I need Backpack tf help with my portfolio

[[Unactive Account]]

It sounds pretty weird but I need your guys opinion. For me to get into specific film schools I need to build a portfolio. Some of the schools are very competitive and only accept 60 people at a time. I have some films but I want to make sure I show my best work. 

 

 

• Minimum number of moving image portfolio items: 1.
• Maximum number of moving image portfolio items: 2.
• Maximum length per item is 5 minutes.  Excerpts from longer work are acceptable.
• Applicants have the option of including comments or relevant information about the work.
• Candidates should submit only their best work.
• OPTIONAL: Applicants may submit an additional portfolio item: maximum 1-minute image and/or sound work, based on ONE of the following themes: a) sand / le sable  the line / la ligne c) the mirror / le miroir.
• OPTIONAL: Applicants may submit examples of other creative work in the visual arts if the work is representative of a particular practice or training that the applicant possesses.

So I wanted to see what you guys thought is my best work. and what I should do to improve

 

 

 

Other videos

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the videos have english subtitles if you need them

[Captain Caboose]

What

[UniqueBob]

For Bed-Pack: Try to keep the entire commercial/joke covered with dialogue, emphasizing on the bed-pack in the gym for a whole minute isn't very exciting, especially when swimming is like 5 seconds. Also, if you cannot find ways to insert speaking to the entire video, turn up the music a little.

 

For Rushed Chef: At the start, and throughout don't cut off the applause, let it slowly fade out as the chef/host starts speaking

At 3:24, it seems like the refrigerator/cabinet is briefly opening and showing nothing, that can be removed.

At 4:09, the person's hand goes through the fire, with the fire overlapping on top of the person, perhaps it can be adjusted behind the person or as slightly transparent?

At 5:17, you changed tie colors? Make sure the tie remains black, or it would seem a bit weird.

At 5:28, for the Bed-Pack commercial, I think the person should speak faster and a bit more energetic to be entertaining.

Also towards the end, what happened to applause, even if it is low, when the winner is announced?

[Mengh.]

Even though there are quite amateur, they were quite funny (in a mild sense) to watch. 

 

There are a few things that just put me off though.

• The camera shots / perspectives at times aren't the best. http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/article/hni1oyld/10-tips-for-better-camera-panning.htmlgoes through some of the important aspects of filmography and photography alike. tl:dr should be at the bottom + a tripod does help. As well as that, here is a list of all the camera shots that you can potentially use. Don't overdo it, of course. Only use them when needed as to evoke a certain feeling from the audience or a certain idea about a character or scene. This can be seen in [2:10] of Rushed Chef. You have the camera facing the back of the judge's back. It would have been more suitable to have an overhead shot or a pan from a distance.

 

• I would also suggest that you always look and research into the theme of the video. Watch some informercials about sports gear. Watch some cartoons and brainstorm the feeling you get from watching such stuff and how they're doing it. Then, just extrapolate some of that stuff and use it yourself.

 

• Consistency. In Rushed Chef, you change shirts from white with a black tie to funky. I can understand that it may be filmed on separate days, however, try your best to keep the costume and props consistent as to make it believable.

[Teeny Tiny Cat]

I'd suggest asking on a students forum or something similar that deal with university applications and give tips and advice a lot. The users of this forum can tell you what they like or dislike but nothing about what admissions are looking for.

[CHIKUN NODLS]

Hi, I found this and thought to give my opinions and advice on your videos!

Scroll to end for final recommendations.

___

 

Bed-Pack

- Very long for an infomercial - gets boring after a while

- Exercise montage is excessive, not needed

- Narration sounds quite forced, and scripted, unlike real infomercials

- Pronounciation could use some work, but overall okay (I'm only a French student though so take this with a grain of salt)

+ Amusing and funny

+ Horrible spill of coffee, and the other examples in the beginning

Overall: Amusing, but too drawn out and gets boring quickly

4/10

 

Rushed Chef

- Intro is excessively long for no apparent reason (45 secs!)

