http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: critique - Recent Posts en Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:46:22 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/how-do-i-make-better-videos#post-73860 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:00:50 +0000 EarlC 73860@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>OK, the sample you'd like to be more like. Don't. Sorry, but after a minute I wanted to turn it off and comment. At 2:12 I'd had enough ... all I could take. WHY?</p> <p>Centered, straight on angle. Boring. Too much space and the reflective water caused some lighting issues as well with this one. I think the single most effective thing THIS VIDEO and yours could use is multiple shoots, repetitive performances, varying angles and POV, then using the new editing power Elements will provide you, cutting to keep some interest.</p> <p>I'd shoot tighter. Unless the background is a significant and participating point of the focus, it's NOT contributing to, but taking away from, the point of interest. In both cases, the talent. I liked your intro for your first attempt, but when you got into the production you got to it. No lag. The buildup for sample two was too long. Totally boring and nothing like the BIG PICTURE or "larger than life" description you led me to believe I'd perceive.</p> <p>Tight shots, varied angles, avoid backlighting, control the audio and you're going to have something that knocks the socks off your reference sample IMHO. What was cute in the second video was the obvious audio source being set, then placed on the block, but obviously the actual sound was recorded from a closer proximity in post. But nothing else about the second sample appealed to me to the extent your first effort did.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/how-do-i-make-better-videos#post-73859 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:57:51 +0000 Moab Man 73859@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>It looks like the wall is in focus and not the two of you during the introduction. The dance part is suffering from bad lighting. It's dark in front of you two girls, very bright behind you, too much activity seen through the window, and overall the light is just washing out your colors. The clothing colors blend too much with the surroundings. Looked at your other video and I would make all the same statements. To put it simply, you're not lighting your subject. The background is what's lit up.</p> <p>The video you like has plenty of lighting and the girl is wearing strong colors that really pop out against the background, although I couldn't stop my eye from being drawn to the completely out of place drink bottle in front of her.</p> <p>Just so you know, for what you're doing it's not a software issue. Windows Movie Maker will do everything you're doing so far. However, I would encourage you to learn the Adobe program so that once you get your lighting correct you can use the color adjustments to improve.</p> <p>What are the setting you're using, there is a lot of interlacing (when you're moving and your arm for example breaks up) showing up?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/how-do-i-make-better-videos#post-73858 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:51:28 +0000 EarlC 73858@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Ally &amp; Sally, for a first attempt the first example you shared in the links above was GREAT. I do understand what you mean when you say you want to be more satisfied with the final results and I think I can see what might help.</p> <p>BACKLIGHT ... your biggest problem with the dance in a diner sequence is the backlight from the window. You could, of course, set your iris to cut the vignetting, or add gels to the windows, but probably your best bet would be to try to find a position that does not include such a large swath of backlight to contend with. I perceive that the location you used might be a bit tight, providing little, if any, choice of positions away from the window. But the backlighting works against you here, instead of perhaps helping create GREAT lighting as a source from front or side.</p> <p>THE WINDOW ... camera POV, while interesting, and in addition to backlighting, also generates bit too much distraction with pedestrian and auto activity outside, taking attention away from your routine.</p> <p>Your music levels and audio levels are good, but you might consider doing the routine to the selection, then close recording (lip syncing). It appears you're using the audio from the on-camera mic. If I'm wrong, you still are too far away from the mic and need to address that for increased clarity.</p> <p>The last thing simply is to shoot more than one take from more than one angle and/or POV, giving you the opportunity to change angles and points of view in the editing and generate a more creative and interesting piece.</p> <p>All-in-all, ladies, you did a GREAT job and I very much enjoyed you sharing your creativity. I hope you'll find some of what I said useful and that you'll share more as you adjust your productions.</p> <p>When I view the video you'd LIKE to be more like. I'll see if I have anything more ton contribute. By all means, don't stop. This is way awesome!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/how-do-i-make-better-videos#post-73857 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:20:53 +0000 Ally & Sally 73857@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hello! My sister and I have been making simple dance videos for Youtube and and Japanese video community called Nico Nico Douga. We've only made a couple so far, but we're not satisfied with the outcome of our videos. We took some video production classes in high school, but we're using totally different equipment for a totally different end product this time. We were hoping we could get some well needed tips from the community here!</p> <p>Our Youtube channel is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/moetwinstyle">here</a>. They're just simple videos that follow the general formula of one continuos shot while we dance (and sing).</p> <p><a href="http://youtu.be/kTyWCT4HzJ4"><strong>[An example of one of our videos]</strong></a></p> <p>We are using a Canon Vixia HF R20 camera with a tripod. For the videos we've uploaded so far, we've only used Window Movie Maker, but we now have Adobe Premier Elements 10 that we are using to edit our future videos. We hoped to have better lighting/quality and an overall more professional feeling product, but we're falling quite short of what we want. How can we achieve this?</p> <p><a href="http://youtu.be/GrC2OM0kXK0"><strong>[What we'd like to have our videos like]</strong></a></p> <p>We'd like to achieve an end product like the video above. Most of the time we'll be filming outdoors, but we'll be filming indoors from time to time as well. How can we get that "larger than life" feeling that the second video has?