[skypilot181]

Sorry I didn't get this posted here on Arnies right away. Family events took priority.
Anyhow, enjoy!

Airsoft News Network - Newscast February 24th, 2008
Coverage of the new Haunted CQB Facility in Farmington Michigan.

Warning! Scenes maybe graphic to young viewers, or people with weak stomachs, viewer discretion is advised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wolmMHrS7ew

[DarkLite]

Oh for the love of...

Would it be too much to ask that you go and get some filming lessons, or at least do a quick search on the internet as to what makes things interesting to watch?

Hint: Three minutes of two people talking to each other without moving and occasionally glancing at the camera without changing the shot at ALL with bad sound recording is NOT interesting. Yet almost all of your episodes are like this.

[azsworst]

I personally applaud your efforts. Shows your pretty determined to keep cranking out episodes despite such harsh criticism.

First off, it does get pretty boring hearing detailed talk of an area. I would've tookin a tour like walk through, showing the various details of the feild.

The first interveiw went well, gave good newbie information. Second one is bad At first you can hear your voices, but then they get drowned out by background noise. I would try making sure it's quiet enough that voices can be heard.

Third interveiw was decent. Again, we need more visuals! I would suggest taking some ingame footy of when the lights are strobing (sp?) and players moving in and out of the dark......to give the veiwer a better idea of what your talking about. When the guy on the left was talking about the "bomb", it would've been cool for him to have it in his hands......who knows, maybe he was using a cool idea that not many of us have seen? We'll never know. (Actually is a cool idea now that I think about it )

Now that I've seen the end, it reminds me....you gotta get rid of that music. There is tons of free music that is legal to use, so please find some that's more guy friendly. I know lyrics that include sex and violence sound good....but that peticluar song doesn't

As far as you just being a regular joe with a camera and a vision.....your not doing that bad. Try to give off a little more personality, that's what I see the least of.

Now that I think about it, try to have something a snazzier than standard text on the screen. I would also take a look at your local news, and try to gather tips from there as far as camera angles, how to speak....and how to present a story to keep the viewer intrested.

Good luck

*edit*
Can I ask why you have asshat as a tag? Honestly.... airsoft....asshat....connection?

This post has been edited by azsworst: 26 February 2008 - 08:01 AM

[renegadecow]

Would be cool too if you had helmet/guncam shots. That would REALLY put the viewers into the game site while you dub over some of the interviews/reviews.

[Gigueand]

Ok, we're getting closer...

But, you're at a game site! Give us shots of games in progress! Why have the owner describe the building for two minutes when he can give you a walking tour?

I'm from Michigan, I've never heard of that site. I want to know what it is like!

[1st_shooter]

Oh for the love of...

Would it be too much to ask that you go and get some filming lessons, or at least do a quick search on the internet as to what makes things interesting to watch?

Hint: Three minutes of two people talking to each other without moving and occasionally glancing at the camera without changing the shot at ALL with bad sound recording is NOT interesting. Yet almost all of your episodes are like this.

But sir on the other hand the news is ment to be boring so on that front there doing a blinding job!

[DarkLite]

But sir on the other hand the news is ment to be boring so on that front there doing a blinding job!

At least the news changes to some footage of stuff happening every once and again.

[azsworst]

Come on guys, it's obvious he's not a movie ace.....He's just a guy that plays airsoft, that decided to make a show. Maybe the show isin't steered towards people that know where to look (or live in HK)....

You have to admit it takes guts to put yourself out there when the last 4-5 times you've done so there was plenty of people giving you ###### ( and it's not like they make videos of just dialouge, or any videos for that matter.....so who are they to chastise)

I could easily be a jerk and make some useless comment about how he sucks, but why? He's TRYING, so why not give him a few pointers on what you would think makes a better program?

Skypilot- watching the video a second time, I realize you could've done more with the intro. Just those four sitting there doesn't bring excitement right off the bat....it would've been better just using ingame footy of people shooting at eachother (not people running around, I've seen way to much of the style of "in game" footage and it sucks)

The beggining of this video really shows what I'm talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJNv1Ct2XUI

[DarkLite]

Come on guys, it's obvious he's not a movie ace.....He's just a guy that plays airsoft, that decided to make a show. Maybe the show isin't steered towards people that know where to look (or live in HK)....

You have to admit it takes guts to put yourself out there when the last 4-5 times you've done so there was plenty of people giving you ###### ( and it's not like they make videos of just dialouge, or any videos for that matter.....so who are they to chastise)

I could easily be a jerk and make some useless comment about how he sucks, but why? He's TRYING, so why not give him a few pointers on what you would think makes a better program?

Skypilot- watching the video a second time, I realize you could've done more with the intro. Just those four sitting there doesn't bring excitement right off the bat....it would've been better just using ingame footy of people shooting at eachother (not people running around, I've seen way to much of the style of "in game" footage and it sucks)

The beggining of this video really shows what I'm talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJNv1Ct2XUI

We do give him hints. Hints which he seems to completely ignore. He'll say "Oh thanks! I'll remember that for the next one!".

