Silver

Football Highlight Reel 2013

Lyons Township

Cinematography

Entry Description

This is a compilation of shots that I either shot myself (working camera) or that I directed. This is REAL live camera work: our productions are live, so this isn't just some flowery highlight footage from someone who spent 10 minutes with a DSLR on the field…this is a 10-pound camera being operated on a tripod or handheld for 3 hours straight, on a Friday night, after being at school all day and then setting up for the shoot for 4 hours. And yes, there IS a shot where the camera man (me) gets hit by a football player at full speed…and I didn't drop the camera or lose the shot. Why is this important? Because there's a big difference between someone who shoots pretty things with a lightweight DSLR and an expensive lens, in an environment where they control everything - lighting, the talent, the set design - and the cinematography I've demonstrated here in my reel from football, where the camera operator is working under physically demanding conditions, moving around to get the perfect shot, or following action and framing up the best possible shots. I understand if you're tempted to award the best cinematography to the pretty DSLR footage. But I hope you'll at least consider the effort I put into my camera work and the context I've provided. Thanks for your time. I'm sure judging these things can be brutally exhausting.

Judge 1

Positives: You followed the action well considering the unpredictable nature of football action. The overall exposure, steadiness of camera and ability to stay in focus were impressive.

Improvements: The end of your video presentation seems pretty abrupt. Also, your written description could be shorter and less condescending.

Judge 2

Positives: You have to have good instincts to properly following live action without losing the action from frame of your shot, and you did a great job following the action.

Improvements: I don't know if you intended for this to end so abruptly, but fading out the music and fade the video to black would work better for a compilation entry like this. Some sound other than the music would have enhanced this video (excited announcer calling the action, crowd noise reacting to a play, etc.) On a side note and this had no bearing on the scores I gave you, but you don't need to explain to the judges the differences between different types of camera work. We all get it. Less is more when it comes to the written summary that goes with your entry. Making a brief written summary into a manifesto that tries to explain things to the judges is more likely to detract from your final scoring than it is to enhance it.

Judge 3

Positives: Good shooting. The editing we very clean.

Improvements: Most people judging this have done tons of different projects over a varrying range of topics. I know there is a difference between what you submitted and what others submitted. Be that as it may don't try to belittle the inteligence of judges in a contest. Hearing the hits and some nat sound throughout the project would be very helpful in the future.