Short experiment

Muffinman · Post by **Muffinman** » 25 May 2005 23:06

I've really wanted to try making "short film"s since Eli's three latest videos, and now especially after watching A Ninja Pays Half My Rent a million times every day. I hadn't played footbag in a few days and really needed to move around after working on the workshop I'm planning, so I did, but decided at the last minute to take my camera with me, since I haven't made a video in ages and thought I would experiment with camera angles and editing a video as if I was making a movie, or something. It was super fun, and super hard. It's pretty lame. My brother wants to make some videos with me, so if I have time I want to do a lot more of this!

The run is pretty weak, but I didn't really end up playing for more than 2-5 minutes and I didn't warm up either. I'm going to force myself to do my basics again next time I play. It's pretty bad quality too, but I think it's the best option that I'm familiar with for widescreen wmv exporting. It was also really frustrating 'cause I couldn't do any hand-held stuff, which made the actual freestyle clip pretty boring -- filming myself was really limiting. Oh yeah, and I know my inside kicks look crappy and awkward

http://www.hackrifice.com/shred/temp/05 ... riment.wmv
1:39min | 13mb

Comments would be wicked

PS: It's 2 in the morning and I think I hear a bird being eaten by a cat @_______@

BalinorNZ · Post by **BalinorNZ** » 25 May 2005 23:25

that is sick man! Wow, im impressed! You have fully inspired me to be creative with video making, it fully made even that basic run seem so much cooler! I love it!

FootbagGuru · Post by **FootbagGuru** » 26 May 2005 03:36

lol that is a sweet video, i wish you could edit more movies, you got like a hollywood mind on ya... :p

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 26 May 2005 05:39

Way cool.
Very nicely done.
I love the totally simple nature of the video. NOTHING is overdone, here. It captures it all, and says so much, without going outisde the bounds of normality.

A couple of small things to improve on, with the video. First. There are two wide shots that you appear in, and that you change between. That's probably not a good idea, and gives the viewer (at least it gave me the impression) the impression of a change of location. The worst of this happens with you walking in (the fire place behind you) and putting the stuff on the table. Then in the next wide shot, there's a couch and a window behind you! The change of angle there is a little disorrintating. The fireplace was good enough without establishing the existence of that other angle.

The close angle of your feet (when you're kicking) is slightly out of sync with the scene before. I'm just going by the rythem of your kicking. Only small, but slightly annoying.

Another thing I would suggest - to make this clip a little better - is to change angles throughout the run (I know this was impossible at the time, but this is only a suggestion). Not to that second wide shot with the chair, but some more abstract ones. Like the video Sam did with Brian F. Just short takes - half tricks and such.

Other than that.... DO IT AGAIN! You'll only get better, Eric, and this one was fantastic in it's simplicity.

I give it: * * * * (4 Stars).
Definately one for everyone's collection.

professor · Post by **professor** » 26 May 2005 06:52

I thought it was awesome!

Way cool. You should definitely do more of those.

you got like a hollywood mind on ya... :p

I agree. I could never come up with great stuff like that. You should go to film school or something.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 26 May 2005 08:24

That was so great Erik!

I have contemplated trying to make a short film, you pulled it off very nicely. It looked very professional.

sen · Post by **sen** » 26 May 2005 09:12

WOW! I liked that soo much.

Splint · Post by **Splint** » 26 May 2005 10:19

That's pretty impressive for a first time gig.
For something unscripted and just going with the flow, I'd say you did a great editing job.
I think you've got the right idea for camera angles and you definitely were setting a tone.
I'd suggest coming up with a plot or a theme where there is some real rising and falling action or drama. It doesn't need to have dialogue or anything, but should have something that grips people beyond the footbag world.
Great Job! I look forward to more.

Seath · Post by **Seath** » 26 May 2005 10:38

I like it

props Winnipegger, props.

Dat · Post by **Dat** » 26 May 2005 10:42

Really cool Erik!

off topic:

Someone's gotta get you a pair of China Lavers. My first lavers were yellow-soled lavers too. They were like bricks. Not the best shoes for your joints.

