Apple Store Opens in Spokane (view this story)

Details

Category: News
Media: Video
Turnaround time: Less than a day

Description of story

Over 400 Apple fans line up to be the first to enter the new RiverPark Square Apple Store Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010.

Feedback requested

I used a mix of stills, video, B+W conversions, still images sequences, heavy music etc. etc.. Does it work for you? I am seeing more and more newspaper produced video that mixes stills and video, so this is my attempt at joining the crowd.

Gear used in production

Nikon D3s
Sony XDCAM EX-1
Sennheisher ME-66 shotgun mic

5 comments - Login to comment

Reviewer
David Berman Oct. 4, 2010, 1:43 p.m. permalink

it worked for me and a good mix of voxes. A little long perhaps. Good discussion on the comments afterwards. 

Nico Colombant Oct. 4, 2010, 8:25 p.m. permalink

I liked the photo, video mix a lot, and all the work with the audio, really kept me in.

Reviewer
Brian Immel Oct. 4, 2010, 11:28 p.m. permalink

After seeing David's comment I went back to read the user comments. Kinda crazy, but whatever...


It sure wasn't traditional. Colin I liked that you mixed up the photos with the video a lot. It seemed to play the best of both mediums - freezing some iconic moments, etc. The back and forth between black and white and color maintained those moments very well.

However between the music and the casual nature of the editing I felt the buildup was too much. About two minutes in I was expecting either a massive explosion or Jesus to appear. When the store did open, the "payoff" was the products themselves which wasn't enough for me to resolve the previous buildup. I wanted to see the results of all those crazed fans outside. I guess I was looking for closure to the question you introduced right away. They waited, but for what? 

I think the buildup is both the biggest pro and con of this piece. It was so well executed that I was totally along for the ride. It was very easy to digest the mini interviews and get a feel for emotion on the air. For pacing I would have maybe left off one interview or so in the beginning to keep it a little tighter, but wasn't a big deal.

At the end of the day it is a story about a store opening. This could have been very cut and dry, but I think you made it both engaging and entertaining.

Reviewer
Peter Huoppi Oct. 5, 2010, 9:36 a.m. permalink

I liked everything except the music. It felt like it should have been a straight-up news story, but the music felt like it was trying to add a mood that wasn't there. The commenters on the story page noticed this, too.
I'm not usually a big fan of mixing stills and video, but I like it when it's done well, as it is here. There was a pace to it, and the stills were actual moments instead of throwaway filler to cover where you were missing b-roll.
I would have been more interested in this as a story about hype. Talk to the staff or manager about why they turn this into an event. Ask people why they sleep on the sidewalk and then don't buy anything.
Overall I think it was a stylish take on a cut and dry event. Kudos for making it engaging, but it seemed to be more style than content. Find a story more than "this store opened and drew a crowd" and you'll really draw me in. Less "what" and more "why."

Submitter
Colin Mulvany Oct. 5, 2010, 12:08 p.m. permalink

I know I pushed the envelope with this video. I shot it on my day off, so I  gave myself a little more freedom to experiment with a different style and format that I usually produce. I had the option of doing the straight-up news video, but instead I decided to tell the story more visually. The music track probably wasn't the best choice. This video is a perfect example of how music can define (manipulate) the tone of a story--both good and bad.


The one thing I've noticed, as more newspaper video producers embrace HDSLRs, it this video/still aesthetic is being used in a lot more stories. Peter, you mention that you are not a fan of mixing stills and video, and for the most, part I'm with you. But I'm finding this aesthetic movement hard to ignore now.

Having one camera that does both video and still is pushing producers into new territory. If there ever was a way to "not be like TV," this is it. Just look at the recent Dai Sgano "Torn Apart" video, and you can see where this aesthetic is moving. My video was an attempt to on my part to try something different.

It was more of a creative exercise than anything. Now, that I know I can do it, I have to figure out how to do it better. I'm am glad I have FtF as a sounding board. Peter and Brain you hit on all the things that were making me feel uncomfortable as I was assembling this piece.  Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm listening. 

If anyone else would like to comment on this new video storytelling aesthetic--start forum topic and bring it on... 

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