The Rooftop - A beabadoobee "Ever Seen" Music Video - ID# 281
Highland Park
Music Video
Entry Description
A music video to Everseen by beabadoobee, capturing a hazy summer night on a college campus rooftop with friends. A nostalgic memory of running, laughing, and hanging out.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/15 11:16 am - STORY: Your story is more about capturing the feeling of meaningful moments between friends - and your music video accomplishes that. It’s reflective and emotional, focusing on shared experiences. I think you’ve created something that not only captures a moment in time, but also feels like it. SOUND: Your audio is mixed appropriately. You do a great job of including real audio from the clips - like laughing, talking and ambient noise. This makes the video feel much more personal and immersive. There are just a few moments where J and L cuts could have been used to blend more of the audio from clips in your video. Specifically at the end of the clip at 0:14 when we hear the ambient noise of the location. CAMERA: Your understanding of camera composition makes your camera work feel much more expressive and personal. The close-ups at 0:20 and 0:22 are excellent as they bring in more emotion to your video. The use of handheld movements also makes your video feel more organic and intentional. LIGHTING: You used the available lighting in your setting effectively. The color grade also stands out. The glow added to the clips gives everything a dreamy and nostalgic look that fits perfectly with the California vibe and tone of the video. In some shots, like at 0:17, the blacks are too dark and key facial features (like the subject’s) eyes are lost in the shadows. Consider slightly lifting the shadows or adjusting contrast when this happens. This can help preserve clarity while keeping the moody and warm tone that you are going for. EDITING: Your edits are smooth and well paced. Cuts follow the flow of the music in a way that supports the video’s gentle progression. The faster cuts that sync with the beat at 1:32 and 2:14 are particularly strong as they bring energy and variation as the beat of the music progresses. I think you did a great job using lens flares in some spots as transitions. The 4:3 aspect ratio also works well, which adds to that old/nostalgic feeling. Great work!
- 2/18 9:50 am - This music video is visually striking and well-executed, with an overall strong sense of creativity that shines through in every frame. The use of filters and burn effects is particularly effective, adding texture and style to the footage. These effects not only enhance the atmosphere but also contribute to the unique vibe of the video, helping it stand out visually. The creative incorporation of text is another highlight, seamlessly integrating into the visuals and adding a layer of storytelling without overwhelming the viewer. The shot selection is highly creative, capturing the essence of the song while also providing fresh and dynamic angles. The transitions between shots feel smooth, and the creative choices in framing help to maintain the viewer's interest throughout. The use of natural lighting works exceptionally well, contributing to the authenticity and warmth of the visuals. It feels effortless yet impactful, giving the video a polished, organic look. The pacing of the video is well-handled, with the editing perfectly in sync with the rhythm and energy of the music. The timing of the cuts keeps things fresh and engaging, with just the right amount of tension and release to match the flow of the song. Overall, this is a highly creative and well-executed music video that combines effective visual effects, strong pacing, and innovative shot choices. The careful attention to detail and technical execution come together to create a memorable and visually appealing final product. Great job on this!
Judge 1
Positives: The aspect ratio works well. The camera captures the characters well. There is some musical editing in this video. Good performances! There are some great motion shots as well.
Improvements: The "quality" of the image is too pristine for what you are trying to accomplish. It needs to be a bit grungier. We need to see faces at all times unless there is a story focusing on us not seeing faces.
Judge 2
Positives: This video almost feels professional to me, or at least like it was done by college students. The actors looked like pros; they were wonderfully at ease in front of the camera and felt genuine. The use of available lighting to capture that feeling of nostalgia was expertly done. Shooting at golden hour is hard and short, and it felt like a multi-day shoot given the variety of shots and angles. Possibly multiple cameras? Granted golden hour in what looks like LA gives you a look that's hard to get in Illinois, and feels like cheating a little. But the beautiful color correction and the Super-8 frame/look were the cherry on top. Finally, in a piece that could have gotten repetitive and static really quickly, the editing helped create a sense of progression to a climax.
Improvements: Generally, I'm not a fan of music videos that don't feature an A-roll performance. This video almost doesn't fit the music video genre, and weirdly feels more like a 90s skate video because of shot variety, editing, casting and location (though there is of course no skating). But I liked it so much I gave it a pass.
Judge 3
Positives: I'll start by saying this...Whoever made this video needs to take videography seriously if they haven't already. There's so much that was done right and I'll name a few of my favorites. The change in pace on the editing at the right time is the most impactful to the quality of this video. The switch in pace in editing to the music makes this top tier. The audio behind the shots adds depth to video and tells the audience who the story is about. The color grading, adding that filmic look and halation work to give that vintage nostalgic vibe works. And lastly, when it comes to the story, it's felt and not told. The vibe of this video tells the story without direct action taking place. Really strong stuff.
Improvements: There aren't any constructive critiques I have on this video. Keep doing film and stuff that looks like this and you'll be off in literally no time.
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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