WHAT MAKES A GREAT VIDEO?
USING INCREDIBLE EQUIPMENT VS. THE SKILL OF THE USER
As a lover of fine visual storytelling, watching expertly shot and edited sequences is tons of fun and educational too.
When you are trying to learn how to produce video yourself, the best teachers are other videos you see. Instead of just watching video passively as a viewer, learn to look at them with a new eye. Evaluate videos, TV shows and movies as if you were going to produce something similar. How well is the story told using video, audio and editing? As a viewer, do you think it is interesting or boring? Does it drag? Should it be shorter? Is the music is bad? Is it just a bunch of shaky shots strung together? Or, are the shots innovative and edited crisply, keeping the viewer glued?
Cruising around online for video today I came across a video I thought it was good enough to be an inspiration to aspiring video producer. A video short produced by Vincent LaForet using the latest cannon digital cameras.
Video Short by Vincent Laforet
Watch this video and see if you don’t love how well it’s put together.
Using the spectacularly versatile digital video editing equipment available today makes being a creative visual storyteller easier and more fun. Less backbreaking, too! The tiny cameras tuck away in places that give an interesting perspective for a video shot, so evident in the Laforet video.
As much fun as fancy video equipment is, I still contend that the skill of the user is more important than type of equipment used when evaluating the quality of the final product. Watching the stunning video by Laforet just confirmed that for me. Ultimately, that video works because each and every shot is spectacularly lit, shot from an interesting perspective, is framed up with precision and conveys emotion and excitement to the viewer. This video isn’t the result of him being handed a fancy camera and having him magically get lucky putting together an awesome finished video.
Seems a debate has been raging ever since cameras were invented over whether getting the perfect shot meant relying on the perfect equipment, or could a fantastic photographer get excellent results even when saddled with klutzy equipment?
An artistic eye wins out over fancy equipment, but oh, doesn’t the awesome the digital video equipment make your life easier and more fun!
Thanks for reading Video Production Tips
Lorraine Grula
Internet Video Gal
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2 Comment(s)
By Jimm Fox on | Reply
Lorraine, thanks for highlighting this story. Great video, great talent. That set of videos should be shown at film schools to demonstrate that its talent and passion that determine success – not equipment or technology.
By Internet Video Gal on | Reply
Hey Jimm.
No question about it! So many people think they have to have the “perfect camera” and “perfect edit system” to make the “perfect movie.”
Perfect-schmerfect!
Truth is, a talented person with a crappy old system will crank out a better video than a no-talent working with the finest of equipment!
Thanks for reading Video Production Tips
Lorraine