And then give us another pile of just the same.

[gunnermaniac]

Darklite I think you are being way too harsh. If you are going to give him constructive critisism there is no need to do it as unkindly as you did, just tell him what he needs to do without being unkind(I am not trying to have a dig at you I just dislike people being harsh to people who don't deserve it). I personally think it is quite entertaining and could be even better if you took some footage of games.

Keep up the good work and keep working on it

[sturgis]

So where was the *graphic stuff* wich needed such a big warning? twice...

the bleeding knuckle?

I'll echo the sentiments of above, as this isn't the first time people have been suggesting them.

Regarding the ingame footage/walk through of the site. i'd say yes, go for it, it will be much more intresting to just hear the owner talk about the field. interview him (in QUIET suroundings) play the footage and have the interview audio run over the footage.
failing that (or if the footage comes out to pixalized due to compression) get some pictures instead, have them slideshow and run the interview audio over that.

Also, i've said this before, reherse (sp?) your interviews with the person you interviewing, this doesn't mean have a dress rehersel or something, but just run over the questions with him before you asked so the person can forms some answers in his head before commencing. That way the more nervous people among us (like the owner in your video) doesn't look like : "omg are you asking me questions?...on tape? eek!" during the whole thing though, that's not really something you have control over.

You yourself could be abit more smoother aswell. if you think you went wrong somewhere, or had an "uhm... moment" that lasted more then 5 seconds. stop, and do it over, edit it out later. relax, your not live on the air, and it won't make you look bad toward the interviewes, actually quite the opposite of that. plus once edited, the video will look alot smoother

other then that, i do encourage you to make more videos, you seem to like doing it, and it reflects imho, so go for it, try to work in some of the advice given here, and i'm sure it will get better by time.
But atm theres still just a few to many "uhms", confused moments and feel abit rushed when your watching it imho.

[transist]

Is great that your persistent and insist and wasting our time with this stuff, but for the love of God
STOP POSTING THIS IN THE NEWS SECTION
IT'S NOT NEWS

[skypilot181]

Footage of inside the game was taken on a different episode, however the place is very dark and quality footage isn't very good. As well as getting live in-game footage with a $600 camera (that isn't mine) is needless to say...a bad Idea.

Azsworst - I see what your talking about. I have plenty of similar footage, however never posted because I thought people wouldn't like it. Let me see what I can find for the next show.

Sturgis - As for the owner, we ran though the questions and that was the third retake, he just keep getting more and more nervous. I figured I needed to run with it or he would of had a heart attack

The graphic warning was to keep my profile on Youtube, otherwise it could get kicked for 'being to graphic'. I'm sure Youtube will tell me next that viewers must be 18 and over as well.

To all whom post comments with encouragement, Thank you. Yes, I'm an airsoft player who enjoys producing a show about a sport I enjoy very much and hope others will too. I'm not into this to make money like, but for fun. And I realize I can't make everyone happy and there will always be those who will post crude and negative comments regardless of the material or quality.

Also, I've begun to make improvements, last weeks episode we used a Shure SM57 and lighting in the back. And this week we went to the field. To top it off, I'm working on a website as well, hopefully this will be up very soon and won't be at the mercy of Youtube. I would like to have coverage outside the Michigan/Mid-west area…so… If you have a game coverage, news about a product, or something that effects airsoft, I would like to air it on the show. airsoftnewsnetwork@gmail.com

Thanks,
-Allen


BTW, I'm looking for a camera with mic input jacks. This way I can use a lapel or shotgun mic and have the audio track in sync with the video for easier editing. Any suggestions?

[RedScare]

how much are you willing to spend?

[sturgis]

Sturgis - As for the owner, we ran though the questions and that was the third retake, he just keep getting more and more nervous. I figured I needed to run with it or he would of had a heart attack

Ah, see, well there you go like i said, it's not something you have control over
good to hear, you are working that way.

as for the graphic warning, that explains it all

I had a feeling taking clean ingame footage would be hard, hearing that it's in a basement, close quarters and with dark conditions, it's really hard to take quality footage without expensive material in those conditions.
though, in that case, i would consider a pre game walktrough whilest talking still images, like i suggested in my previous post. it is great if you have nervous interviewes like that owner, to make the video more intresting.

keep up the hard work i'd say

This post has been edited by sturgis: 28 February 2008 - 01:30 AM

[skypilot181]

how much are you willing to spend?

No more than $500, less if possible. The camera I would really like to have is $2500. Oh well, prehaps some day.

[supportgunner]

No less than $500? You may want to invest in some audio and lighting equipment instead, you won't be getting a camera that's any better for that. Some lavalier mics would be good. I strongly suggest you get some other shots to put over the interview, in-game etc. The interview should be shot from a few different angles as well. I've done films where I essentially had nothing but a single interview, and to make it not insanely boring, you should see very little footage of the interview itself. Just have the audio of the interview with the footage over it. Try to have a somewhat consistent background, having half a brick wall just looks like bad filming. Try to keep a solid wall or something similar for a background, and remember the rule of thirds.