"Strollabout" - An Experiment in Mood & Movie Film Overlays

[Kent Frost]

I've been doing a lot more in video lately. Video was what really started my first interest in cameras when I was in high school in the 90's, and with the advent of HD video on dSLR cameras, my love for it has been greatly reignited in the past few years.
This particular video is a study in mood as well as movie film textures and overlays. I wanted to go for a feel of "found" footage, such as old films one might find in the basement, garage, or closet of a relative or something.
The music is "Abandon Window" by Jon Hopkins.

As always, opinions are welcome.

[video=vimeo;76660607]http://vimeo.com/76660607[/video]

 

[The_Traveler]

It's nicely done.
What bothers me is that every scene change is on the beat.

 

[Derrel]

Whoa,whoa,whoa...you're making me ill with the ultra-quick panning and the super-fast focus pulls, shot after shot after shot after shot. Two minutes was my limit.

If you want to rack focus from infinity to MFD, and then go back, do it over about four times the time length. Otherwise it looks like a gimmick. Pan at at least twice as slow a speed. This does not seem at ALL like old footage, because you're violating the most basic tenets of filmmaking, over and over. This looks like you just picked up a camcorder and never studied any cinema basics. audiences get sick to their stomach when watching this kind of stuff on a big screen...when the pans are so fast that the subjects appear to skate, the panning speed is wayyyyyyyy too rapid. The focus pull, then reverse is awful. You need to let the images "sink in" just a tiny bit, at least. Less is truly more.

 

[cgipson1]

^Agreed! ^

 

[CherylL]

I like the feel of this piece, a quiet resolve. The panning didn't bother me, but do agree that the focus pull and then reverse is distracting. I think more impact if slowing the focus pull down and then pause on the subject. Edit to the music was very good. Did you make your light leaks? Maybe fewer of those or change up the opacity a bit. Experimental video is my favorite to create and enjoyed yours.

 

[Kent Frost]

Thanks to all who gave good advice and critiques, but not to those who throw insults in with it. Completely unnecessary. If you would have read what I said in the description...

I wanted to go for a feel of "found" footage, such as old films one might find in the basement, garage, or closet of a relative or something.

...then you'd get why I WANTED it to look this way. This wasn't about cinema basics.

I've been a member here since 2004, and I'm constantly reminded after long stretches of time why I stopped coming here.