VonTraining.net Forum

[Colby Knight]

After attending WEVA last summer, I got my tail in gear when it comes to editing and final delivery. A few people I spoke with said they deliver their finished product within 2 weeks. Yours truly usually averages a month or 3, although the contract states it can take 4 to 6 months.

Reminds me an old quote from Abe Lincoln: 'Give a man 6 hours to cut down a tree and he'll spend the first 4 sharpening his axe.'

Anywyas, I shot a wedding last Saturday (12/5/09) and got focused! I dumped all the video in and started knocking it out. I edited the open and then decided to make a highlight video as well. The highlight video wasn't even part of their package but there were so many shots and moments I couldn't imagine NOT doing a highlight video. Plus it will double as short demo for my 2010 DVD.

Wedding on Saturday...
Captured on Sunday...
Edited on Monday...
Almost half-way!

The highlight/demo is here: http://www.vimeo.com/8053198

Enjoy!
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www.knightvideo.com

[Mark Von Lanken]

Hi Colby,

I can tell you have spent some time tweaking your Scene Files. It looks great. How much color work was done in post and how much of it was straight out of the camera?

Good job on turning it around so quickly.

The location of cuts are always subjective, but having said that...starting with the nice closeup of the brides dress, the cuts seemed to soon. To me, it felt like they needed to be on the downbeat, but they came a little bit early. Like I said, it a subjective thing and maybe you like them where they are. That's cool.

I thought your transition to the sanctuary at the :37-:38 range worked really nicely.

At the 1:37 range, when you were coming from the second shot of the first dance to the cake cutting, the cake cutting shot came a little behind the beat. I felt the same way at the 1:45 area. The kissing shot before they ran out the door felt late.

I really liked the nat sound as they ran out and you nailed the ring shot with the beat. Good job.
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All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonTraining.com

[Colby Knight]

Hi Mark!

The entire wedding day was shot on the default setting, scene file 1. I'm a bit apprehensive about going for a specific look, especially if I don't think it will be suitable for every bit of the day. I stick to the stock look and tweak in post as needed.

In post I like to throw a vignette in here or there when needed and maybe a filter to enhance a look, but not change it altogether. The wife and I have had some discussions about this (she's the 'final eye'). Sometimes I'll dial in a look that I think is great and then she steps in and says if she were the bride she wouldn't like it because it wasn't the 'true color' of the flowers/dress, etc. We don't always agree but it helps to keep me from going overboard too.

Everything was shot in 24p. At the hotel it was 1/48th shutter. For the wedding and reception it was 1/24th. Why? Light! Running the two cameras from the back I was going to have an issue zooming in on the couple so I opted to lower the shutter speed and I wanted to stay away from having to use the gain. Even though the gain is very smooth and subtle, I'd have my hands full trying to match one camera with the gain up to 6db to the other cameras that weren't using it. I opted to make my life easier during the editing!

For the video I tried (my best) to get those cuts on the beat of the music. One would think I should be able to do that rather well since the wife is a dance teacher... but alas... I am a man with no rhythm!
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www.knightvideo.com

[Mark Von Lanken]

Hi Colby,

I understand that timing the video to the music is more challenging to some and easier for others. Take a look at our wedding site, www.VonWeddingFilms.com and go to the "wedding films" section. Then select "brides of oklahoma" and finally select the third clip. It is edited to the same song.

I'm not saying that all your hits should match mine. Like I said earlier, placement of clips with the music is a matter of personal preference and personal interpretation, but there are some spots in the song that really call out for a shot change.

After watching the clip let me know if it helps to show what I am trying to describe. If that doesn't help, I have another idea for you, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
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All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonTraining.com

[mnproducoes]

Fantastic your Highlight! Specially the colors and movements... You used some soft focus, on editing ? I ask because I edit with FCP 7, and some takes appers to have some blur...

Also, yours 24p does not look like stroby... Any tip ?

A last question (if it is not too much)... Where do you get these highlight musics? Which Album, Group or artist? I tried to find it here in Brasil and I did not find... I will try amazon.com ...

Thanks a lot and congratulations.

Best Regards,
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Marcelo Navarro
MN Producoes

[Colby Knight]

Hi Marcelo... sorry for the delayed response.

First, thanks for the compliments. Much appreciated!

The blur you mentioned is a soft vignette applied to some of the shots.
The 24p: Outdoors I shot at a shutter speed of 1/48. Inside when the light was dimmer I knocked it down (or is it up?) to 1/24. I think the 1/24 speed helps with the strobing, but I also pan a good bit slower and not for any great distance (not a long 180 degree pan).

The music... If I hear something I like on the radio, a movie, TV or whatnot, I 'shazam' it (iTune app) and use it when I think it will fit. I also give the B&G a questionairre sheet so I know what kind of music they like, and more importantly, what they don't like.
Most of the music I use is off of iTunes.

That specific piece of music is something I bought from Triple Scoop Music.
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www.knightvideo.com