We know our videos are not so good. We won't get better unless we make a bunch of shitty videos and get them out of our system. I'm not forcing anyone to watch them.
We know our videos are not so good. We won't get better unless we make a bunch of shitty videos and get them out of our system. I'm not forcing anyone to watch them.
Expecting to get better by trial and error may not be the best route. You need a producer.
Expecting to get better by trial and error may not be the best route. You need a producer.
Well the forum is here to give as much "constructive" criticism as possible.
Constructive criticism is never going to help if they don't read or listen to the advice. Basic framing is one of the most important thing about setting up a shot, and it is the one thing that screams "shit amateur" louder than anything else about any video.
Rym, Scott, whoever sets up the camera: read up about framing. I have told you this many times before (questions episodes, scott's box, etc).
Constructive criticism is never going to help if they don't read or listen to the advice. Basic framing is one of the most important thing about setting up a shot, and it is the one thing that screams "shit amateur" louder than anything else about any video.
Rym, Scott, whoever sets up the camera: read up about framing. I have told you this many times before (questions episodes, scott's box, etc).
Agree on the framing, and while I know it's your first, and I'm not grousing too much, you guys need to use a better background, and not so harshly backlit.
The thing is, we don't really have a lot of room. We're in tiny city apartments here. What exactly are we supposed to do?
Framing - simply tilt the camera down a bit. Get rid of some of the void above your heads. We're not myopic executioners, and very rarely do we consider you being cut off at the nipples a job well done.
The background? Chuck a sheet over the windows, or something that will diffuse the light from the windows enough so that you're not so harshly backlit, and giving a more uniform background.
The thing is, we don't really have a lot of room. We're in tiny city apartments here. What exactly are we supposed to do?
I actually have a good solution. I believe I can reserve the lounge downstairs for this.
Genius idea.
Also, it's cold out now, but couldn't we also do something outside? I know there are noises outside and such, but plenty of news crews film outside every day. Lighting will be easy if we just have the sun in the right place.
Also, it's cold out now, but couldn't we also do something outside?
Yes. The rooftop garden has a fantastic skyline backdrop and is relatively wind-free. But, it's cold.
The background? Chuck a sheet over the windows, or something that will diffuse the light from the windows enough so that you're not so harshly backlit, and giving a more uniform background.
That washing out was due to the shit camera. The HD camera actually caught the skyline nicely behind us washing through subtly, and had a much better shot overall.
I have to install curtain hooks or rods before I can put anything over the windows other than the blinds. I'm also still waiting for my new light and camera.
I have to install curtain hooks or rods before I can put anything over the windows other than the blinds. I'm also still waiting for my new light and camera.
I'm unfamiliar with your apartment and it's minor details for obvious reasons, but couldn't you just open the windows a bit, and then close the edge of an old(but clean) sheet in there? It's a bit hobotech, but it'd work alright, just keep the bit at the top where it's a little crinkled out of the shot, if possible.
Also, and I know this is a wierd one, but I think the camera could stand to be just a shade higher up - just about an inch, maybe and inch half physically upward, rather than aimed up a bit.
I could ask my coworker Shelly to take a look at your videos and give framing advice. She's a photographer, and I understand that that's a very different discipline than videography, but she at least knows quite a lot about lighting, background, and framing.
The thing is, we don't really have a lot of room. We're in tiny city apartments here. What exactly are we supposed to do?
I actually have a good solution. I believe I can reserve the lounge downstairs for this.
Genius idea.
Also, it's cold out now, but couldn't we also do something outside? I know there are noises outside and such, but plenty of news crews film outside every day. Lighting will be easy if we just have the sun in the right place.
Don't do this! The sun is a really bad thing to use for video lighting. Do you have any idea how much the brightness changes when the sun goes behind a cloud? Also, any issues with audio just layer themselves up.
Not much space? Who cares! Check out this video:
How much space does he have? Very little. Brooker films around his house, on his couch, on the edge of his bed. He is lit in blue light, to make it look like he is sitting in front of a TV, but you don't need to worry about this. But look at that lighting! What is the brightest thing in the video? Him. What is the the darkest thing? The edges of the screen. This brings your eye to the center.
