your creative talents with something like this. If there was something redeeming about the message, the darker side of that lifestyle, or the fallout that comes from making those kinds of choices, it would be worthwhile. But its just a video about how much fun it is to be a thug. Regardless, I found the song writing very immature, even for that genre, with the overly gratuitous use of the words "f*ck" and "n*gg*r".

n*g*a

just to correct you :)

Hey, that's actually not how they pronounce it at times in the video, so your "correction" is wrong. I'm really surprised that you're defending something like this. I think the language used in the song in your video is inappropriate material for this forum. You asked for opinons, and I gave you mine, and I don't think it was unfair. I don't appreciate you being a cheek with your responses. Please just take or leave the criticism I gave you, and save your ":)" and "lol" for someone else. If you don't have the maturity to take it on the chin, don't post, or at the very least, don't ask for it.

Giuseppe, just to add, I don't want to argue any further. I think you should read through the "Policies" section on the dvinfo home page.

i was correcting the fact that you said "er", and its a simple fact, no black people say "er" they say "a". So dont act like you know.

My :) face was just making it clear that i was not being snobby when i said "just to correct you"

Hi Giuseppe,

I liked the pacing of your editing and shot selection. All that fake money floating around almost makes it seem like a parody, though.

I have seen some of your other videos and think you are improving. I think you will have a good future in video.

I know that it can be harsh putting video up for comments, but I would not worry about any non-technical remarks.

i understand everything taken. Thanks for the reply, It was actually $4500 in real money. lol

http://a960.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...54396a6a3f.jpg

You can prob tell from this shot

Wow, I'm really surprised that this thread has been allowed to continue, its totally contrary to the policies stated on the dv.net home page. But anyway, since you went there Giuseppe, you are just out right lying. The guys in your video pronounce "er" plenty of times. Besides, what's your point? That your video is not filled with foul language and racial slurs? The reason I object to your subject matter is because it is glorifying an anti-social lifestyle. I think there are much better ways to utilize your talents than promote gang/illegal activity, calling women "ho's" and the rest.

Your statement that I quoted is wrong in so many ways, I'm not even going to get into it. Maybe check out Chris Rock on youtube or something.

I also think Glenn's comment to not worry about non-technical remarks is bogus. Context is everything. What's next, are we going to start evaluating pornography videos? What if it had been a video about a bunch of white guys using the same kind of language? The outcry would have been loud and clear. Face it, racial slurs are not cool regardless of who's using them.

I object to the video because of this. Notice that I actually separated my comments about the video's content from my technical remarks. I felt that I actually gave you some good feedback about your abilities, but I'm not going to pretend that I didn't find the video offensive.

I thought it was technically as good as any hip-hop video I've seen. It seems to only use natural light instead of a big lighting crew for different times and indoor locations which does make it a bit easier, but it still looks good. The color and exposure are good and the 35mm adapter give a bit of the film look. I think the shots were dynamic enough as there were dolly shots and shots inside cars as well as some low-angle composition.

On the other hand, every single time I heard "er" at the end instead of "a". They weren't trying to hide the pronunciation at all.

I hope you got the $4500 at the end of the video.

The Good:

It comes to an end...eventually.

The Bad:

Complete lack of storytelling, no effort to give this tired genre a fresh twist, if you're going to copy all the other cookie cutter hip hop videos out there then at least do it well.

The Ugly:

The composition, the direction, the soft focus, the handheld camera work, composition, reflections of you in car doors, a tripod that doesnt go above 2 feet, lack of CU's, sync issues, locations, composition, styling, the vignetting, the constantly changing colouring, interlacing, composition.

-------------------------

You've put time and effort into this, what shows is that there was little or no pre-production, and a lack of an overall theme.

Quite obviously these guys don't have $Cash$ to throw around, and they don't drive Mercedes and Bentley's either, your job is to make them look like they do, by creating an aura. This comes out of your styling, your cinematography, your choice of locations etc all of which must be put in place in your pre-production and described fully in your treatment.

You have the materials to create something decent, the willing cast, the cars, all of your talent and gear, it's just some management to make all of these come together. Get a producer, a good one. Don't ignore art direction or stylists. Look at other hip hop videos, imitation is a fantastic way of learning, and don't be afraid to be different either. It's those who are willing to push new ideas and break the mould who have most chance of making it in the industry.

Have a look at the Lupe Fiasco - Kick Push video, which was made for $500 by someone over at DVXUser. He didn't need a 35mm adapter either. The M2 here completely distracts, the constant soft focus, shallow DoF and soft edges are NOT filmic. It's just a tool and here you haven't made the most of the M2's attributes, by using lots wides you have left yourself with odd shots where razor thin DoF is distracting, and most of the image is out of focus. Make sure your M2 is tuned properly for backfocus. Try to shoot with your lens stopped down for a larger DoF, which is going to require lighting, which is seemingly ignored here. Don't be afraid to shoot without the M2, it's no silver bullet.

Performance videos are difficult because they lack direction, or a story to pull the audience through, suddenly all the shots become repetitive and it can be hard to keep watching, we lose interest. It's even harder when your band are a group of men who's only props are wads of cash and the occasional car. At least musicians have instruments they can "hide" behind, making them more comfortable. It can be hard to fill a screen space when it's just you, especially when your subject isn't an actor. So perhaps try to weave some plot, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, it can make a world of difference.

Overall though you have gone out and made something, which is more than be said of most. Hopefully you will have learnt a lot in your time on this and take care to address any concerns in your next project. All that we can ask of ourselves is that we learn and improve with every effort. Good luck.