This was my first music video treatment shot with GL2. I would love to hear what you think about it. My web site should be totally done by the end of the week. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your comments or questions.

http://www.mdfilms.net/
then goto music video tab, click "SHE"


Michael

I don't really like the way it is cut at the beginning with the music. It just needs to flow more. It's a very somber song and the way it is cut just seem harsh to me, but that's my opinion. Another thing is when the girl is on the beach and you have the waves transitioned over her. Something about it just doesn't ride well with me. I think the girl part should be less transparent. Because it kind of makes me dizzy with the waves and all.

On the plus you had some really beautiful shots in it, like the humming birds. Very nice.

And the only other thing that I didn't really like was the concept. It's just been done to death it seems. It's predictable from the start. Which is never good when telling a story. Again this is just personal opinion.

On a side note does the band have a website or a CD? I loved the song.

Thanks for your comment but you dont get it. It's too bad that the humming birds were your plus. There is a lot to this video but you didn't get see those things or moments. Its totally cool, its your "personal opinion" like you said. But saying things like "making you dizzy" just doesn't make much sense. The starting cuts DO flow, how much more did you want it to flow. Thanks anyway.

Do you do video work. I'd like to see your site or work if you have any.

Thanks again
Michael
MDFilms

Mike,
that is excellent video footage witht he GL2. I have a GL2, and what did you do to create some of the effects? Use filters? Matte Box? Or was that done when you edited? What kind of boom's supports did you use?

I dont really like to share effect settings but there are no filters or matte box. I use tons of color correction to get the different looks. I'm editing with FCPHD. There was only a tripod for support, no jib or boom. Thank for taking the time to watch the video. There will be more to come very soon. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael DeMattia : I dont really like to share effect settings...-->>>

Why not?

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael DeMattia :

Thank you for your time. I look forward to your comments or questions.

Michael -->>>

I don't really like to share my comments or questions.

Ya Thats Strange

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael DeMattia : Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. -->>>

I liked the look of several of your shots. How about sharing some of your shooting tips and effects? Oh yeah, that's right, you don't do that...

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael DeMattia : Thanks for your comment but you dont get it. It's too bad that the humming birds were your plus. There is a lot to this video but you didn't get see those things or moments. Its totally cool, its your "personal opinion" like you said. But saying things like "making you dizzy" just doesn't make much sense. The starting cuts DO flow, how much more did you want it to flow. Thanks anyway.

Do you do video work. I'd like to see your site or work if you have any...

...I dont really like to share effect settings-->>>

Hi Michael, I usually don´t post in this kind of threads, but I think you could relax a bit.
I don´t think anyone is attacking you or trying to copy your style.
This is usually a very friendly forum where people share a lot of info and opinions.
Some may not agree all the time, but I think your posts are a bit harsh.
And don´t take this the wrong way, maybe I´m wrong, but I think you might get a lot more from others if you don´t get so deffensive.

I mean, you asked for comments or questions.
Some will like your work, others might not.

But that´s why one asks for comments right?
To see what others think of your work and become better at it?

Also if you don´t want to share some of your shooting tips, that´s fine with me, but then why request questions?
You could just post whatever you think it´s appropiate for us to know.

Anyway, good luck!

W O W !

It doesn't take much to upset people on this forum. I have no problem with good or bad comments. I dont like to share my settings since I take so much time to come up with them. I dont have any problem talking about other things, I just dont like giving that away. Its not meant to piss people off. I didn't think anyone was attacking me, just thought there comments didn't make sense, thats why I say something in return.
It seems like everyone needs to lighten up. I'm not here to piss people off.

Oh Well

It's all good. Michael, usually when folks post their clips around here, if it's appreciated, people ask how you did it. It's just a complement, but in the end if you don't wish to share, you don't have to. It's your prerogative, and everyone else has to respect that.

But definitely, when you post a sample, it's assumed that you're looking for opinions, and, well, everybody's got one!

No harm, no foul. Everybody, please lets keep our posts constructive. Sarcasm definitely isn't constructive.

It's a nice looking piece of work, Michael.

I'd just like to point out that in your first post, you said "I look forward to your comments and questions." However, you responded negatively to the first comment, and refused to answer questions about your settings. Why did you bother to start this thread at all?

I think it was pretty good overall to watch, but I don't think it is something you would see on MTV. Maybe there could be more effects to the interior shots, like distortion.

