Boma Cho (view this story)

Details

Category: Feature
Media: Video
Turnaround time: More than a week but less than a month

Description of story

A few months ago one of my class mates and I spent a few days with Boma, an obviously interesting african man who sells his art on the streets of Seattle. The project was a great learning experience. It was done as part of the YPA (Young Photographers Alliance) mentorship program and will be shown in a gallery in NYC next month.

Feedback requested

I'm planning to spend some more time with Boma to capture better quality audio. I'm very interested to hear what people like/dislike, this is boring etc, before I re-edit.

Gear used in production

Canon T2i
Sennehieser Wireless Lav mic
canon 17-55, canon 24-105L
audio-technica shotgun (on hotshoe)
FCP

5 comments - Login to comment

Reviewer
Eric Seals March 3, 2011, 4:41 p.m. permalink

Hi Brad,

Loved the shooting and style on this video and glad you chose to do this in black and white. The opening scene with him driving was nice. You have a nice eye for details and angles but as far as the storyline and the substance it fell flat for me.  I didn't get to know Boma as a man or as an artist.
It was just a very quiet and retrospective kind of piece, maybe that was the feel you were going for but it was very long, slow and didn't move me along. 

I wanted to be fair and give the piece my full attention (which I did) but watching the whole thing I caught myself looking down at the time progression bar from time to time.  It's like the watch test you might do when you go to the movies. If the movie in the theater is engaging and keeping your interest you just focus on that screen if not you look at your watch off and on.  
Don't get me wrong Brad, there is a good story here and you are well on your way at telling it I just think you have to step back, focus and ask yourself what do I want to say or tell about Boma and how can I do it in a good and efficient way so that it has immediate impact on my viewers so they stick with it all the way through.

I'm glad you noticed the audio quality issues and that you want to go back for better quality.  You could have the best shot piece with a great story but if the audio is hard to hear or low quality it's gonna turn people off.  

There were lots of jump cuts that were jarring and didn't work for me throughout the piece especially at the 3:05 mark.

I liked the music by The Album Leaf but it was the same level throughout and there were times that I think it could of been brought down a lot and in it's place have good natural sound.  Perhaps the noise of his shop with all the sound effects of screen printing.  The sounds of the street traffic as he is selling his wares and customers and moving those hangers around looking for that perfect shirt and that one part which is shot really nice at 3:50 when he's playing the guitar between the racks of clothes.

You have it all here Brad I just think it boils down to the editing process.

Nice job and when you do the re-edit and you have questions when you think you're close to getting down and have video to watch be sure to post questions on the forum, I know lots of us on FtF would love to help you polish what I think can be a great piece.

Nice job and keep up the good work.

Eric



Reviewer
James Cuff March 5, 2011, 4:44 a.m. permalink

It's a really lovely piece Brad but, like Eric, I think it went on a bit long depending on your brief.


For newspaper/online video features I like things under three minutes otherwise my attention drifts and judging by white papers I've read a lot of the online population are the same.

Beautifully shot though and the opening scene and title really set the piece up well.

Did you shoot in B&W or was that done in post?

If you shot in B&W, why? Just wondering.

Keep up the great work.

James

Chris Langer March 5, 2011, 2:12 p.m. permalink

I definitely agree with Eric and James about the length of the piece.  I felt you could cut some areas and bring it together tighter.  I think a tighter piece will tell the story better.  


I also found the music to be distracting at times.  There was a couple of points in the beginning and near the end where the music was just a tad bit too loud and I couldn't hear him speak.  When you return to retrieve better audio, think about mixing your interview and music better.  

As for the story, I liked it.  I think I was interested in his process, I just felt you showed too much of him shopping for shirts and him at the market near the end.  If you bring those together tighter and leave the middle section as is, I think it would be stronger.

I enjoyed your middle section with the process of the printing the shirts, it was shot well and had good details.  I wouldn't change much there.  

Good job!
Chris

James Nix March 9, 2011, 3:38 p.m. permalink

Nice job,

I really enjoyed this, but did find myself looking down at the time and second the comment that it felt pretty loose at times. With a great subject like this, I understand you want to leave everything in.

I was a little confused when he was shopping for shirts and it took me a second to realize that's that he makes his shirt from. You could cut a bit of that b-roll into the section where he mentions the shirts being used.

Overall good work and I hope you do more with him.

Cheers

James

briannemaiken March 15, 2011, 9:36 a.m. permalink

Beautifully shot --- but I have to agree that there needs to be a clearer story progression.  Try going through the process --- a lot of this is GREAT stuff, but not necessary relevant to the story being told.  Also, I know you noted audio issues, but even toning down the soundtrack - it overpowered the audio you have.  I struggled to hear him sometimes.  Also, if/when you go get some different sound --- try to incorporate more of the nat sound, maybe?

Again, beautifully shot - definitely wonderful camera work.

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