Opinions on my first video, please

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Monkeyleg

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I just finished what I hope will be the first of many videos on various shooting related topics, and I'd like to hear your thoughts.

It took me many hours to shoot, edit and convert the video files, so I wouldn't want to make changes unless I did or said something really wrong. But I would like to hear suggestions you might have for future videos.

The Youtube version is here and the version on my own site is here.

Thanks in advance for any replies.
 
Well done, it looks professional. I've done quite a bit of video editing; it's not hard to spend several hours editing to produce just a single minute of video. You clearly took the time to polish it. I like the fact that you didn't include anything flashy or obnoxious. It's easy to ruin the candor of an instructional video with music/graphics. The (I'm assuming) simulated view through the scope was good. Whether you were conscious of it or not, you did a great job of not over-gesturing (which people tend to do in front of a camera) and not adopting an excited rate-of-speech (which people also do in front of a camera.) What software did you use to edit?

I didn't see anything inaccurate or unsafe, you did a swell job.
 
I viewed it on my iPod without sound, but visual quality was clean and crisp as were the transitions. Good work on getting non cluttered backdrops. I'll check it out with sound later. Good job.
 
Although it wasn't a flashy high end production, I actually learned quite a lot from it. In that regard it was a very successful video.
 
Very well done! Very informative. When I shot my 700 SPS Varmint groups, I was only using a bi-pod. Wish I would have had the equipment. One afternoon I will have to to buy the equipment and see if I can duplicate your video.
 
Very professional looking video, I enjoyed it immensely.

ETA I'm surprised the walker trigger didn't cause the rifle to discharge when the bolt was closed or the safety disengaged. Not to high jack but shame on Remington.
 
Excellent Video. I have a question about the use of the word "large" when speaking about letting the barrel cool between shots. It was implied there is a large difference between cold, warm, hot and a definition of large might have been more informative. If I missed that part sorry kids going to school...example @ x yards the difference in this rifle/ammo combo with a 60 degree versus a 90 degree barrel is x moa. Just a thought but would be interested to know that myself with your rifle. Thanks
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I posted the same question on another forum, and received a lot of suggestions on how to change it. I did implement the suggestions, so maybe it's now perfect, and that's why there's no criticism here. ;)

Excellent Video. I have a question about the use of the word "large" when speaking about letting the barrel cool between shots. It was implied there is a large difference between cold, warm, hot and a definition of large might have been more informative. If I missed that part sorry kids going to school...example @ x yards the difference in this rifle/ammo combo with a 60 degree versus a 90 degree barrel is x moa. Just a thought but would be interested to know that myself with your rifle. Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't know if there's a way of quantifying the difference in groups according to temperature. Does anyone else know?

I do know that I've seen my groups open up when the barrel has been warm. Cooling the barrel in the summer is a pain. In the winter, it cools very fast.

I'd like to do another video, that one on Mossberg shotguns. I can't think of an idea, though.
 
Great, increase the pace slightly. The slight delay when the video starts and when you start talking is disconcerting.

When you transition between shots or segments edit it so your voice is synced to start with the video not after.

Otherwise, very cool. Nice that you're not talking and gesturing like you just downed 6 Redbulls.
 
Excelent video, good information. good production quality. Not a remington fan since the problem with their trigger/safety issue, but very well done. Give more information on the rest and bag used.

Jim
 
the audio kept bouncing back and forth between left and right channels. set the pan control for the audio tracks to center. otherwise great!
 
the audio kept bouncing back and forth between left and right channels. set the pan control for the audio tracks to center. otherwise great!
Click to expand...

I was using the camera's mic, a lapel mic, and a headset plugged into my computer. The lapel mic is monaural, which is why the sound goes in and out. I'll have to figure out how to correct that for the next video. The editing software doesn't allow any channel adjustments.

Give more information on the rest and bag used.
Click to expand...

As long as the rest is stable, it doesn't matter. Before I bought this $20 plastic rest and $10 sand bag at Academy Sports, I used a 6" x 6" block of wood with sandbags on top. I got groups as good as or even better than these. As long as the rest is sturdy, cost or construction don't matter.
 
I liked it. I thought you did a good job with the video.

My biggest complaint is that the voiceover volume is different than when you were being shown speaking (see transition @ 1:28, fluctuation at 5:50 for example). It is a minor issue.

You make the point that the target should have a grid on it so that you can line up the crosshairs and that if your rifle is canted left or right your shots will be off left or right. You might want to point out that if you are planning on lining up the crosshairs with the grid, then you need to take a level with you to verify that indeed the grid is vertical. If you line up your crosshairs iwth a crooked grid, your shots will be off.
 
You did good.
As someone who works in broadcasting, I know how much work goes into a video.
Here's my pet peeves with most YouTube videos. (only a few apply to yours)
1. Use a tripod.
2. Don't zoom. Stay in focus. (see "don't zoom".)
3. Have a plan. Don't have people in the video asking you questions like, "Now?" "Can I go?" (I don't care if it is your girlfriend.)
4. Don't make it too long. It takes a while to load and can stop and start if you don't have a fast connection. (yours was 11 minutes, long for me. I'd vote 4 minutes max.) Break it up into two or three videos.
5. Audio is important. Don't ever use the camera mic. Use a windscreen. (You popped a bunch) if possible, record all audio at the same location using the same microphone.
6. Have fun. It's supposed to be fun to watch, I want to feel like I'd enjoy hanging out with you.
7. Be aware of the background. Is there junk in the background? People walking around? PortaPotties?
Insects between the camera and subject. (I saw one with hundreds of dragonflies,
try again later, spray.)
8. If you're running the camera, don't talk to the talent. "Pick it up". "Go ahead."
9. Be aware of lighting. Even in daylight, avoid shadows, backlighting.
10. Don't beat yourself. I saw a video where the guy was demonstrating how to add a new product to a firearm. He couldn't get the package open. Have everything ready to go. If you screw up, do it again. (believe me, I've worked on 30 second commercials where the talent read the copy over 50 times. But when you saw it, it was perfect.)
 
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#4. Guilty (although it seemed like I needed to say everything I did to explain fully).

#5. Guilty. What's "popped"?

#7. You saw hundreds of dragonflies in mine, or another video?
 
Good video. Very well done.
One thing though.....don't you know that the media says the Remington 700 is unsafe? If the experts at NBC say it's so then it must be true.
 
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