At the risk of getting my head cut off (kiddin!), i figured since u asked for opinions and comments etc... might as well give my 2 cents

1) The shots you've done, with regard to cinematography and colour design are really really well composed and very dramatic, i do like them indeed.
so yeh, i'd say an 7.5/10 on them (all relative to a well done music video)

2) The pacing of the music video, seems kinda off to me.. like, certain parts go really well with the music but certain parts don't.. the beginning part, u're trying to keep in tune with the bass, which works for some vidz, but doesn't really fit in with this one. 5.5/10

3) Your use of fx .. you've got some nice ones in there, and you do make em look good, but again, some of them don't fit.. maybe it's just me, but certain fx ( the fire one for instance) doesn't convey any msg to me, just is there for the sake of being there. 6/10

4) Overall you've done a bangup job for your first ever music video with a GL2, and certainly gives me hope of what i can do with mine, it's just the little nagging things which i'm sure will get better the more you film. 7.5/10 for a first timer which is really good. (not an avg btw and this is just my opinion so i'd like my head intact thankx ;)

I think that this was flawless from beginning to end. It's a very different kind of music video, and I commend you for filming it in such a way. I think each shot is extremely well composed, with nice push-ins, and are just set-up quite nicely. The editing is good as well. I'm not sure why, but this video works on all levels for me, not just because it's different, I just like your style of shooting. Good job!

- Robert

Sorry, it just doesn't do it for me. I don't know why; maybe its the pace or something. I don't like it.
Not to critize you but you did ask for comments " would love to hear what you think about it".

Cheers!

Thanks for your comments. I know that I have lots to learn. I know there are things that done go with the video but I really ran out of footage and time because of other things that are going on. I will be posting more videos as they come. My website. (http://mdfilms.net) is getting even more work done, you should see all the new things by the end of next week. Please sign up for updates. Thanks as always for your time.

Michael
MDFilms

I did enjoy the style... I agree about the flow comment given before though, since the cut on each beat varied so much that it lost the sense of when it was going to happen. It wasn't a consistent effect. Still, in terms of the shots, there were some great ones in there...

Overall I'd say good job!

please note that I seen this quicktime file start alittle fast or alittle slow. This in turn totally made all the edits wrong and out of place. If your watching the video and the cuts are off beat then stop the movie and start over.

i loved the part when you had the window with the trees outside it and it turned to night with the shot of the stars mixed in with the trees. i just that that was so great! any possibility you could share with me a bit about how you did that...?

No problem. sent me an e-mail MDFilms@mac.com

I had trouble loading the page under Firefox 1.0PR. I loaded it successfully using Safari.

I love your design!! I like the cyan-ish blue on the main menu and news page. Your sense of design is certainly not like any of the ho-hum stuff I've seen these days. Definitely fresh and different!!

Regarding the video, I'd like to see more. But if the remainder of the video is anything like the feel the web page has, I know it will go perfectly with the web site!!

Do you have an art/design/photo background?


Keep up the good work!

Rocky

Since you apparently did this with a Mac, how come you chose not to do this in Quicktime?


Rocky

Thanks for your comments. I dont understand your question about quicktime. All of my movies are quicktime files. Let me know if your having a problem with the site. Thanks

Hi,

Since it appears that you're using a Mac to edit your video, you can use Final Cut Express/Pro to export the video by navigating the file > export > Quicktime Video menu options. This will prompt you for a directory and filename. I am referring to Final Cut Express 2.0.3 only, but I'm almost positive that Final Cut Pro HD will also do this (if not more).

I was kind of surprised to see the file as a Windows Media file, when I noticed that you had a .Mac email address.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Keep in mind that I'm just a bit over a novice here. When it comes to photography itself, I went to the School of Visual Arts until I ran out of money!!


Keep up the good work,

Rocky

Rocky,

I have no idea what you are talking about. There are NO windows media files on my website. All my of movie files are quicktime. I know all about exporting video. I dont think your looking at my site (www.mdfilms.net) or you dont know what your looking at.

Hello again,

Yes, it certainly does seem that I was reviewing someone else's clip. Sorry about that. I guess I've spent too many hours in front of the monitor.

You DO have a nice style! That coupled with the overall look of the site is a winner, IMHO. Keep it up.


Rocky

The Good:
Most of the shots I thought had very beautiful coloring. Especially the ones that the color was just enhanced, not changed. A few of the shots seemed a little too "color-changed" for me, but I loved most of the others. Very nice music video for the most part. Congrats.

The Bad:
It's not my style for a music video. Pacing did seem kinda jumpy to me, and the waves crashing with the superimposed girl scene felt kind of off. I think you should have brought her out more, It seemed to me we should have been watching her and not the waves, but the waves overpowered her, kind of frustrating to watch, in my opinion.

The Ugly?
Only thing Ugly was my last attempt at a music video, Ha.

Michael,

Good work with a GL2. I think all the opinions as far as the technical stuff have been covered already.

But, dude....get over yourself. you're in a forum with some of the best DV film production folks in the country and they LOVE to share and help out. The fact that you "don't like to share my effects" is just plain bogus. Take that somewhere else.

It doesn't sound like you're having fun. It looks to me like you're just in search of a pat on the back. That's too bad.

Make a point to loosen up and have fun with this.

2 cents

-CW

Hey CARY,

I think your alittle late for your comments. I already talked about that. Get over myself? I dont think I did anything wrong. Sorry this bothers you so much.

Very pretty eye candy.