A favor from the board...OT

Max Power · Post #1 » by **Max Power** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:43 am

Hey everyone, I know we've had guys show work they've done on here for the opinion of the board, feedback and everything. I was wondering if I could get the same. If you guys would kindly take 20 minutes and view a short documentary I filmed, it's for a good cause and spreading the word on an important subject. It's split into two 10 minute videos. The links are below....

Winner of the September 2009 Enzian Film Slam

The Transplanted Life

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA1wz7yNINg&feature=plcp

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbeGqb_sYRA&feature=plcp

spinedoc · Post #2 » by **spinedoc** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:20 pm

That was really good Max. I've ticked the box on my license to be an organ donor, but never really thought about it that much until now. I just thought it was the right thing to do given the fact that I won't need them if I pass. I didn't realize that there was as much celebration surrounding it though, organ games and conventions even, very informative. I also liked your use of the cut aways as people were talking, and the change up with the music throughout, nicely done.

Max Power · Post #3 » by **Max Power** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:59 am

Thanks Spinedoc, I appreciate you taking the time to watch it. Guess you were the only one. It's not worth watching unless it's a rap video if you're on this board it seems.

Bensational · Post #4 » by **Bensational** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:15 am

I'm going to give it a watch, just had a busy weekend (long weekend). Lookin forward to watching it.

Post #5 » by **ChosenSavior** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:46 am

Bensational wrote:I'm going to give it a watch, just had a busy weekend (long weekend). Lookin forward to watching it.

Reverse_Angle · Post #6 » by **Reverse_Angle** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:47 pm

Max Power wrote:Thanks Spinedoc, I appreciate you taking the time to watch it. Guess you were the only one. It's not worth watching unless it's a rap video if you're on this board it seems.

Your title was asking for a "favor" and now you are pissed that the same people who you asked that favor for had not been helping you as much as you hoped? I don't care whether you are talented or not, you won't go far with this attitude. You are close t nothing and you are trying to become close to something, that is why you are essentially advertising your production on a basketball board. You don't get to be disrespectful.

I did not think there was enough explanation of the video for me to watch, until I reached to the title "transplanted life". Then I could only guess "the good cause". For all I know, supporting door to door Jesus merchants could a good cause for you. Even after reading the title, it still could be arguing against stem cell research. Who knows at this point...

There you go, now you know my reason for not seeing it.

BadMofoPimp · Post #7 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:47 pm

ChosenSavior wrote:
Bensational wrote:I'm going to give it a watch, just had a busy weekend (long weekend). Lookin forward to watching it.

Me too. Maybe later on tonight if I remember to visit RealGM.

spinedoc · Post #8 » by **spinedoc** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:53 pm

Reverse_Angle wrote:
Max Power wrote:Thanks Spinedoc, I appreciate you taking the time to watch it. Guess you were the only one. It's not worth watching unless it's a rap video if you're on this board it seems.

Your title was asking for a "favor" and now you are pissed that the same people who you asked that favor for had not been helping you as much as you hoped? I don't care whether you are talented or not, you won't go far with this attitude. You are close t nothing and you are trying to become close to something, that is why you are essentially advertising your production on a basketball board. You don't get to be disrespectful.

I did not think there was enough explanation of the video for me to watch, until I reached to the title "transplanted life". Then I could only guess "the good cause". For all I know, supporting door to door Jesus merchants could a good cause for you. Even after reading the title, it still could be arguing against stem cell research. Who knows at this point...

There you go, now you know my reason for not seeing it.

Why don't you lighten up there Francis? Your the one with the attitude. Not only are you not going to contribute anything constructive, but come back and dump on the guy for his disappointment for the lack of contribution by the board. Classy. :thumbsup:

Driguez · Post #9 » by **Driguez** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:33 pm

Reverse_Angle wrote:
Max Power wrote:Thanks Spinedoc, I appreciate you taking the time to watch it. Guess you were the only one. It's not worth watching unless it's a rap video if you're on this board it seems.

Your title was asking for a "favor" and now you are pissed that the same people who you asked that favor for had not been helping you as much as you hoped? I don't care whether you are talented or not, you won't go far with this attitude. You are close t nothing and you are trying to become close to something, that is why you are essentially advertising your production on a basketball board. You don't get to be disrespectful.

I did not think there was enough explanation of the video for me to watch, until I reached to the title "transplanted life". Then I could only guess "the good cause". For all I know, supporting door to door Jesus merchants could a good cause for you. Even after reading the title, it still could be arguing against stem cell research. Who knows at this point...

There you go, now you know my reason for not seeing it.

That's a bit unnecessary and immature don't ya think?

I liked it Max, good work.

Reverse_Angle · Post #10 » by **Reverse_Angle** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:57 pm

so you guys think it is OK to insult the whole board as "rap video watching uneducated people" for not commenting on his video?

Driguez · Post #11 » by **Driguez** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:23 pm

Reverse_Angle wrote:so you guys think it is OK to insult the whole board as "rap video watching uneducated people" for not commenting on his video?

You got a point there, didn't really see that.

