My work-tell me what you think

Pete Bauer · July 7th, 2004, 08:20 PM

Just earlier today I read a thread on DVInfo.net regarding another message board where a person who asked a simple question was ridiculed mercilessly:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=28567

I think we'd all agree with the most recent post in the thread, "Kinda makes me feel good about our more civilized forums."

Regardless which side of the grey line between personal freedoms and personal responsibility, or public use and destruction of public property each of us stands on, we are all probably better off to leave that stuff for other message boards. Let's leave that part alone here.

Now that that's off my chest...Greg, tell us the truth...there was no dolly, was there?...the "dolly shots" were from a skateboard, weren't they?!?!

;-)

Anyway, although it simply felt like a collection of cool shots without plot (which is ok if that's what it was meant to be!), I did enjoy the camera work and effects within individual shots ... especially the "dolly" work! The 3D scenes near the beginning were nice, but the transition into the actual skateboarding stuff was very rough and abrupt.

Greg Harris · July 8th, 2004, 05:49 AM

Yeah I have a special skateboard for filming. It has very big wheels so it gives it a smooth ride with very few bumps. As for my lens, I have the panny dvx100 and the fisheye has some vignetting. On a TV 98% of it is gone, its only in the lower left corner and you can hardly see it. It by far the best camera to film skateboarding with now. As for the story line, that clip was for an interview i had on another website. It was just suppose to be all of my BEST work i have filmed from the past 3 years.

Greg Harris · July 8th, 2004, 11:57 AM

I also put this piece up to see if you guys thinks i could get a job doing AE work for some company. I'm pretty young and just working this stuff at my house. This piece isn't done yet though, i was rushed by the guy who is hosting it on his site..

Sean McHenry · July 8th, 2004, 08:52 PM

Greg, what are you using (riding?) to follow the action? I would like to see a "how-to" video some day.

Sean McHenry

Bryan Roberts · July 9th, 2004, 06:55 AM

Greg - here's my thoughts on your skate video - First on format and structure: I think what keeps nonskaters or just fans of the sport interested and what has made me enjoy watching them over the years when friends show them to me is getting a little insight into these guys' life. I don't mean make a documentary out of it but giving just a bit of behind the scenes, like somebody telling some fu**ed up story or just anything funny or about them really brings you into the character and makes you "connected" in some way other than tricks alone. It's tough to give these videos a sense of tying all together which is why in all the ones I've seen, each persons segment usually starts with a sound bite or them doing something and then just goes into their tricks with occassional other funny or behind the scenes things mixed in there as well. I used to be heavy into skiing and snowboarding and some of those videos are a riot because you see how funny these guys are and it just makes it that much more fun because you connect a personality with the extreme tricks you see them do.

Your camera work was great but noting as another user did, your distracting shadows in some of the shots and the fisheye problems (did you buy this fish eye or is it the DIY from the DVX forum?). I personally have the DIY fish eye for my dvx and love it.

Finally regarding your CG work, I just want to be honest. I think it looked horrible and took away from the production value of the whole video. I don't mean this as a shot or being too critical, I just wanna give you my .02 as a casual web viewer and someone who's trying to get their own production company off the ground. I think there was just a lack of texture and the image looked flat, as if these shapes had been stuck together to form rectangles that were supposed to be buildings. The movement through this scene felt very artificial and akward. The clincher was the stop sign where the word STOP wasn't centered or fit correctly onto the sign. There's no reason you can't be producing some top notch stuff but I think you'll need a lot of work to be hitting at a level to compete with other CGers in your area and make money. One of my best friends is in CG work with 3DsMAX and MAYA. He's 24, is honestly a gifted artist and genius with these programs and after attending a top CG grad-school in our area where he ranked number 1 and his CG short became the crowning work for the campus, he went almost 2 years before finding a decent paying job. He now works at his dream job of character design for a game company but his work was incredible. Anyways, nuff said.

Well, I enjoyed your video and I don't mean to make it sound like I didn't. These were just my thoughts about it's strengths and weaknesses. On another note, I love the fairfax area. My GF grew up in Herndon and also is my partner with our production company at http://www.DefiningFilms.com . Best of luck to you.