- Lack of eye-contact with camera, sparse occasional glances - distracting and makes the video less engaging

- Lighting in the second dish

- Could be shortened with some scenes shorttened

+ Reference to bed-pack, good and short

+ Reveal of the secret ingredient

+ Cooking montage music

+ Gorden Ramsey insults?

Overall: Good reference to bed-pack, fun little skit, but lack of eye-contact hampers it from being engaging.

6/10

 

The Third Degree

- Some occasions where mouth doesn't appear when char speaks

- plot seems lacking, build-up, but no climax or resolution it appears

+ Animation style

+ Glasses pun thing

Overall: Good animation style and story, but it appears to lead nowhere with no satisfying conclusion.

5/10

 

MND in 3 Mins

Note: I'm not familiar with the play

- Sometimes hard to hear what the characters are saying (most of the time actually)

- Some scenes where character faces away from camera while talking (V.i, e.g.)

- Video length is 3:01 minutes. OP didn't deliver

+ Careless whisper

-+ Extra in the end

Overall: Can't verify accuracy, subtitles are also recommended. Good acting, concise, and funny. 

7/10

 

Infraction

- Lighting when Mr. C knocks, also when he blocks the camera when doing uniform check

- Principal doesn't give a late slip at all - biggest complaint.

+ No glancing at camera / obviously reading lines

+ Overall editing and scenes, chase scene esp

Overall: Funny short skit, good use of scene editing + no reading of lines!

8/10

 

Macbeth in 5 mins

Note: I'm familiar with this play

- Video length is 5:07

- Only two witches, not three

- Becoming Thane of Cawdor doesn't imply he'd become king in Ross's or Angus's eyes, so it is wrong for Ross to reply with "if something were to happen to the king" unless i'm remembering wrong

- Dagger scene. Amusing, but fails to capture the point of it. Also fails to explictly reveal the murder

+ Good projection of voice, understandable. Subtitles still recomended 

+ The third murderer coming after Banquo's son

+ Murder reveal

+ Lady Macbeth + dinner scene

+ Ending

Overall: Had hopes it would be in the same format as MND in 3 mins, and most feels like an exact following of the play as opposed to a TL;DW. Overall good, however.

7/10

 

___

 

Ordered according to rating:

8/10 - Infraction

7/10 - Shakespeare renditions

6/10 - Rushed Chef

5/10 - Third Degree

4/10 - Bed-Pack

 

They are overall good, but could use a lot of work. Infraction is your best video and is the most well-done. It appears to be your second latest video, with Macbeth being the most recent, so it is good that your skills are improving.

 

In sum, my personal recommendation is Infraction, followed by MND and Macbeth in that order. I recommend against submitting the other three, unless you're willing to remake them. I don't check these forums often, so if you have any questions about my opinions or would like me to view a remade vid, feel free to send me a msg on steam

 

http://steamcommunity.com/id/chicken_noodles

 

Good luck in your application! 

 

Edit: I was slightly hoping for SFM videos as well, perhaps a tf2-style video could be your next project?

[Tobiased]

Wait, how open are they to different kinds of videos? If you get good with Source filmmaker, you could probably kick-ass in the application process.

After Effects and simple but interesting transitions, intros etc help keep things interesting.

 

List of gripes:

- echoing of voicelines

- Lighting stuff, such as rim lights etc (a simple conveniently placed flashlight could work)

- a general rule of thumb is to change camera angles often, to keep hold of the audiences short attention span

- You'll find the Camera isn't always placed directly in front of TV characters in various shows. (unless they're talking to the camera)

- Try being more dynamic about camera angles. have some angled as low as the floor, top of a fridge, kitchen counter, from a window etc.

- My biggest tip is to zoom in on the important stuff, so people don't get distracted by something else around you.

- Second biggest tip is to consider Rule of Thirds. Like this:

 

 

 

 

 

[MrDeepDarkmind]

the bed pack was actually funny a little.

but how about ask a forum site that does good on portfolio stuff