MTV style edits and the Army

[Mark Suszko]

Mike, I absolutely love your idea of the various people doing the opening, they should use that straight away, but I have a pet peeve involving your suggestion regarding flag usage. Maybe it’s just me.

Now, I’m not military myself, and the issue is a little different, I suppose, if you are talking regimental/unit flags or whatever, but I personally have a problem with using the Stars and Stripes for props or backgrounds for anything as “common” usage as this. I feel that it should be reserved more for high ceremonial display.

Now, I will admit, if anybody has a legit claim to be able to stand in front of our flag on camera, and wear it on their uniforms with pride, absolutely it’s our wonderful and heroic military men and women, who uphold that flag with their very blood. It’s precisely because of that dedication and devotion and honorable service though, that I hate seeing Old Glory get overused as a prop or backdrop for situations that are more “everyday”. Perhaps I’m making too much of the situation, or not seeing it with the same eyes as others, and I’m willing to be schooled about that. I’d be curious though if anybody else gets “burned-out” on putting the Flag behind anything they want to have seem like it has more “gravitas”. To me, it’s like using the fine china dishes for every casual meal.

I also see many situations where it becomes the default choice to use in a shot, only because of a failure of imagination on the part of the client. I’m compulsive about flag etiquette, always correcting people if they place it on the wrong side of a shot, but I prefer even more if they leave it out when it’s presence is not motivated by the story being told. I work carefully to make sure that everyting I put in my frame has a specific reason and message to be there, and that it contributes to the story being told. If it doesn’t I take it out to reduce clutter.

Am I obscessing or not? 🙂

I think using the Army Service flag might be very appropriate, or maybe making a faded background wallpaper out of the crest/symbol from that flag. But I recoil from using the Stars and Stripes as wallpaper, the same way I don’t like it when someone puts it on a rear pants patch pocket.

That’s me.

[Stylz]

I find it funny you guys telling bumpthekoala to consider his target audience and why he needs to target that audience, then the next sentence telling him some of his graphics look too “stock”. Only to experienced editors/video professionals will it look too “stock”, not to 18 y/o soldiers. Very interesting. I don’t recognize these graphics. At anyrate all other advice is top notch.

[Ben Oliver]

what I would recomend doing is go crazy. Make an insane, edited to insanity version of the show. see how fast you can cut stuff, see where you can go. and do NOT think of ever showing anyone this. this is for you, because odds are, 90% of it won’t work. but you tried. and the 10% of “special sauce” you just found will come in handy.

as for shooting, tis the army. get handheld. go out on location., heck, explosions are good. and so is comedy. everyone likes to laugh, and its usually the normal funny stuff that everyone can identify with it.

also, be original. it’s what made MTV what mtv was, and has created what mtv is, a big boring pile of 16 year old girls crying over a new lexus. don’t copy anyone, but take away pieces that you like from other things,a nd incorporate it in.

[Murph222]

I can certainly relate to your problem.
I work for a university. One of our main clients is the Athletic Department. We produce 30 minute shows for football and basketball, plus recruiting videos and end-of-the-year highlight videos.
The problem is with our other clients. Let’s say our “News” department, for example, wants a video. A new provost will be meeting with honors students at a pizza party. You can imagine how dreadful that would be to watch(much less, edit.) Without fail, they complain that their videos aren’t as “exiting” as the sports videos. I have to hold back spewing profanity when they ask for “MTV Style.”
Too often, flash is used to cover up a lack of content, but I can see where you are trying to go with your material. I think trying to customize your Jumpbacks would help. I am not sure where your footage comes from, but if you work in more comments from the dogs in the field, maybe that would help?
My best friend did a few years working in AFRTS. I respect what you guys do.