You have enough space in your apartments. Just don't try to hide the fact you are in your apartment. Why bother? People know you are at home. Make it a feature. Don't fill up the background with DVDs or toys, make it look kinda classy.
Rym, you have a nice kitchen. Put two stools behind the counter, set the camera as far back as you can, throw some DIFFUSE light onto yourselves, and get a good framing. You can go for a downwards shot, like you'll see on breaking news, or a straight on shot, like you see on panel discussions, or an slightly upward shot, like you see in that Brooker clip.
I can't do this for you though. It's probably best to ask someone in the city with any experience at all to help set you up. If you are as clever as you say you are, you should be able to learn quickly.
I have finally watched the MAGfest podcast in video form and took some notes on how to improve upon it. Like with any free advice feel free to ignore the ones you see as irrelevant for future installments.
- Lighting: I understand your HD camera was busted and you used a backup, that I can forgive because things happen, however what caught my eye multiple times was the uneven lighting around Rym. To the left is a giant bright spot while where Scott was the light was great, the key to many an online show what makes them go from amateur to somewhat professional is even lighting. Either move the camera to have an even lighting across the room, or light balance the one side to match what was showing in the other. Also point a camera in front of a window typically spells disaster which leads me to...
- Set up: First time around and the set up was quite nice. However I think you guys would need to triangulate yourselves with the camera to bunch it closer to make the watcher feel more of a part of the experience. Sadly I can not find a good example of this to show but I can describe an idea: be about 1/2 person apart from one another and then turn about 25-30 degrees on the outward shoulder, this makes a literal triangle where you are looking at each other rather then blank space.
Next move the camera so that the microphones are not in shot but rather have your body show above the nipple area so we get the gist of the shirt but more focus on the face, also leave about a 20% buffer above you to achieve the rule of thirds making you the focal point of the video. This will mean when you go and look at the camera it feels that you are in a conversation with the person watching you rather then standing aback. Bonus points if you can incorporate a podium top to both of your positions with a geeknight logo on the front showing that you are here to be legit.
Also the Background needs to be a solid color. Windows are a bad idea due to the sun changing its position and screwing up your lighting. A green screen, bed sheet, a nicely painted wall or even a curtain for your window will not only help with the lighting issue but have it appeal as a close setting, plus with the camera as close to you props are not needed to fill the frame with maybe a geeknight logo in the middle to brand the show.
- Editing: You need more footage of the convention when talking about the convention. Even if you do not take it yourself and just rip it off of Youtube it would vastly keep the attention of the viewer with a unique visual that would compel them to watch to the end. If you do use footage from somewhere else add a little line at the bottom like "Taken from XYZ" so even if the quality is sub par they understand that it is not yours but get the benefit of viewing the other visual as a change of pace from looking at you. Also if you are going to do these frequently a good solid intro and outro to the video might be a good idea since you already have the music to tie everything together and can be reused several times over with each episode.
- Sound: It is amazing but you already know that keep doing what you do
- Other Thoughts: Overall I think with a little trip to a home depot you guys can streamline this into your show where you have the mp3 for your normal avenue and have the video hosted on your site. Also I know I mentioned this before and I will say it again. Use Blip.TV, it will allow you to do HD footage, be able to cross post to more devices and sites you care to know and if you elect to use the advertisement options can actually make some chump change on top of the video. Hell I personally know people that do this online video thing full time making more then enough to pay bills and do this as their full time job.
That's all I got for now, best of luck in the future installments of this, also here is a video highlighting the arcade of MAGfest, please forward to the people at PAX so they know exactly how to do it right.
I find it really funny that in this episode you say that you never went to a past MAGfest because they were on New Years, and in the new years episode (which I oddly can't find on the forums) you say that the best possible New Year's party would be a geeky con.
Comments
Rym, Scott, whoever sets up the camera: read up about framing. I have told you this many times before (questions episodes, scott's box, etc).
The background? Chuck a sheet over the windows, or something that will diffuse the light from the windows enough so that you're not so harshly backlit, and giving a more uniform background.
