Youth Group Promotional Video at DVinfo.net

Kevin Randolph · July 30th, 2007, 03:56 PM

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

Joseph Hutson · July 30th, 2007, 05:06 PM

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

Kevin Randolph · July 31st, 2007, 01:04 PM

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

Joseph Hutson · August 5th, 2007, 08:10 AM

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

Jon McGuffin · August 5th, 2007, 08:31 AM

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

Kevin Randolph · August 6th, 2007, 10:40 AM

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

Alex Amira · August 6th, 2007, 11:41 AM

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.

Kevin Randolph · August 9th, 2007, 12:55 PM

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.

Alex Sprinkle · August 14th, 2007, 04:06 PM

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.

Curt Wrigley · August 15th, 2007, 12:35 PM

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

Kevin Randolph · August 15th, 2007, 03:46 PM

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

Joseph Hutson · August 15th, 2007, 08:55 PM

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

Jon McGuffin · August 16th, 2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Hutson

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..

Kevin Randolph · August 16th, 2007, 10:24 PM

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

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

Kevin

Joseph Hutson · August 17th, 2007, 11:07 AM

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?

July 30th, 2007, 03:56 PM	#1
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	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 __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

July 31st, 2007, 01:04 PM	#3
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	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 __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

August 6th, 2007, 10:40 AM	#6
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	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 __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

August 9th, 2007, 12:55 PM	#8
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	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. __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

August 15th, 2007, 03:46 PM	#11
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	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 __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

July 30th, 2007, 05:06 PM	#2
Joseph Hutson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 131	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

August 5th, 2007, 08:10 AM	#4
Joseph Hutson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 131	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

August 5th, 2007, 08:31 AM	#5
Jon McGuffin Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 634	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

August 6th, 2007, 11:41 AM	#7
Alex Amira Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Muncie, IN Posts: 74	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.

August 14th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#9
Alex Sprinkle Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Moore, Oklahoma Posts: 408	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.

August 15th, 2007, 12:35 PM	#10
Curt Wrigley Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 27	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

August 15th, 2007, 08:55 PM	#12
Joseph Hutson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 131	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 Last edited by Joseph Hutson; August 16th, 2007 at 10:39 AM.

August 16th, 2007, 10:24 PM	#14
Kevin Randolph Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 423	Dude, I think you hi-jacked my thread... No worries... I liked you're video, well done... Kevin __________________ "... the drama is on your doorstep..." - John Grierson www.grvideo.net

August 17th, 2007, 11:07 AM	#15
Joseph Hutson Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 131	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?