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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Music video Would love feedback

I dont know how to explain it but it basically means the way the words flow over the beat.
Not a comment on the lyricism itself but a comment on how the lyrics are sung/rapped.
 
Dude, great job!! I watched it through my apple tv on my 60" plasma, and it looked amazing!

Your video is amazing.. The only not so smart thing you did was tell people how much you made it for.. As soon as you do that, it turns into a pissing match about $.

Money has little to do with great things these days.. It's skill, which you have..
 
thanks justin, Glad you liked it. mainly it was about me seeing what i could get for something of this quality in larger market. Im in a small town and there just isnt anyone willing to pay for video work. Contemplating a move and just seeing what this would be worth in a different location. Thanks for the awesome feedback though.
 
Okay, looks like there's been a trick or truth debate started. Here's what I mean.

Where are all the filmmaker tricks?


Watched 73,000,000 times on YouTube. I"d bet more youtube views than everybody else's pieces who have commented combined.

Great song, great artist and a filmmaker who didn't let his ego get in the way by "plying" their trade with as many tricks as they could.

That's truth
 
Chris Henze said:
Okay, looks like there's been a trick or truth debate started. Here's what I mean.

Where are all the filmmaker tricks?...Watched 73,000,000 times on YouTube. I"d bet more youtube views than everybody else's pieces who have commented combined.

Great song, great artist and a filmmaker who didn't let his ego get in the way by "plying" their trade with as many tricks as they could.

That's truth
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It's an interesting video, if not interesting looking. It is simple. It is different from what Doimenic made.

I don't get what you're on about. Should the OP not make any videos unless he can work with top talent? Exactly what "tricks" are you taking issue with and what specifically is the problem with them? Should he not do his best to add visual interst to the piece? Are you suggesting that one visual style is empirically better than the other?

Are you seriously calling the OP a head case?

Are you making a value judgement about the photography based upon the number of YouTube views?
 
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Justin shot on a 5d. Couldn't do red on the budget.

Love that video of people playing guitar. When u have multiple talent and a strong idea simple can work. I've probably watched that. Ideó 50 times myself lol. Love the song. And the musicianship is awesome.
 
First I have to say, I hope to not disrespect anybody. I have found this forum full of some of the best filmmakers there are and I have the utmost respect for their capabilities. I'm happy to be the crazy guy nobody listens to. That said here's my point of view.

I'll spell it out further. IMHO good art comes from a place of true ego, risk taking, boldness and truth. In the case of Domenic's piece, I said that to me it looked like he was trying to pull out every trick he could so that the video didn't look cheap or the artist not so lame. I advised him to, and especially for the price point to find a better artist. I further said that it also appeared that Domenic also got a little caught up in his ego of solving the issues, instead of listening to the voice inside of him which, i'd bet, told him the things I'm saying. Just look as some of the other stuff he's done, it's obvious he can listen to a more honest place and film better stuff.

I used the video I did as an example because I know it would send some "filmmakers" into a fit. For that piece the decision to light and film them the way they did was exactly what was needed, no more, no less. That's one of the reasons it's so successful. The "trick" they used was not to use any tricks. A thing to note is that this cover version of the song is what broke the artist. Not the artist's original video.

I think one of the hardest things to remember and accept is that usually the filmmakers is the humble servant to the creative inspiration and job is to serve it. I get this philosophy from David Ogilvie. Sometimes it means to go big, sometimes small but never big for the sake of being big etc. It just doesn't work and that's what I think about what happened here. Does Domenic have some admirable skills? Yes. Should he have gotten paid more for his work? Yes. Do I think we should never use tricks? No. I use them all the time it's the nature of creating a reality that doesn't exist. I just think that when the piece becomes about the tricks and there is no truth then it's not as enjoyable to watch. Think about how much more enjoyable it is to watch something that doesn't call attention to the filmmaker's ego, where you get lost in the experience of the moment. That happens when talented people are willing to leave their false ego at the door and get on with the job at hand.

I thank you for hearing me out, now, if you wish you can say, he's just the crazy dude nobody should listen to. Peace.
 
Chris, i respect your opinion a lot. Unfortunately the client didnt want anything simple. he wanted something strong and powerful and crazy. it was his first video and didnt want it to look simple or anything, so i, wanting a paycheck, agreed to his terms and concepted around his wants. Trust me, for 1k i would have much preferred simple. sadly with a rapper, its hard to have anysort of special skill set to play off of, especially to match the lyrical content. I def agree with you. the next video for him is much along these lines. more simple. think monologue from JCVD style.

No gimmicks just him rapping to the camera and being honest and sincere. Hopefully you dig it.
 
Chris Henze said:
First I have to say, I hope to not disrespect anybody. I have found this forum full of some of the best filmmakers there are and I have the utmost respect for their capabilities. I'm happy to be the crazy guy nobody listens to. That said here's my point of view.

I'll spell it out further. IMHO good art comes from a place of true ego, risk taking, boldness and truth. In the case of Domenic's piece, I said that to me it looked like he was trying to pull out every trick he could so that the video didn't look cheap or the artist not so lame. I advised him to, and especially for the price point to find a better artist. I further said that it also appeared that Domenic also got a little caught up in his ego of solving the issues, instead of listening to the voice inside of him which, i'd bet, told him the things I'm saying. Just look as some of the other stuff he's done, it's obvious he can listen to a more honest place and film better stuff.