July 7th, 2004, 08:20 PM	#16
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Just earlier today I read a thread on DVInfo.net regarding another message board where a person who asked a simple question was ridiculed mercilessly: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=28567 I think we'd all agree with the most recent post in the thread, "Kinda makes me feel good about our more civilized forums." Regardless which side of the grey line between personal freedoms and personal responsibility, or public use and destruction of public property each of us stands on, we are all probably better off to leave that stuff for other message boards. Let's leave that part alone here. Now that that's off my chest...Greg, tell us the truth...there was no dolly, was there?...the "dolly shots" were from a skateboard, weren't they?!?! ;-) Anyway, although it simply felt like a collection of cool shots without plot (which is ok if that's what it was meant to be!), I did enjoy the camera work and effects within individual shots ... especially the "dolly" work! The 3D scenes near the beginning were nice, but the transition into the actual skateboarding stuff was very rough and abrupt. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

July 8th, 2004, 08:52 PM	#19
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	Greg, what are you using (riding?) to follow the action? I would like to see a "how-to" video some day. Sean McHenry __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

July 8th, 2004, 05:49 AM	#17
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	Yeah I have a special skateboard for filming. It has very big wheels so it gives it a smooth ride with very few bumps. As for my lens, I have the panny dvx100 and the fisheye has some vignetting. On a TV 98% of it is gone, its only in the lower left corner and you can hardly see it. It by far the best camera to film skateboarding with now. As for the story line, that clip was for an interview i had on another website. It was just suppose to be all of my BEST work i have filmed from the past 3 years.

July 8th, 2004, 11:57 AM	#18
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	I also put this piece up to see if you guys thinks i could get a job doing AE work for some company. I'm pretty young and just working this stuff at my house. This piece isn't done yet though, i was rushed by the guy who is hosting it on his site..

July 9th, 2004, 06:55 AM	#20
Bryan Roberts Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 436	Greg - here's my thoughts on your skate video - First on format and structure: I think what keeps nonskaters or just fans of the sport interested and what has made me enjoy watching them over the years when friends show them to me is getting a little insight into these guys' life. I don't mean make a documentary out of it but giving just a bit of behind the scenes, like somebody telling some fu**ed up story or just anything funny or about them really brings you into the character and makes you "connected" in some way other than tricks alone. It's tough to give these videos a sense of tying all together which is why in all the ones I've seen, each persons segment usually starts with a sound bite or them doing something and then just goes into their tricks with occassional other funny or behind the scenes things mixed in there as well. I used to be heavy into skiing and snowboarding and some of those videos are a riot because you see how funny these guys are and it just makes it that much more fun because you connect a personality with the extreme tricks you see them do. Your camera work was great but noting as another user did, your distracting shadows in some of the shots and the fisheye problems (did you buy this fish eye or is it the DIY from the DVX forum?). I personally have the DIY fish eye for my dvx and love it. Finally regarding your CG work, I just want to be honest. I think it looked horrible and took away from the production value of the whole video. I don't mean this as a shot or being too critical, I just wanna give you my .02 as a casual web viewer and someone who's trying to get their own production company off the ground. I think there was just a lack of texture and the image looked flat, as if these shapes had been stuck together to form rectangles that were supposed to be buildings. The movement through this scene felt very artificial and akward. The clincher was the stop sign where the word STOP wasn't centered or fit correctly onto the sign. There's no reason you can't be producing some top notch stuff but I think you'll need a lot of work to be hitting at a level to compete with other CGers in your area and make money. One of my best friends is in CG work with 3DsMAX and MAYA. He's 24, is honestly a gifted artist and genius with these programs and after attending a top CG grad-school in our area where he ranked number 1 and his CG short became the crowning work for the campus, he went almost 2 years before finding a decent paying job. He now works at his dream job of character design for a game company but his work was incredible. Anyways, nuff said. Well, I enjoyed your video and I don't mean to make it sound like I didn't. These were just my thoughts about it's strengths and weaknesses. On another note, I love the fairfax area. My GF grew up in Herndon and also is my partner with our production company at http://www.DefiningFilms.com . Best of luck to you.