Review my OC videos

[pullnshoot25]

OK, so I realize that the videos that I made with my brother are in need of a makeover. While they have been effective in getting the message across, I have heard comments from a few members that it would be a good idea to have them redone (even with different actors! I had no idea I was that bad....)

With that, I would like to hear CONSTRUCTIVE criticism of my OC videos. What should I do differently? What was good? Bad? Ugly? What should I add? Etc?

If you haven't seen them or need a refresher in them, the link to the link to my videos is in my sig line.

I am looking forward to the comments!

[Sunshine]

I watched them not too long ago and thought the content was very informative. I would suggest a third person on the camera instead of jogging back and forth to turn it on/off; or edit that part out. And no cell phones. Just two nitpicky things I noticed

[Whiskey84]

watching now...

[Turo]

On a few of them, you kind of went off on tangents when talking about a certain subject. Now, that's how I think, so I followed it nicely, but it may help to do one video per subject, rather than just interjecting tidbits into each vid.

Good Luck!

[spegull03]

3 things I noticed:
1) get someone to operate the camera, that way you don't have to run on screen and you could zoom in on the gun case and zipper/lock.

2) Cue cards or similar. It will help keep out some of the umms and aaaahs, and you won't have to correct each other. You could even make a Powerpoint with exactly what you want to say, and place the monitor next to the camera so you can read it and still look into the camera.

3) Keep the dog behind the camera

I can't comment on the material as I do not know much about UOC

[GrizzlyGuy]

I thought they were great. I LMAO'd at the 'how not to do a 12031e check' video. I'll bet you couldn't do better on that one if you tried!

In terms of improvement, maybe take a shot at the audio. You're trying to convey info and the audio is actually more important than the video. The built-in mics in video cams usually aren't very good.

If you have an external mic for your OC recorder, that might give you a nice improvement. Run the cam and the audio recorder, then do a loud clap so that you have an easy synch point. Do your shoot, import that audio into your editor, switch back and forth, and see what you like best.

If you have an extra video cam, then try putting it near you guys just out of the main cam's shot. It may end up with better audio. The add-on shotgun video cam mics are another option.

Even better, see if you can borrow a couple of lav mics with a wireless unit (Sennheiser's are nice and fairly common). Or go wired if you don't mind that. Ideally, find an audio guy here on Calguns that wouldn't mind bringing over his equipment. Nothing like a really good boom mic in the hands of a pro.

More info, probably more than you'd ever need:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/forumdisplay.php?f=29

[5ohguy]

I watched them and found them very informative and I got a laugh when you kept running around to turn the camera off. Maybe a third person to operate the camera, but really that's it IMO. And I kind of enjoyed that part, since I knew it was coming every time.

A mic setup could improve things, but audio on youtube sucks anyway. The mic on your camera (I assume that's what you were using) worked well enough for your application.

[Whiskey84]

The videos were excellent. Perhaps touch on the planning required to ensure that people don't carry too close to school zones?

[Experimentalist]

You've done some hard work, and overall the product is pretty good.

My best suggestion is that you make certain in advance that you have all of your facts straight. There was an exchange on whether a particular law as subsection "F" or "G". This does not help your credibility, nor does it improve your overall image.

There are other details previously mentioned, e.g. camera moves, etc. Get those cleaned up and I think you'll have a fine set of videos.

[G17GUY]

I think you should take them down till CGF gives support.

[760practicalshooter]

Very informative, clear, and concise. Well done.

[locosway]

I think your videos would be more effective if they were realistic. Getting an off-duty LEO to show up and do some stuff wouldn't be a bad idea. He could wear a mask if he wants, but his actions and training would shine through.

Also, mix it up with women and minorities. It's not always the way you portray it and like it or not cops have a propensity to see minorities as a larger threat for various reasons.

[locosway]

I think you should take them down till CGF gives support.

I don't, because there are very real scenarios that a person could and should UOC. While I think everyone should hold off with doing anything main stream right now, that doesn't mean that someone shouldn't UOC say late at night if they need to carry a few computers to their car.

There's a time and place for everything, and to give a blanket statement of "never do it" is wrong.

[Merc1138]

Lets see... the content is very informative, and both of you guys in the video are decent speakers, but there's a few things I'd change in regards to how the video is shot.

First, get a camera man. Find a buddy, give him a 6 pack, and have him operate the camera(give him the 6 pack afterwards if you want the camera work done right, heh). It doesn't need to be a lot of work, rather just starting and stopping the camera, panning left and right, zooming when appropriate, stuff like that.

Second, after watching the first video in the series, if I'm getting this right Pullinshoot25 was the guy explaining the locked carrying case. Sit down at a table. This way we can see you from the mid-torso up, and the table with a white background would provide excellent contrast for the camera man to zoom in and get the details of the item you're trying to explain or demonstrate. As an example, in Open Carry in California 1 (1/2) at about 2:16 you show the case, and point out the holes to use for locking, but I can't see them in the video. On a white table(heck, butcher paper taped down would work) you can easily show the smaller details with an overhead shot zoomed in on your hands as you manipulate the item and point out the features. For larger stuff, a presentation at the table like a news anchor makes more sense. Again in Open Carry in California 1 (2/2) when your brother explains covering the serial number, this is when a presentation at a table, or simply having a live camera man(or woman) can zoom in to the small detail that he's pointing at.

Third. The annotations for things like cases are nice, BUT in Open Carry in California 1 (2/2) you mentioned a case a couple of times in the annotation. What you might want to consider in that annotation is telling the viewer to check the info for the video, and then putting a link to information about that case as a reference.

Keep doing what you guys are doing as far as posting information, that's good. I just think the videos would be a bit better if you took my criticism and ideas into consideration.