Hello! I know, I know I haven't been here for too long. Bloody twitter taking over my life. Anyway, the other thing that's been keeping me awake at night is the short zombie film I've been making.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-6XY0uL87A
I'd really appreciate your trustworthy feedback. Tear the shit out of it please. Thanks.
Marc.
Starting from the top your intro credits fill to much of the screen and aren't a very nice font.
Very clever gag with the wrapping paper mate. You know that first pan across are they meant to be fighting with guns? If so the Gun effects need to be changed sounded to much like a lump of ham hitting a wet sheet of metal.
There seems to be a strange scan across the video, is this intentional? The sound is a little fluffy and digitised.
It's a nice idea mate could probably be shortened a little.
Camera wise the shot with the father turning up was a little ruined because the sun silohetted him, which you could of used to mate a really interesting introduction.
Just my thoughts 
I did like it though mate.
Thanks Gav. No the scanning effect wasn't intentional, just a nasty side effect of the process I used to grade the video. Need to find an alternative. The sound, oddly enough was recorded on my mobile phone, such is the non-existence of my budget. Will look into improving titles, and I agree about the pace - it needs a trim. I did think that silhouette shot could be slo-mo and add a more dramatic entrance, so glad you brought it up.
Anyone else have any feedback? Drop me some knowledge.
Quote: M Paterson @ August 31 2011, 2:34 PM BSTThanks Gav. No the scanning effect wasn't intentional, just a nasty side effect of the process I used to grade the video. Need to find an alternative. The sound, oddly enough was recorded on my mobile phone, such is the non-existence of my budget. Will look into improving titles, and I agree about the pace - it needs a trim. I did think that silhouette shot could be slo-mo and add a more dramatic entrance, so glad you brought it up.
Anyone else have any feedback? Drop me some knowledge.
What are you using post production? After effects?
Nothing so advanced I'm afraid. Since I'm using all free software, I was exporting the video as a sequence of jpg images using virtualdub - I know, I know I'm insane - then using the batch editor on photoscape to grade/enhance all the images. Then dumping them all into videopad, to playback at high speed, then save again, as video. Long winded, and if I've learnt anything, it's that I won't be using that process again!
Any suggestions on free or cheap alternatives?
Quote: M Paterson @ August 31 2011, 3:23 PM BSTNothing so advanced I'm afraid. Since I'm using all free software, I was exporting the video as a sequence of jpg images using virtualdub - I know, I know I'm insane - then using the batch editor on photoscape to grade/enhance all the images. Then dumping them all into videopad, to playback at high speed, then save again, as video. Long winded, and if I've learnt anything, it's that I won't be using that process again!
Any suggestions on free or cheap alternatives?
Dude. WTF you're making a rod for you back get your self a trail copy of after effects and priemere. Or Sony Vegas.
Good job on getting something made, and if this is your first filming effort then it's really good.
I think there's a lot of dialogue you could have cut. Did we need to know he went travelling etc. And lines like "You're joking right? How can you joke at a time like this?" Are just repetition.
The "sort of" line delivery made me laugh.
The opening montage had some good moody shots, I thought the wrapping paper was funny too. But did the montage need to be a minute long to sell the joke? Internet people get bored REALLY easily.
Considering you did things the hard way with your software choices 
I thought the grading and colours on the pictures looked really nice and elevated it above most home shot stuff. Although obviously a few encoding issues.
The sound was awful, sorry but there were large parts of the dialogue that were a strain to hear and that was a shame. And the FX needed to be a little better (Have you used www.freesound.org ?)
I've revisted sketches I've made a year later and found I could easily cut 30 seconds from a 3 minute sketch. So perhaps come back to this at a later date and make another 3 minute edit.
Good job though, even though I've been a nitpicky bastard! Anymore in the pipeline?
Thanks Shoepie. Yeah, sound is always a bit of a problem for me. I have filmed a couple of things before but this is the first 'proper' thing, where I've tried to really do post production. I did use some sfx from the net, and some was foley I did myself. I will take your advice and come back to it after a period of time - I'll be objective enough to see where the cuts can be made.
Thanks for the feedback, I've seen some of your stuff which is great so it's good to get tips.
Yeah definitely come back to it once the dust has settled.
And thanks, technically my filmed stuff is slowly getting better but it's still a long way off Guksack, Laws, Bussell etc. But one day!!
I use Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum by the way, which I see is on Amazon for around £30.