Muffinman · Post by **Muffinman** » 26 May 2005 11:08

Thanks so much everyone

I didn't expect so much response! It really makes me want to try more. Yeah, Brad, I didn't plan this out in advance at all, I was just, like, "Okay, so I'll walk in, and I'll film that from a few angles, and then I'll put down my stuff, and -- hey triple angle! One for each thing I'm carrying!" A few times I messed up my continuity, and carried the bag in the wrong hand (and when I walk to the fan I have the bag (that I left on the ground) in my clenched fist...).

All I thought about today while I was walking home was how I really want to do more and keep making longer videos -- like maybe I will go straight into a half-hour SOMETHING. I want to focus on footbag though, and pull a Freestyle Fantasy rip-off style video, but combined, also, with Sam's 4nier birthday video, so that the shred is completely incorporated and well-filmed too. I'm thinking it would be really nice to have a wide-angle lense for this, especially for filming indoors.

Thanks especially, Gareth! Everything you said was super helpful. I see what you mean about the two main angles. I wasn't bothered by the third kicking angle, though...was anybody else? I kind of liked how it didn't sound exactly like it was all just continuing smoothly. I was considering doing multi tripod angles with the shred, like 75-Adds (that's the right name, right?) and Sam's video, but my biggest goal in making the video was to make a video of a single run, with some experimental editing thrown in.

More comments! Woo!
Thanks again -- any suggestions for what I should do in my next video? (I'd love to make another over the weekend!) I'm surprised nobody asked why I undid my shoelace and then did it back up again...

limester816 · Post by **limester816** » 26 May 2005 11:51

Very cool, now just chronicle your downfall and rise to stardom again and you've got yourself a hollywood movie!

Will Digges · Post by **Will Digges** » 26 May 2005 13:16

Wow that was really cool man, I'd like to see more of this. I really want to get a new camera so i can actually make lengthy videos. Props man.

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 26 May 2005 14:58

Splint wrote:...I'd suggest coming up with a plot or a theme where there is some real rising and falling action or drama...

I dunno. I loved it the way it was. It's as though it's a short look at Erik Chan's life. The part where he scratches his nose before starting... it's almost voyeristic, and very natural in what it presents to the audience.
I agree that it would have less appeal to the non-footbag community, but at the same time, it presents a more realistic reflection of a footbag player than a heavily edited, set to music, video.
There's a kind of innocence in the film that would relate to other people.

I could analyze this more by saying how it reflects the lonelyness that we feel when we play - how no-one understands what it's all about. The raw sound, with no soundtrack... there's no-one else there. Erik is all alone, just like so many of us when we play or school. He's showing that we're doing it for ourselves, not for the praise. At the end, he doesn't get props, no-one claps, and he doesn't save the world. He drops the bag and catches his breath.
I really do think that this is one of the best videos I've seen. It's up there with FDO2005 and the 4near one by Sam. It states to all that it's NOT about big tricks or long runs, it's about playing - doing it for yourself.
Like I said, it's natural and voyeristic, and I love it.

Paul Agostinelli · Post by **Paul Agostinelli** » 26 May 2005 15:08

anyone have a link to 4near or 75 adds??

Erik, very nice job, i truly enjoyed it and it definately makes the audience go, ah! more! i want more! i like how raw it was and i can definately relate to the solo practice.

~NEL~

peanutbuterboy · Post by **peanutbuterboy** » 26 May 2005 19:03

It felt cool to watch it. Like...well...I cant describe it. Just sorta like an everyone has been there kinda thing. Like do you want to pick up your drop and start again or not.

I liked it alot.

MegaFighter_X · Post by **MegaFighter_X** » 29 May 2005 13:19

I laughed at the end of this...

*thunk* ...

<stare of death to bag>

pips · Post by **pips** » 30 May 2005 08:13

Looks like me when I first start playing and drop my bag. If you made the video longer and got more angry each time you dropped the bag...that's me too.

Nice video, though.

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 01 Jun 2005 17:06

I liked this video. Makes me wanna make one.