The Mechanic - a 60 second documentary.

>>3035948
It's okay, seems like one of those deep and meaningful fillers that CNN use sometimes about their business/finance reporters.

The background music was a irritating

But composition is the director's job.

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It's good. Above average. I wouldn't normally spend this much time critiquing some random person's work on the internet, so take it as a compliment that I'm willing to watch your video 10 times.

It's over-done; you need fewer cool shots with flames and fewer shallow DOF shots and more interview and more shots showing him working. A b-shot for the interview would help.

I think starting the piece with an establishing shot of the shop or maybe that second to last shot --car pulling into parking lot and spinning tires a bit would be better than the shallow DOF car curves. I know that he's talking about the curves of cars but we just don't need DOF porn there. Drop that second shot of the grill. Or maybe even open with a close up on his face grinning while he's talking about how much he loves cars. Connect us emotionally to him.

I like the idea of what you're getting at in the reflection shot at 12sec, but it needs way more sharpening/clarity or something to push the face forward. In any case, I don't think it's a great way to introduce your talent's face.

The shot at 31sec of the mask removal is nice (needs to be brighter), but again, I don't think it's a great way to introduce the talent. Maybe a shot at 10 or 12 sec in with the talent turning a wrench with his bare hands and face visible. Then do reflection and mask removal etc. It's hard to make an emotional connection with a masked dark face or with a reflection.

Drone shot is way over-sharpened.

A little bit more separation with the background on the interview shot would be good. Maybe a touch more light on the subject making the background a tiny bit darker, plus throwing the background out of focus just a touch more.

A shot or two of just his ungloved hands would be solid; hands help establish an emotional connection.

I think your grade is a bit off too -- add a bit of magenta to most of your shots.

Good work. Shoot more.

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Slow it down.
Everything was moving too fast for me to take in and enjoy.
I have no idea what the guy was even saying because you were switching shots every three seconds.

The interview and footage were both competing for my attention.

The guy talked too fast, the horror film music accelerated that feeling of speed.

And not good speed either. The impatient, unprofessional kind that does not go well with classic car restoration.

Shoot at 60fps or whatever and slow some of the footage down.

There should be a short pause after every sentence and shots should last longer than two seconds.

>>3036322
Also, try and set up your shots beforehand instead of shooting off the cuff.
In the opening shot, a big out of focus bullet mirror draws the eye in a bad way. The welding shot also has something distracting in the foreground.

The second shot of the grill leads to nothing. Its a boring plastic grille on a car that has so many interesting details. At least lead to the Volvo badge or something.

Shots I'd like to have seen:

Lights coming on
Shot of the gauges
Shot of the cold engine starting for the "first" time. With no music
Shot of the engine

And like the other anon said, more detailed shots of the guy.
You're also missing a shot of the guy introducing himself.

One of those wand type shop lights with the 100w incandescent bulbs would hace made for great lighting.
Just a shot of the guy hanging it on an open hood, and having his face come into the light would have really set the scene.