2 Spec Commercial

Jun Tang · July 18th, 2007, 12:48 AM

Hey,

Finally decided to let my ego take a stab.

I am pursuing a career as a commercial director. And these two are my first two spec commercials.

I shot this with a DVX100a/M2 adapter.

After watching Phillip Hudson footage and other HD quality footage with the RedRock M2... I have to say -I should have gone HD.

Give me any feedback you have and don't pull punches. Anywhere from what you think of the concept - to the lighting - to the quality...etc

here is the link

www.tangfilms.com

Ivo van Aart · July 18th, 2007, 01:04 AM

I only looked at pennzoil cause I'm in a bit of a hurry.

First reaction: great! Professional audio, solid acting and good editting.
But: the storyline is very predictable and maybe even a bit cliché. It's a bit easy to relate such things to sex... But okay, maybe that's just me. Some technical stuff: I thought the clip was a bit too dark. I saw a lot of grain, and I think that's just the result of bad lightning (could be something else though). There's one thing in the video where I lost the story for a second. That's when the girl starts pulling (?). Her face is very weird and next thing she's out of the car. I couldn't really understand that. You should look into that (in editing?)

But overall: nice job. I'll look into the other clip tonight.

Glenn Davidson · July 18th, 2007, 01:17 AM

I just watched ARRI. My first thought was great audio and great acting. Pretty funny concept. The editing of the chicken scene at 'sunrise' seems a little choppy. A shot from the birds perspective that really looks like sunrise would be better. Overall, great, funny stuff.

Eric Brown · July 18th, 2007, 01:04 PM

Jun, these are good ideas. If I have any crits it's that I think the lighting is a bit flat. There are easy steps you can take to make your subjects read better within the frame so I think there were some missed opportunities. I don't think it's too dark, I think you didn't make that dark pop with stronger key lighting. Also, I agree with the above poster as you appear to have missed a shot. You should have the build up of her seeming to go for the guy's you-know-what but instead ends up grabbing the hood release.
Seeing her breasts at the end is a bit gratutitous, we get the point already about the supposed sexual tension. After you've established that she's interested in the car's engine and not his, you should stay with that and focus on selling the product, not her cleavage. I think the Arri spot can be edited down a quite a bit and, as the previous poster said, you missed a shot on that one as well. Just my two-cents. Overall very good job, though. You'll make a great commercial director someday! Hope this crit isn't too harsh.

Jun Tang · July 18th, 2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Brown

missed opportunities.

What do you mean?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Brown

Seeing her breasts at the end is a bit gratutitous, we get the point already about the supposed sexual tension. After you've established that she's interested in the car's engine and not his, you should stay with that and focus on selling the product, not her cleavage.

I can see your point.

Jun Tang · July 18th, 2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Davidson

I just watched ARRI. My first thought was great audio and great acting. Pretty funny concept. The editing of the chicken scene at 'sunrise' seems a little choppy. A shot from the birds perspective that really looks like sunrise would be better. Overall, great, funny stuff.

Thanks...All these comments are going into my proverbial experience bag.

Eric Brown · July 18th, 2007, 03:57 PM

[QUOTE=Jun Tang;713908]What do you mean?

I'm talking specifically about rim lighting of the hair and a background light, say, several feet behind the car and low to the ground so that when it shines up we see some definition of the car's rear window, backseat, etc...think depth, so that your forms don't read so flat. When lighting think of everything in layers, (foreground elements, midground, background) and, depending on what you're trying to achieve, how to light those individual "layers".
The challenge, at least for me, is to make things look natural and not have that "lit" look to them.
I look at my recent short film and see certain areas where I could have definitely done better.
Always learning...
on a funnier note...I noticed I mis-spelled gratuitous. How I spelled it, considering what I was talking about, is what makes it funny.
Best of luck.

Don Donatello · July 18th, 2007, 04:25 PM

what is a "SPEC" spot today ?
back in the 80-90's they were spots that individuals made and then would send them to ( in this case ) Pennzoil & Arri ... so one would do a bit of reserach on the product and go from there ...

i don't see these as spots .. to me they are Directed, shot , edited as if a section out of a short ( or long) dramatic project with a tag line at the end.... in that, i find them good pieces .. as commercials ? well ? have you ever considered a day job Directing shorts or features ?

Jun Tang · July 19th, 2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Brown

The challenge, at least for me, is to make things look natural and not have that "lit" look to them.

Hey Eric,

I see what you mean now. I absolutely agree that it does both look dark...even for a 'night' scene.

This was a run-and-gun shot in the park...so no permits, no genie, and no lights.

Also, I lean toward something that looks natural or have the light 'motivate' by a source. I heard that on a commentary of 'Godfather' how Gordon Willis tend to light if it's motivated.