Max Power · Post #12 » by **Max Power** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:46 pm

You know what, I'll admit the rap video comment was unnecessary. I do apologize, Reverse Angle your right about that, please understand that my response was emotional based on my passion for the cause. I'm anxious to give back to the cause. DRiguez I appreciate the defense but he's right. I would still appreciate feedback if your so inclined, both from a filmmaker standpoint and subject matter.

HeartAndHustle · Post #13 » by **HeartAndHustle** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:58 pm

I took some time away from B.E.T. and watched the videos. I felt a certain connection since I actually had to go through the preliminary steps a few years ago to get on the heart transplant list.

It's good to see that the guy was actually able to get somewhere with Florida Hospital. I know when I was going through my troubles, every hospital in Florida were clueless on how to cure me. In my research, it seemed like hospitals in FL were near the bottom in the country (just like our public schools)

Leave it to the innovations in the bustling metropolis of Cleveland and the Cleveland Clinic to fix me up right.

Good job, good effort on the video

BadMofoPimp · Post #14 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:38 pm

Max Power wrote:You know what, I'll admit the rap video comment was unnecessary. I do apologize, Reverse Angle your right about that, please understand that my response was emotional based on my passion for the cause. I'm anxious to give back to the cause. DRiguez I appreciate the defense but he's right. I would still appreciate feedback if your so inclined, both from a filmmaker standpoint and subject matter.

I look forward to seeing your video sometime tonight. But, you shouldn't expect sympathy or an all positive reaction to any post on a internet forum regardless of good intentions. What happens is that you encounter people that got negative or no feedback on videos they had put up in the past.

arsenal6106 · Post #15 » by **arsenal6106** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:53 pm

Great video. I would recommend that you place a youtube annotation towards the end of part one, which directs them to part 2 of the video. Something like "continue to part 2".

Bensational · Post #16 » by **Bensational** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:58 pm

Hey mate, good work! Great topic with a good cause (I'm a big supporter of organ donation), and you had some great talent. Nice to see the film has picked up an award too! Sorry to hear about Annette, but it's great that you can dedicate something like this to her.

Got a couple questions for you... how come you went 4:3? Did you shoot this a while ago and edit it over a prolonged period? the only reason I ask is because shooting 4:3 makes it so much harder to create great looking shots.

What sort of stuff did you learn from the process of making it? Anything from that film stand out as a do or don't do for next time?

What kind of feedback would you like? Obviously, this film is a finished product, so there's no need saying "change this", etc. However, the one thing that I would say is worth changing/tweaking is the score. I know it's hard to find affordable production music, but if you find some indie/underground bands that you like, you can quite often approach them directly and ask for the rights. I really felt that the film could have used some more emotive music to it on those key emotional scenes, but for a large part it felt like the one constant looping track.

Also, I'm very wary with feedback, because I'm always aware that this is someone else's story to tell, so the way I envision it may not be the way they're intending to tell the story. You know? But, there are a few things I could point out for you that might be worth playing with on your next production, just to see if they can help communicate the message in a clearer tone.

FYI, here are some documentaries that some colleagues of mine made, and these are very much in the manner that I like to approach doco's. So if you're watching them and thinking "pffft, these are crap", then my feedback may not be of any use to you

https://vimeo.com/31583125

https://vimeo.com/39177524

And this is just a particular fav of mine. Don't know the guy that made it, but it's a simply beautiful piece of work.

https://vimeo.com/8191217

Max Power · Post #17 » by **Max Power** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:49 am

Ben, thanks for the feedback, I do take your opinion seriously, as the audience is a filmmakers barometer. Yes, it's a couple years old now and I shot it in standard def, which was what I had available. I loved the score for the doc but I agree it got repetitive during the interview segments. That and some small post production changes are all I'd change as well as a credit adjustment. I'll definitely watch the links your provided, I learn from everything I watch.

Thanks for the kind words about Annette, she was my mother and died a couple days into post production. Very appreciated man.

Bensational · Post #18 » by **Bensational** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:24 am

If you're interested, there are a couple little things that might help your next project. They're not as much for you as they are for your camera operators/producers, and ways to get more out of interview situations. Let me know your email address and I'll shoot you an email rather than posting on here.

By the way, I loved the kid at the start. "I drank a whole can of Mountain Dew in 15 seconds at lunch time!". Haha, like I said, great talent.

Max Power · Post #19 » by **Max Power** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:45 am

Sure Ben, GradeFProductions@yahoo.com, I'd love to hear more on what you have to say...fellow filmmaker too?

Bensational · Post #20 » by **Bensational** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:53 am

Max Power wrote:Sure Ben, GradeFProductions@yahoo.com, I'd love to hear more on what you have to say...fellow filmmaker too?

Yeah, I've been working predominantly in TV for the past 7 years, but moving into freelance music video/promo/drama at the moment. I've done a lot of work in the reality tv/ob doc field as a shooter/producer, which is why there were a couple things I noted about your film, particularly the interviews and overlay.

Nothing major, just a few bits and pieces that editors have corrected me on over the years which has really helped push the quality of my camera work, and gives them much more to work with in post (which I'm sure you could understand and appreciate!).