I used the video I did as an example because I know it would send some "filmmakers" into a fit. For that piece the decision to light and film them the way they did was exactly what was needed, no more, no less. That's one of the reasons it's so successful. The "trick" they used was not to use any tricks. A thing to note is that this cover version of the song is what broke the artist. Not the artist's original video.

I think one of the hardest things to remember and accept is that usually the filmmakers is the humble servant to the creative inspiration and job is to serve it. I get this philosophy from David Ogilvie. Sometimes it means to go big, sometimes small but never big for the sake of being big etc. It just doesn't work and that's what I think about what happened here. Does Domenic have some admirable skills? Yes. Should he have gotten paid more for his work? Yes. Do I think we should never use tricks? No. I use them all the time it's the nature of creating a reality that doesn't exist. I just think that when the piece becomes about the tricks and there is no truth then it's not as enjoyable to watch. Think about how much more enjoyable it is to watch something that doesn't call attention to the filmmaker's ego, where you get lost in the experience of the moment. That happens when talented people are willing to leave their false ego at the door and get on with the job at hand.

I thank you for hearing me out, now, if you wish you can say, he's just the crazy dude nobody should listen to. Peace.
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The funny thing is, I usually have to listen to a song a few times to get an idea of what's going on.. I didn't have to with this.. The story was told well for the artist.. He's not your "ordinary" rapper.. The video was very visual, and it really, to me, was more interesting and original then some huge budget videos.. I think he took an extreme risk in this video, he could of done a video of the guy walking down the street.. Would you have liked that better?
 
Domenic Barbero said:
Chris, i respect your opinion a lot. Unfortunately the client didnt want anything simple. he wanted something strong and powerful and crazy. it was his first video and didnt want it to look simple or anything, so i, wanting a paycheck, agreed to his terms and concepted around his wants. Trust me, for 1k i would have much preferred simple. sadly with a rapper, its hard to have anysort of special skill set to play off of, especially to match the lyrical content. I def agree with you. the next video for him is much along these lines. more simple. think monologue from JCVD style.

No gimmicks just him rapping to the camera and being honest and sincere. Hopefully you dig it.
Click to expand...

Domenic, just keep doing what your doing dude.. Listen to those you trust..
 
Justin, I'm not commenting on what I think the story should be, just that I feel that Domenic could have found a deeper place. Justing I've seen you stuff, you're a first class DP and I can tell how relentless you are about grabbing the image that supposed to be there. To me that's what makes a good DP, but for me when you're wearing a directors hat then you need to be that relentlessness about finding the story and capturing that.
 
i love this forum, if nothing else, its a great place to see how others interpret work and visuals. :)
 
Chris Henze said:
Justin, I'm not commenting on what I think the story should be, just that I feel that Domenic could have found a deeper place. Justing I've seen you stuff, you're a first class DP and I can tell how relentless you are about grabbing the image that supposed to be there. To me that's what makes a good DP, but for me when you're wearing a directors hat then you need to be that relentlessness about finding the story and capturing that.
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I appreciate the comment, but still thought the story seemed to really be captured well, but then again, I hate a lot of movies people love.. I'll stand down and say "to each his own". Lol
 
Thanks Chris for making the effort to clarify. At first I thought you were against heightened realities and created worlds. I think I understand your ideas about that a little better.

I was looking for more information though, specifics not generalities and platitudes. You speak about truth and reality. What is "...the image that's supposed to be there" and how do you propose that Dom's piece missed it? What does truth have to do with this work? Why does it have to be true? Does it have to be true to have substance? Does it have to have substance to be any good? I have seen excellent pieces that were about absolutely nothing.

I don't think truth, reality or even honesty necessarily have anything to with this business. (That is not to say that i am dishonest with anyone, or advocate dishonesty.) Every cut is a trick, a lie. Stage personalities tend to be larger than life. This rapper wants to be big, but he's just another guy like you and me. He wanted smoke and mirrors and that's what he got. I don't see a problem with it.

Simple is good too but it's not inherently better than fantasy IMO, and this is all opinion... It's art.

Dom seems very down to earth. I don't suppose personal ego had a lot to do with his choices on this. Why do you?
 
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@Scott thanks. either way i appreciate both and like to do both. any time you film its an expression of art, and to me, simple or difficult, the experience is still fun and great times. like the song says "one mans trash is anothers treasure" its true for almost anything. Im just thankful for all the really great feedback people gave. Really enjoy this forum.
 
Domenic Barbero said:
@Scott thanks. either way i appreciate both and like to do both. any time you film its an expression of art, and to me, simple or difficult, the experience is still fun and great times. like the song says "one mans trash is anothers treasure" its true for almost anything. Im just thankful for all the really great feedback people gave. Really enjoy this forum.
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I like it too, when it's working. I enjoy these discussions as much as any of the work. I like to be challenged, and to challenge others to be concise about what they like, don't like and why. It is in the examination that we learn. Thanks for sharing yours.
 
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