so my friend and I were bored and decided to start a blog

**Qalbert** · 2009-05-28 20:58

lame I know, but we filmed a video of our thoughts and or predictions for E3.
TheBigManAndGarrett’s Blog
if anyone is willing to watch it and give feedback it would be appreciated. also its more of a we're bored thing, than expecting it to go anywhere

**Qalbert** · 2009-06-01 15:22

Microsoft Press Conference Recap

**Avanarius** · 2009-06-01 16:15

Blog looks fine, not a whole lot to comment on except the video.

I couldn't help but wonder if "The Big Man" was ever going to say his opinion, or....anything at all. If he's going to be praised as the big man, he better live up to it in personality as well....and not just a lump on a log.

Basically, if you want to do a two person video blog, have some heated discussions between each other while acknowledging the people watching, rather then just talking to the people watching. It'll become popular if it flows naturally and feels like both of you contrast each other well enough. You both need contrast in personality, thought, and emotion for the videos to become interesting to watch.

Hope that helps.

Edit** Also, the video seems like it went on way longer then it should have been, make sure you have a stop watch ready timing you, and an agenda to follow along with, even if it's just a piece of paper with topics for discussion.

**Qalbert** · 2009-06-01 16:17

ok thanks for the feedback.

**Wintermute** · 2009-06-01 18:37

Framing feels kind of off. You've got all that space and a lot of it is cut out for near 5min, and your heads are chopped off at the top. Looks very cramped.

The talk at a table thing is kind of boring. Doesn't really draw a viewer in, feels like I'm watching a podcast.
Probably has something to do with the sitting arms-crossed all the time, it's a very static image.

Moving the focus up so we can see the top of your head may help a bit, might want to try a wider shot from further back too so you can move a bit in your seat and not be so close to each other.

You're half and half on whether you're talking to each other or to the camera, as a viewer I can't tell if you're talking to me or each other.
May want to pick just one or talk to something behind the camera so you're talking to each other but looking into the cam.

Maybe prop those notes you're reading behind/next to the cam.

Need to be spiffier with cuts between segments, editing cuts and stuff can be tricky but you can save precious seconds with the right edit/cut and seconds really add up, especially in long pieces like this one.

Can also try doing each segment in different places around the house to mix it up a bit.

Careful about eating/drinking on cam since unless you're using a good mic you may get weird sounds when you chew/drink.
Food can make a good prop but it can also make you look un-interested in what's going on.

Try not to trample over each other's speech, stutters the pace up.

Mind the lighting, unless you were going for next-gen brown for the Sony bit.

Is it all done in one shot or did you do multiple ones? Some places the pace crawls when you try to think about what you're saying/reading your notes and it hangs noticeably.

Overall it's not too bad, especially for a first effort. You seem to know what you're talking about and you seem interested in the subject which personally is what makes or breaks these kind of projects. If the person on the other side doesn't care for the subject then the viewer won't

I think you just need to be more careful about considering how the finished product will look. Little hard work can make a good project that isn't just another guy in-front of a camera.

Is it all done in one shot or did you do multiple ones? Some places the pace crawls when you try to think about what you're saying/reading your notes and it hangs a bit.

Try not to forget pre-planning. It's time-consuming to do tests before you film and doing multiple takes is repetitive but it can help cut down editing time later and you'll fall into a routine of knowing what will and won't work.

Them's just my opinions though, take them as you will.

**Kwijiboe** · 2009-06-01 18:50

I think you need to use big flashy titles and speculate ALOT. Also, tell us about the friend you have that knows a guy inside E3. If all else fails, find a hot girl to turn your duo into a trio.

**Elcura** · 2009-06-01 19:26

Originally Posted by Kwijiboe

I think you need to use big flashy titles and speculate ALOT. Also, tell us about the friend you have that knows a guy inside E3. If all else fails, find a hot girl to turn your duo into a trio.

And then into a porno.