FCPX edited Graffiti Video

Hey guys,

my name is Luke - I'm the 'new guy'.

I'm 19 and have a passion for videography.

Please check out my latest graffiti video I shot and edited for a friend;



Let me know what you think about it any feedback would be appreciated!

Hi Luke, welcome aboard, you're not the new guy anymore. Thanks for sharing. Not sure you're going to be entirely pleased with what I have to say, but honesty is still the best policy.

Let's start with somes positives. The dramatic lighting, deep vignette, desaturated tones, all contributes to an initially engaging set. The jitter glitch effect isn't really necessary in the early moments because your frame is so compelling we're drawn in, therefore the effect becomes more of a detraction rather than an addition.

Your primary established strengths of the interestingly lit frame, fading off into darkness & reasonably engaging soundtrack intro, rapidly decay into weaknesses. We're witnessing a single camera, single POV shoot with what looks like no edits beyond some speed ramping. Plus, add to that, the fact that we're really only seeing 20% of a screen. How you going to maintain interest over 2 & a half minutes which seem like 5? You can't do it. You need insert shots. Let me see the artist's face close up profile backlit, deep in concentration. How about extreme closeup on the spray nozzle as he presses & slow motion particles drift out? The textures of the wall, dry & wet with paint. How can we experience it otherwise?

As it stands, the single POV is on the wrong end of the experimental film technique must-do list. Unless you have gripping tension, dynamic action, scintillating dialogue or something else content-wise to seize our attention. And of course, you knew this too, that's why you started throwing multiple effects at it; sparks, flashes, rainbow hue shifts, etc. The latter I actually liked, but with lack of quality content or story, there's really no narrative to keep us on the line, therefore all the video tricks & even the music decay into banal irritants.

Another thing I liked was the effect of the locked down cam giving us the ghost like image of him moving about as a transparency. But it was too little, too late.

So, here's the main detraction. I'm assuming that you esteem graffiti as an authentic urban art form worthy of some sort of respect & appreciation, & not costly vandalism that deserves a vicious beating.
So... convince us!

Where's the art? We've all seen some amazing colorful, creative, artistic graffiti pieces that displayed all kinds of talent. But in your film we endure what seems like ages of visual & audio assault to our senses because we're really hoping there's going to be an artistic payoff at the end of this trying experience. It never comes. If there was any artistic qualities in that finished work, you haven't captured them, in fact they're so completely obscured that the audience feels ripped off for their time. So your film actually makes people angry or annoyed.

I'm sure that wasn't your intention.

Ok Luke, you've got the gear, & an obvious understanding of FCPX, effects, etc, now, let's get creative.

Content is king.





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

@GlobalWatchM3

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and give me constructive criticism!

I have taken your words on board and will use what you have said in the next graffiti video I have done (which will hopefully be in a few weeks) and then I shall post it up and see if I have improved.

Thanks,

Luke

Good attitude, Luke. That alone, will definitely elevate your art.

I was thinking about the advice on insert shots. Maybe you were rushed or forgot them on the shoot day, you can film them as pickups. Even faking them at another location. Sure it's sometimes difficult to match lighting, but with extreme closeups like the type of shots I hinted at, you have plenty of latitude. Also FCPX has some powerful matching tools in post.

We're looking forward to your next piece...

Nice job! I'm normally not a dubstep fan, but I think the flux remix fits the video nicely.

Trix, That is some sound advise. I will put that in my bag too. It's hard to think about the angles when I am "working" because there is so much to do (Live events) but you are right. Luke's film had me at first, then I was looking for more...

Luke, nicely done. You had some great effects in there. Some I think I want to try! I really want to see your next one. I would love to see the final art as the only color while everything else stays muted.