But from this, a learning experience. I would know what to look for in the future...which I will post up for crit. I would prefer to collaborate with a cinematographer.

Jun Tang · July 19th, 2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Donatello

i don't see these as spots .. to me they are Directed, shot , edited as if a section out of a short ( or long) dramatic project with a tag line at the end.... in that, i find them good pieces

Hey Don,

Thanks for your comment. I don't know if that is a compliment or not. I did want to shoot it like a 'short film' so in a way I achieve what I want. (as far as concept and the way it was directed) I still wish it was lit better and shot on HD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Donatello

.. as commercials ? well ? have you ever considered a day job Directing shorts or features ?

Ultimately, I would like to do feature. I might work on short films soon...but day job...if only I can find someone to pay to get it made.

But thanks for the compliment.

Eric Brown · July 20th, 2007, 06:14 PM

Cool, Jun. Keep up the good work.

July 18th, 2007, 12:48 AM	#1
Jun Tang Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West LA Posts: 135	2 Spec Commercial - DVX/M2 Hey, Finally decided to let my ego take a stab. I am pursuing a career as a commercial director. And these two are my first two spec commercials. I shot this with a DVX100a/M2 adapter. After watching Phillip Hudson footage and other HD quality footage with the RedRock M2... I have to say -I should have gone HD. Give me any feedback you have and don't pull punches. Anywhere from what you think of the concept - to the lighting - to the quality...etc here is the link www.tangfilms.com __________________ www.tangfilms.com

July 18th, 2007, 01:04 AM	#2
Ivo van Aart Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Breda, Netherlands Posts: 67	I only looked at pennzoil cause I'm in a bit of a hurry. First reaction: great! Professional audio, solid acting and good editting. But: the storyline is very predictable and maybe even a bit cliché. It's a bit easy to relate such things to sex... But okay, maybe that's just me. Some technical stuff: I thought the clip was a bit too dark. I saw a lot of grain, and I think that's just the result of bad lightning (could be something else though). There's one thing in the video where I lost the story for a second. That's when the girl starts pulling (?). Her face is very weird and next thing she's out of the car. I couldn't really understand that. You should look into that (in editing?) But overall: nice job. I'll look into the other clip tonight.

July 18th, 2007, 01:17 AM	#3
Glenn Davidson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nevada City, California Posts: 499	I just watched ARRI. My first thought was great audio and great acting. Pretty funny concept. The editing of the chicken scene at 'sunrise' seems a little choppy. A shot from the birds perspective that really looks like sunrise would be better. Overall, great, funny stuff.

July 18th, 2007, 01:04 PM	#4
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	Jun, these are good ideas. If I have any crits it's that I think the lighting is a bit flat. There are easy steps you can take to make your subjects read better within the frame so I think there were some missed opportunities. I don't think it's too dark, I think you didn't make that dark pop with stronger key lighting. Also, I agree with the above poster as you appear to have missed a shot. You should have the build up of her seeming to go for the guy's you-know-what but instead ends up grabbing the hood release. Seeing her breasts at the end is a bit gratutitous, we get the point already about the supposed sexual tension. After you've established that she's interested in the car's engine and not his, you should stay with that and focus on selling the product, not her cleavage. I think the Arri spot can be edited down a quite a bit and, as the previous poster said, you missed a shot on that one as well. Just my two-cents. Overall very good job, though. You'll make a great commercial director someday! Hope this crit isn't too harsh.

July 18th, 2007, 03:57 PM	#7
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	[QUOTE=Jun Tang;713908]What do you mean? I'm talking specifically about rim lighting of the hair and a background light, say, several feet behind the car and low to the ground so that when it shines up we see some definition of the car's rear window, backseat, etc...think depth, so that your forms don't read so flat. When lighting think of everything in layers, (foreground elements, midground, background) and, depending on what you're trying to achieve, how to light those individual "layers". The challenge, at least for me, is to make things look natural and not have that "lit" look to them. I look at my recent short film and see certain areas where I could have definitely done better. Always learning... on a funnier note...I noticed I mis-spelled gratuitous. How I spelled it, considering what I was talking about, is what makes it funny. Best of luck.

July 18th, 2007, 04:25 PM	#8
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	what is a "SPEC" spot today ? back in the 80-90's they were spots that individuals made and then would send them to ( in this case ) Pennzoil & Arri ... so one would do a bit of reserach on the product and go from there ... i don't see these as spots .. to me they are Directed, shot , edited as if a section out of a short ( or long) dramatic project with a tag line at the end.... in that, i find them good pieces .. as commercials ? well ? have you ever considered a day job Directing shorts or features ?

July 20th, 2007, 06:14 PM	#11
Eric Brown Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 427	Cool, Jun. Keep up the good work.