Hero 3, 5D technicolor, and the WVL Cine plugin

Hey guys. I shot this this weekend and just wanted to share it with you.

I waned to show a tattoo artist, how he got started and how the industry has changed.

I shot it on a 5d mii CineStyle and I put a GoPro hero 3 shooting 2.7k on his head for part of it. I used the WVL Lut I downloaded from this site. I really stoked about how it turned out. I would love your comments.



vimeo.com/53942517

Honestly, the visuals are really great. I like the pacing. But the audio is horrendous. You really should have used a lav, or a shotgun from above, pointing straight down, with carpeting on the floor beneath the guy talking. Hung a quilt off to one if not both sides out of frame. Dude, that room reverb just kills the interview audio. Which makes the really awesome visuals difficult for me to watch. If the sound was done properly, it'd be a 100% killer.

Hey Ben thanks for the comments!. We actually did use a shotgun. I wanted to hang sound blankets but unfortunately the interview was pushed to only 45 minutes before the shop opened and we didnt have the time.

Should always plan on using a lav for interviews like this, not a boom. If you use a boom, be prepared ahead of time. Lesson learned; inferior audio will very much affect how watchable your incredible visuals are.

Great work, just learn more about audio recording. There are dozens of little tricks that could have helped.

Questions; how from from the talent was the shotgun mic, and what brand/model shotgun mic? Just curious.

But the visual quality is fantastic. I'll be interested to see what Trix posts about this.

I typically do use lavs for this type of thing. In fact, I had it my bag. I've wanted to learn how use boom for interviews for a while, live and learn. I used a Rode NTG2. It was about 4 feet over his head, recording to a tascam.

Blimp & Dead Cat if you don't already have them.
Place the mic as close to the talent as possible, without being in the frame. Should be just on the edge of the frame. But that's the only issue I had. Great to see you trying new things. If you don't try, you don't learn! Really nice video, being a tattoo fan myself. In fact my avatar is part of a photo of one from my arm.

Thanks for sharing DSvoboda. Having watched this last night, I was waiting to respond because I thought they might move it to the Made With FCPX section. Whether that happens or not, we'll see...

My perspective will be slightly different from Ben's, because I'm not particularly drawn to tattoos, no aversion, just slightly more neutral. While viewing your film, it’s the human & emotional content I'm seeking. Technically, I like the beginning, the music works for me, especially with the sound of the needle. Not sure if it's an issue I have with Vimeo but the pan doesn't look smooth. I mention the Vimeo host because, this has come up before. It’s a gorgeous set, full of interesting visuals. Can’t say I’m entirely onboard with the color grading, the interior lights are giving me a slightly greenish gray cast which is a little sickly. Your next shot with exterior light shows a marked difference. Both these images are a bit cold. Increasing the cold is the room tone, as Ben mentioned, it really detracts immeasurably from your work. Your subject’s voice is such that he definitely needs a clearer more intimate audio, Ben’s suggestions for mic & sound dampening are spot on.

Lu’s backstory is compelling, we’re engaged. The use of his POV while creating his artwork offers us a privileged vantage, but the second wobbly headcam shot from him pivoting for ink is disorientating thus a slight disconnect precisely when you want to be drawing us in deeper. Your eye for art comes thru in your depth of field, closeups & indeed most of the visuals that attracted Ben so much. I particularly like the shots where you show Lu’s care & gentle finesse, as we’re gaining appreciation for his artistic sensitivities. His confessions of prior nervousness up your emotional content, good choice.

The next GoPro shot after that section (it might be the third time you used it), we go from the well lit table where he gets his supplies to a darkened shadow which is his work. Your film is about his work, we would have liked some emphasis here with light. Perhaps experimenting with keyframing some exposure & vibrancy increases with perhaps a bit of a zoom in on the art nearing the end of that shot, might work. You’ll have to be careful as the abundance of red there is a visual blood metaphor, not the message you want. Not sure if you ran your GoPro footage thru FCPX’s stabilizer, but that might help smooth things out a bit. Yes, I realize Lu’s lot fits with the whole counter culture (even though it’s very mainstream now), ink programs are often accompanied by edgy music & visuals, however you’re painting an intimate portrait. Thus, shaky extreme headcams are better suited for skater vids & BMX jumps, smoother glides here will up your value.

Some nice focus pulls. Another slight lighting issue where we’re zoomed in on the black gloves against a black background, there’s no contrast until we pull back to his face.

Granted, your goal here is a short piece, but I really would have enjoyed a word with his subject, to hear from her, why she chose Lu. Always remember, a person talking about them-self is just that, whereas another individual brings perspective & their lauds add real value. Genuine testimonies sell. She’s choosing him to mark her for life, her contribution carries great significance, even in a few words because of the weight.

My favorite aspect of your piece is the ending, you’ve chosen the most emotionally real section to leave us with, it’s really beautiful & rich with pathos. Final line, fade to black, I love it.

Overall, the film works well, we gain an appreciation for Lu & his work thru his candor which you’ve captured nicely. His former frailty & future artistic aspirations, grant us a glimpse into his soul, a genuine creative, yearning for expression, acceptance & deeper connections.

Only a few negs visually & audibly, tighten up your sound, dispel the green pall (look into temperatures & counters), smooth a bit & maybe experiment with a few subtle visual embellishments… remember, you’re an artist too.


Thanks again for sharing…







J. Matthew
Global•Watch•Media•Consulting
www.GWM2.com

Thanks you guys both for the comments. I love hearing what I did well as well as where the areas of improvement are. Thats the only way to get better.

Hey guys, I worked on the audio a bit, and it sounds WORLDS better.

vimeo.com/53942517