Burning rubber in the Motor City

Burning rubber in the Motor City (view this story)

Details

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

Description of story

Harley motorcycle rider came to Metro Detroit to burn rubber and create lots of smoke for hundreds of biker fans. Nick Lee travels the USA to help keep alive the art of the safe and controlled burnout which is not done much anymore because of police crackdown and noise ordinances city impose.

Feedback requested

Lots to add in short video, some things I left out in the edit. What is missing to you? Character development...didn't feel he was the main I saw, burnout, tire & crowd more, agree? Nat sound, good balance or too much motor noise? Thanks!

Gear used in production

Panasonic hvx200
Canon 5D
2 GoPro Motorsport HD's
Sennheiser mic and lavs

5 comments - Login to comment

Reviewer

Meg Loucks July 12, 2010, 2:43 p.m. permalink

Nice work, Eric. This was a really fun story to watch. You have beautiful visuals, great nat sound and compelling interviews. You were especially creative with some of your shots of the action -- I love the overhead shot and the shot from the end of the bike. These really took me into the story in an active way.

Overall, this is an effective video, but I wanted more punch in the lead. I would have started with your most compelling shots of the action. As a viewer that makes me want to keep watching.

I can see why you started at the end of the story, but I think that with images as great as these you shouldn't bury the lead.

Really fun stuff. Keep up the good work!

Submitter

Eric Seals July 12, 2010, 3:42 p.m. permalink

Thanks Meg for checking it out and commenting on it :-)

They always say have your best visuals at the beginning and the end and I totally understand what you said about a punch in the lead.

I ended up editing it both ways from punch of the burnout to the "mystery" of the guy talking and filling a hole.

In the end I just wanted to try something different, even if it was 33 seconds of building up to the burnout. I was really hoping that people watching would be curious and hooked in that short amount of time as to what this guy was talking about and why he was filling a hole.

It was fun to shoot and I was amazing that my GoPro cameras survived especially the one mounted on the rear fender as the heat coming off that tire was very intense.

Eric

Reviewer

Colin Mulvany July 12, 2010, 5:34 p.m. permalink

Good to have you reviewing Meg! Welcome to the Finding the Frame Community.

Don Himsel July 13, 2010, 11:55 a.m. permalink

Fun to watch, Eric. Would have loved to have seen the angle and expression that shows up at :52 or so right up front. Nice work.
-Don