I have to install curtain hooks or rods before I can put anything over the windows other than the blinds. I'm also still waiting for my new light and camera.
Also, and I know this is a wierd one, but I think the camera could stand to be just a shade higher up - just about an inch, maybe and inch half physically upward, rather than aimed up a bit.
Not much space? Who cares! Check out this video:
How much space does he have? Very little. Brooker films around his house, on his couch, on the edge of his bed. He is lit in blue light, to make it look like he is sitting in front of a TV, but you don't need to worry about this. But look at that lighting! What is the brightest thing in the video? Him. What is the the darkest thing? The edges of the screen. This brings your eye to the center.
You have enough space in your apartments. Just don't try to hide the fact you are in your apartment. Why bother? People know you are at home. Make it a feature. Don't fill up the background with DVDs or toys, make it look kinda classy.
Rym, you have a nice kitchen. Put two stools behind the counter, set the camera as far back as you can, throw some DIFFUSE light onto yourselves, and get a good framing. You can go for a downwards shot, like you'll see on breaking news, or a straight on shot, like you see on panel discussions, or an slightly upward shot, like you see in that Brooker clip.
I can't do this for you though. It's probably best to ask someone in the city with any experience at all to help set you up. If you are as clever as you say you are, you should be able to learn quickly.
- Lighting: I understand your HD camera was busted and you used a backup, that I can forgive because things happen, however what caught my eye multiple times was the uneven lighting around Rym. To the left is a giant bright spot while where Scott was the light was great, the key to many an online show what makes them go from amateur to somewhat professional is even lighting. Either move the camera to have an even lighting across the room, or light balance the one side to match what was showing in the other. Also point a camera in front of a window typically spells disaster which leads me to...
- Set up: First time around and the set up was quite nice. However I think you guys would need to triangulate yourselves with the camera to bunch it closer to make the watcher feel more of a part of the experience. Sadly I can not find a good example of this to show but I can describe an idea: be about 1/2 person apart from one another and then turn about 25-30 degrees on the outward shoulder, this makes a literal triangle where you are looking at each other rather then blank space.
Next move the camera so that the microphones are not in shot but rather have your body show above the nipple area so we get the gist of the shirt but more focus on the face, also leave about a 20% buffer above you to achieve the rule of thirds making you the focal point of the video. This will mean when you go and look at the camera it feels that you are in a conversation with the person watching you rather then standing aback. Bonus points if you can incorporate a podium top to both of your positions with a geeknight logo on the front showing that you are here to be legit.
Also the Background needs to be a solid color. Windows are a bad idea due to the sun changing its position and screwing up your lighting. A green screen, bed sheet, a nicely painted wall or even a curtain for your window will not only help with the lighting issue but have it appeal as a close setting, plus with the camera as close to you props are not needed to fill the frame with maybe a geeknight logo in the middle to brand the show.
- Editing: You need more footage of the convention when talking about the convention. Even if you do not take it yourself and just rip it off of Youtube it would vastly keep the attention of the viewer with a unique visual that would compel them to watch to the end. If you do use footage from somewhere else add a little line at the bottom like "Taken from XYZ" so even if the quality is sub par they understand that it is not yours but get the benefit of viewing the other visual as a change of pace from looking at you. Also if you are going to do these frequently a good solid intro and outro to the video might be a good idea since you already have the music to tie everything together and can be reused several times over with each episode.
- Sound: It is amazing but you already know that keep doing what you do
- Other Thoughts: Overall I think with a little trip to a home depot you guys can streamline this into your show where you have the mp3 for your normal avenue and have the video hosted on your site. Also I know I mentioned this before and I will say it again. Use Blip.TV, it will allow you to do HD footage, be able to cross post to more devices and sites you care to know and if you elect to use the advertisement options can actually make some chump change on top of the video. Hell I personally know people that do this online video thing full time making more then enough to pay bills and do this as their full time job.
That's all I got for now, best of luck in the future installments of this, also here is a video highlighting the arcade of MAGfest, please forward to the people at PAX so they know exactly how to do it right.