Up and Away (view this story)

Details

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

Description of story

This is a short feature about an autistic boy who made friends with a hot air balloon crew and how it helped give him some confidence. I shot this video with my wife, who is a reporter. It was her first time shooting video. I think she did pretty well. The last shot of the piece is one of hers.

Feedback requested

General comments and thoughts.

Gear used in production

5Dmk2
Sony EX1
Go Pro Hero (mounted to the balloon rail)

4 comments - Login to comment

Rep: 444
Eric Seals May 21, 2011, 7:43 p.m. permalink

Hi Pat,

A nice piece you did here, short and you get right into it.

Props to your wife on that ending scene with the birds flying by the balloon, looks like you have some competition in your household :-)

I don't know if Sam is highly autistic or is functioning or not but was it at all possible to of had anything of him talking about what it was like even if it's very short?? Totally understand he is shy but that is the only think missing in this. 

Your narration was good and loved the look of this, you used your GoPro just the right amount and didn't over do it.

Technically the two things that stood out to me was the lower thirds and the cross dissolve between interviews and b-roll. Unless it is your papers style the off white background could be a dark but translucent gray with white type. With Theresa the caregiver her lower third was up and down so quick it was hard to read. Even her face time was just a bit to short.
The cross dissolves between the interviews and b-roll I think would transition better with just a simple cut to the action. You did it and it worked just fine when cutting from one b-roll scene to another so why not keep it consistant? 

So that's you in the green jacket at the 1:08 mark?

It looked like the perfect day to shoot this.

Eric

Rep: 48
Submitter
Pat Shannahan May 24, 2011, 10:19 a.m. permalink

Thanks for taking a look Eric. Your comments are appreciated.


I tried interviewing Sam but it just didn't work. He doesn't like to talk to strangers, so I put a wireless on him in the hopes of capturing the sound from people interacting with him.

I did the cross fade at the interview at the suggestion of the chief photog at our sister station. She thought that it looks jarring going from outside footage  to inside. I thought she had a point so I gave it a try. I don't normally like to use a lot of video dissolves. I can see her point but I don't really know what the right answer is. I'm curious as to what other folks think?

You got me on the lower thirds. I somehow in my head switched white type for black. I didn't even notice till you pointed it out.

 It was a perfect day to go up in a balloon. The biggest accomplishment of the day was to get my wife, who is a reporter at the newspaper I work at, interested in video. She enjoyed shooting and hopefully we'll be able to do more stories together.

Thanks again Eric,
Pat

Rep: 444
Eric Seals May 24, 2011, 10:35 a.m. permalink

Great idea with the lav on Sam Pat and I totally understand about him being shy and not liking to talk with strangers.  It didn't bring down the piece at all because it was done so well.


Interesting about the suggestions about cross fades  you had.  I guess it's a personal preference but for me it would not have been jarring seeing you go from inside interviews to outside b-roll at all.

Must have been fun working with your wife on this and seeing her take to video and enjoy it.

Eric

Rep: 7
Mahala Gaylord June 7, 2011, 11:12 a.m. permalink

Hey Pat,


I thought you edited this really well, the narrative came together beautifully. Plus you have some really beautiful shots in there! 

-Mahala

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