[Chris Collins]

thanks for the help.

-chris

[Chris Collins]

Great, thanks a lot.

I thought that was what i was supposed to do, and it just threw me off when i switched it to ‘system’ drives, and it started crashing.

(TUrns out it was a corrupt piece of media after some frustrating research time…)

Thanks!
-chris

dual2gG5fcpHD
http://www.otwp.net
http://www.blackorchardpictures.com

[Chris Collins]

first of all, if you want this news cast to look like mtv, then watch mtv news segments. they do this exact thing on ‘MTV NEWS’, but you can just emulate what they do.

as an editor for MTV for about 3 years now, the MAIN thing that jumps out to me overall, is lack of music diversity, and the ‘stock’ sounding ‘news music’ you have chosen.

We at mtv use music for a max of maybe 25 seconds per cue.
Music is carefully picked to give emotion and pacing. When you’re picking music, make it as extreme as possible and then if necessary, pull back.
i.e. ‘this couple is serving as a married couple, but are in different branches’ etc.
For this, try the sappiest music you can, to have the viewer feel emotion for this ‘cute couple’ who are giving their HEARTS and SOULS to their profession, and still maintaining their LOVE! for each other (awwww….)

DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA even if its the news, notice on fox news, when some ‘alert’ happens, the music changes so drastically? ‘COMING UP NEXT! DUN DUN DUUUUUN!’ ‘ a cat caught in a tree!! DUN DUN DUUUUN!’

it’s all overplayed, but that’s what keeps the viewer feeling like this is something exciting, and not something that’s dragging on.

2nd thing, is a lack of b roll or coverage. Obviously this will be determined by the footage you have available, but seeing as you have established that this is a ‘guy in front of a backdrop delivering the news’ in the first 20 seconds, you can from then on, assume he’s there, and cut away while he’s talking. Show WHAT he is talking about, don’t show HIM talking about IT.

I agree w/ Mark as well, that the digital juice clips seem overdone. However, i also see that that is the ‘thematic’ element of your newscast, making it ‘the army newscast’ and that will be memorable to the viewer and feel familiar. I would just make sure you have a reason for every thing you do.
As for transitions, I saw a ‘morph’ effect in there once used to get from one shot to another. A morph is showing the change of one thing to another, not as a dissolve. If you’re just cutting to another shot, do something less distracting, try a push in w/ a blur effect, try a wipe, try a flash to white, try creating something unique, but ALWAYS have a reason why you’re using it instead of a straight cut.

That’s all, hope it helps. If you see mtv lately, there aren’t a whole lot of graphics usually, except on certain shows like Making the Band.

You mentioned E! I used to cut there, and the rule there is literally, to use a graphic transition between almost every element. It gets monotonous, but it is a style and it makes each show feel cohesive and like, ‘that show.’ so you’re editing looks a lot more like E! than mtv right now. Just an fyi.

right on.
-chris collins

dual2gG5fcpHD
http://www.otwp.net
http://www.blackorchardpictures.com

[Chris Collins]

I like to look at print ads and incorporate it into an edit session. I once told my wife ‘hey, see that billboard for Grand Theft Auto; San Andreas? It has those boxes and colors and looks kinda comicy…watch, i’m gonna put that in my show tomorrow…’
voila. Its in my show now on vh1.

watch your world around you, be inspired and write things down, and then make yourself try something new to emulate it.

-chris

[Chris Collins]

my advice would be a practical elaboration on ‘cut cut cut!’

1.Pick something you like on tv or in film. Something that you think you would like to edit for a profession. Example: MTV style content.

2. Shoot a few of your own shows or films in that style. Even copy a show or film out currently or recently. Example: MTV Cribs of your local fraternity house, Day in the life of a local band.

3. Edit said show or film. (short film in your case). Example: Complete three 3-5 minute MTV Cribs segments, and one 5 minute Day in the life of Local Rock Band.

4. Display your work on a professional and completed dvd presentation. Example: Open up your iDVD, pick a non-cheesy template, and add some hip music in the background, with easy to use buttons to navigate to your works.

5. Now, when you go in for an interview for whatever entry level job you get, bring that and ask to show them. They will most likely take you more seriously as someone who wants to move up, since you obviously have a goal, and pay attention to what you want. Obviously they won’t bring you in for an interview as a logger and hire you as an editor, but it immediately will put it in their head that ‘this person will probably be more than a logger in the future.’ Example: Somewhere in interview ‘Just so you know, i also brought my demo reel (just be bold and call it that, they won’t be expecting an amazing product from a logger), if you have a minute i’d love to show you some works i’ve done. Or if not, i’ll leave it with you if you get a minute to check out my work at some point.”

Hope that helps, its practical, and worked for me.

-chris

[Chris Collins]

Oh yeah, and please do nooot refund any money for this particular circumstance. It would be ridiculous to. I’m pretty sure you’ve gotten that by now from this thread and all the responses, but it simply does not justify any kind of refund.

Chris

[Chris Collins]

I know this thread is probably DEAD but here’s my two clause from my personal contract, hope it helps:

(b) Client Not Liable for Non-Return: The Client acknowledges that the Video Producer cannot obtain insurance on the Video in its library for any commercially reasonable cost. Accordingly, the Client specifically agrees not to try and hold the Video Producer financially responsible for any Video Footage it cannot provide, for any reason, at the termination of this Agreement. The Client agrees not to sue nor seek payment for damages from the Video Producer in the event that the Video Producer loses or cannot obtain any Video Footage. In the event of a breach of this provision, the losing party shall bear the expenses, including legal fees, of the prevailing party.

This basically covers you for footage not obtained. The insurance it talks about is insurance on video coverage.

When I get client complaints like this, that are minute (and believe me, this falls under the ‘minute’ category as far as weddings go) I generally offer them one extra copy of their dvd (as to me this will make them feel like they’re getting a pricey bonus when it won’t actually cost you all that much to dub off one more copy and call it even).

My 2 cents.

Chris

[Chris Collins]

Thanks to all contributors. Much abliged and very helpful.

Chris

[Chris Collins]

GREAT! Thanks so much, caps lock to keep it on, and shift to just do it when i want to…works like a charm.