</p> <p>Thank you very much!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/the-critique-the-newbies-commercial-thread#post-68712 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:52:51 +0000 John 68712@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I liked it, it was a cool and interesting idea, short and sweet.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/the-critique-the-newbies-commercial-thread#post-68710 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:19:47 +0000 cortezcy 68710@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>&nbsp;I think it is very well done, fun and entertaining.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/the-critique-the-newbies-commercial-thread#post-68700 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:22:24 +0000 james 68700@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hello everybody! I'm new to this forum so I hope this is in the right place. I was hoping to get some critiques from all you fine people on this commercial i made as a contest entry. Good or bad, i'd love to hear it!!</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_6d5cKbdIY" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_6d5cKbdIY</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-critique-my-two-videos-need-your-advice#post-39289 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:56:27 +0000 domineaux 39289@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I didn't like your transitions.</p> <p>Slow fades would be better</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-critique-my-two-videos-need-your-advice#post-39288 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:51:21 +0000 barbaralaketahoe 39288@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote><p>ken burns is the documentarian who popularized zooming and panning around a photo to make it look like video. This is what you did with your photos. some people think this is cool. That's pretty sweet that you used pictures from your cell phone! I'm into internet freeware and found a free internet video editing software that can edit video from cell phones. It's called Avidemux and I'll be writing a chapter about it in my videomaker blog soon ("Free Stuff: Making Your Dream Movie for Nothing"). What version of pinnacle did you use? I don't like pinnacle AT ALL, but I've only used 11 Plus, I've heard the Ultimate versions are nice.</p></blockquote> <p>Pinnacle is all I know thus far anyway lol... it is Studio MediaSuite version 10.5 Titanium Edition $99.00 online, ugh! Let me know when you write your chapter for your blog, will keep reading after that.</p> <p>When I used my cell phone I just took still pics not video. I have never used my video part of my cell phone, tried it once didn't like it. I made the video from just stills.</p> <p>I am really jazzed that what I did in my video was similar to what someone famous does. It is just what I was seeing &amp; feeling when making video. I will go back and try to see what you are telling me.</p> <p>Thanks Chris, Barbara</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-critique-my-two-videos-need-your-advice#post-39285 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:04:28 +0000 chrisColorado 39285@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>ken burns is the documentarian who popularized zooming and panning around a photo to make it look like video. This is what you did with your photos. some people think this is cool.</p> <p>That's pretty sweet that you used pictures from your cell phone! I'm into internet freeware and found a free internet video editing software that can edit video from cell phones. It's called Avidemux and I'll be writing a chapter about it in my videomaker blog soon ("Free Stuff: Making Your Dream Movie for Nothing").</p> <p>What version of pinnacle did you use? I don't like pinnacle AT ALL, but I've only used 11 Plus, I've heard the Ultimate versions are nice.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-critique-my-two-videos-need-your-advice#post-39268 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:46:05 +0000 barbaralaketahoe 39268@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <blockquote> <p>Nice! I liked the "Heaven Created by GOD"  at the end of your second one. The second one's transitions/music made me think of something that would be playing in a Hallmark store at Christmas time. (Yes, my Mom used to take us to Hallmark.) what kind of camera did you use? I've always wanted to take pictures like that. You have the well known "Ken Burns" effect down cold. good job! <strong>stuff I didn't like (you can skip this part until later):</strong> Like Art said above, the red credits at the end of the first one were hard to read on top of the black and white photo. It was probably the font the text was in(thicker fonts are easier to read), but extra drop shadow or a different color would help too. Many of the pictures needed to be "perked up" with either Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. Just some color correction and sharpening. The first one seemed very slow, but that might be because it was the first one I watched.</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>THANKS ART &amp; CHRIS FOR YOUR COMMENTS!!</strong></p> <p>Chris, you and Art are both correct about the red script font at end of Reno video, not to justify leaving it in there, but it was 6am and I was tried lol... and I said to myself "Oh well, no one is going to read the credits anyway! That was just tired talking. Silly, won't say that again! Thanks."</p> <p>Believe it or not, all those pics taken in the Reno video with the exception of the blk &amp; wh ones were taken with my cell phone!! We were down from Tahoe in Reno buying a car, and I had no video cam or camera of any kind with me to take pics of these great views from 25 floors up in Harrah's of Reno, so, I took out my trusty Nokia cell phone lol!! You are absolutely right, I should have taken them into photoshop to perk them up! I love hearing about all these things through someone else's eyes.</p> <p><strong>The Tahoe video (hang on to your seat) were all taken with a very antique digital camera, probably one of the first made. It is a floppy disk camera!! "Sony Digital Mavica 2X" it takes incredible pictures</strong>. Yes, looking back each frame was to slow, it was one of my first videos trying to learn Pinnacle. I like that you thought of Hallmark though, and besides the snowy street shot from the 18th floor of Harrah's I liked the Heaven Created by GOD frame the most too.</p> <p>Not wanting to sound totally green, tell me about Ken Burns, and his effects. Please.