Director | DP Showreel

[Brennan Robideaux]

Hey guys,

I have my first Director/DP Reel complete and I am looking for some feedback. Please feel free to comment and critique. Shot entirely on the RED One MX and a few shots on Canon 60D

Appreciate it!

 

[Michael J Brennan]

Did you edit it yourself?

Remove the weaker shots.
The flag and time-lapse (not level and dead plant in foreground is a distraction) and water on steps are weak.
The wide shot of hammer hitting metal is annoying as the point of impact is out of frame. Remove the second jazz player, sawdust from chain saw is also hard to read and weak as it could be back lit.


Not sure the motivation behind the fade to black after the second shot (the water).

Linking the wide shot of man on steps with man in alley who are both lighting cigarettes would make the reel a bit more engaging.
Not sure about having just two talking heads, consider removing them as they are bland and are somewhat jarring.
I assume that you have probably included the tilt up from water and the stadium shot to prove that you have shoot on a boat and from the air but they are counter productive as they are weak.


The ending is a little flat, leaving the viewer with an ugly over exposed out of focus image… maybe put the pelican and water on the steps at the end… a strong shot to start with is the guy turning the light on.


Just one mans opinion


cheers

Brennan… Mike

 

[Brennan Robideaux]

Mike,

Great!! Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely look into adjusting those things. I appreciate you taking the time to look at it. Yes, I edited it myself.

Awesome last name!

Brennan

 

[Chris Henze]

Another man's opinion:

Not sure why you would put Director/DP. I didn't see anything on this that would make me think you're a director, so it's confusing. To me looking at you as a DP, some of the images are appealing but be careful to remember that being a DP doesn't mean that everything is MACRO close up. DP's support the director's vision and are able to use light and composition to do that. Anybody can shoot something close, it doesn't show talent.

If you are a Director also, make a director reel, a DP reel and another if you're out to get one man band jobs. Don't try to cram everything into one reel. Good Luck.

 

[Brennan Robideaux]

Chris,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm wondering if you can elaborate on the comment about how "being a DP doesn't mean everything is Macro close up". I do not feel as if my reel is all macro close up or even really macro at all. There may be a few shots that are close up but I'm not sure that would dignify saying that everything is macro.

Thanks again,
Brennan

 

[Chris Henze]

Brennan:

You are technically correct about macro. I'm a director and taken to exaggerate. Still too many close ups, I still don't have a real understanding of your sense of composition and light. That's just me.

 

[Brennan Robideaux]

Chris,

Awesome. Thanks for your opinion. I am definitely going to cut down another version and will take into mind to not include as many close ups.

 

[Eric M Hurt]

Moreover I don't get a sense of what your style is. The shots go from time lapse to bits of narrative.
If a style isn't something that you can really define for yourself yet then keep shooting and
working on a visual voice that can be recognized in a reel.
Just my two cents...

 

[Brennan Robideaux]

I can see where you are coming from. I am definitely still getting my foot in the door of cinematography and directing - everyday I am learning something new and I appreciate wholeheartedly ya'lls feedback. It definitely will help me improve as a filmmaker and editor.

Eric,

My visual voice is certainly still in development. I think this reel will only continue to be improved on, but I also believe it is important to have something to showcase for myself rather than no reel at all.