</p> <p><strong>Thanks again guys for your replies!! Barbara</strong></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-critique-my-two-videos-need-your-advice#post-39265 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:46:19 +0000 chrisColorado 39265@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Nice! I liked the "Heaven Created by GOD"  at the end of your second one. The second one's transitions/music made me think of something that would be playing in a Hallmark store at Christmas time. (Yes, my Mom used to take us to Hallmark.)</p> <p>what kind of camera did you use? I've always wanted to take pictures like that.</p> <p>You have the well known "Ken Burns" effect down cold. good job!</p> <p><strong>stuff I didn't like (you can skip this part until later):</strong> Like Art said above, the red credits at the end of the first one were hard to read on top of the black and white photo. It was probably the font the text was in(thicker fonts are easier to read), but extra drop shadow or a different color would help too.</p> <p>Many of the pictures needed to be "perked up" with either Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. Just some color correction and sharpening.</p> <p>The first one seemed very slow, but that might be because it was the first one I watched.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-critique-my-two-videos-need-your-advice#post-39264 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:43:48 +0000 artismobile 39264@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Nice.  I like them.  I had a bit of a problem reading the credits at the end.  Dunno if the font was too thin or my age and eyesite! Keep making them.</p> <p>Art</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/please-critique-my-two-videos-need-your-advice#post-39260 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:16:16 +0000 barbaralaketahoe 39260@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>PLEASE CRITIQUE MY TWO VIDEOS. <strong>I just found this forum last night, and am new to video making. I truly love it, and want to learn all I can. The tips &amp; tricks page seems to be a really great place to start. I have been learning Pinnacle on my own since January of this year when I have a chance.</strong></p> <p><strong>I would like to make travel aid DVDS for Tahoe and Reno, etc... for sale on eBay, so, when I do I want them to be high quality with great effects. I would like to speed up my learning process now. I could use anyone's advice, and would appreciate it.</strong></p> <p>I have a Michael Jordon &amp; Tony Romo video that I need to - hold my breath - edit together, and get up for sale. I find the still photo videos so much easier, and just plain fun. Video videos much harder.</p> <p>Thank you to anyone &amp; everyone who replies back!!</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyFHgeHS-JY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyFHgeHS-JY</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxO3xTWA-Ps&amp;feature=user">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxO3xTWA-Ps&amp;feature=user</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/watch-my-video-and-give-me-a-critique#post-36013 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:32:18 +0000 derrickvideos 36013@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>man thats nice. professional well edited damn near espn material. text could be just a tiny bit better. but i loved it.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/watch-my-video-and-give-me-a-critique#post-35970 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:28:33 +0000 robGRAUERT 35970@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Nice...great advice guys. I haven't gotten the rights to the song only because it's for my old high school, and the video is for their annual all-sports banquet they have at the end of each school year. So it's only for the student's and coaches, which is why I didn't have more informative lower thirds either. </p> <p> </p> <p>I agree with your comment about the VX2100 though ThomScratch. The GL2 doesn't perform very well in low light situations. Looks awesome when their is plenty of light though. At least I think so...I'm still in college, so I don't see much high quality footage yet haha.  </p> <p> Oh and the last shot isn't a freeze frame. Myspace didn't let it fade all the way to black for some reason. I'll be sure to take all your advice with me for future projects.  </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/watch-my-video-and-give-me-a-critique#post-35964 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:54:10 +0000 ThomScratch 35964@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Nice piece.  Very professional.  Could run very close to as-is as a featurette on local TV in many major markets (i.e., large cities).</p> <p>Last shot (freeze frame) was awkward; not worthy of the rest of piece.</p> <p>Do you have permission for the music.  I know; everyone steals ST material for MySpace and the like.   Having a corporate lawyer (hired by a rich band) come after you for 500K or so could be a life changing experience, if you were to use the copyrighted material in an exploitive way (i.e., try to make $25 worth of income with the piece).</p> <p>Not bad for a GL2.  Gym shots would have more saturation/zest with a Sony2100.  Also, while the gym look is fine (everthing in amber/ocre), experimentation with white balance might have given a more eye catching result.  (Not saying, more realistic; saying more eyecatching.  BTW, 99% of all TV commercials (not shot on cheap budget locally) favor eyecatching over realistic.)</p> <p>The Asst Coach cutaways were not as strong as the other interview bits.  A bit of mumbling.  And what he said maybe he could have said better with a little help from the "director" !!!</p> <p>Do more more more of these and you can make a mark out there.</p> <p>REGARDS ... Thom </p> <p>  </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/watch-my-video-and-give-me-a-critique#post-35963 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:07:35 +0000 GilbyGood 35963@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>The film held my attention was crisp and well paced. I think it would improved by adding appropriate titles for the viewers that are not familiar with the content. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/watch-my-video-and-give-me-a-critique#post-35951 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:14:36 +0000 robGRAUERT 35951@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I just finished a quick video for my hold high school that I graduated from in '05. It was all shot by me with my GL2. Let me know what you think. It's a kind of low on quality though because of compressing for myspace. </p> <p><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&amp;videoid=2104646723 " rel="nofollow">http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&amp;videoid=2104646723 </a></p>