learning vidding motion from Spideman2

[permetaform]

I cannot get over how brilliant the last third of [the Spiderman2 Theatrical Trailer] is. I've been watching it incessantly since it came out last year and I'm still not tired of the thing. It's just so neat, the swinging and sweeping and turningness of it all, to operatic vocals! ::glee::

vidding and movement stuff learned from watching it:
1) left->right movement is more soothing emotionally than right->left movement, which seem somehow dicordant in comparison.
2) if you end a movement in the middle of the screen it's really effective when after an intercut you have the same character make a movement that goes center->outward.
3) the 'logicial' continuation of a movement matters more than if the two motions are from different scenes, ie. swinging off a pole rightward to diving horizontally (parallel to the ground) rightward
4) use every. goddamned. major beat. if it KILLS YOU.

Comments

[lierdumoa.livejournal.com]

Okay, like whoa. Just read this. First off, here's my theory about the downward movement thing. I know when I used to watch theme park commercials on a big screen it would almost feel like I were on the roller coaster from the way they filmed the shot. Same principle, to a lesser extent, if you're watching motion. Upward gives the illusion of floating. Downward gives the illusion of that queasy stomach jolt.

3) the 'logicial' continuation of a movement matters more than if the two motions are from different scenes, ie. swinging off a pole rightward to diving horizontally (parallel to the ground) rightward

When I was working on the beginning of Chemicals I kept looking at those two clips I put in of Letty driving under the truck at the end of the movie. As she passes under it switches from a front shot to a behind shot. I debated whether or not to run one of them backwards or flip horizontal so both shots would be going in the same direction. My instinct was that it would look better that way and make it more obvious to the viewer that it was the same car. Then my physics sensibilities kicked in and, not wanting to defy the laws of nature, I ended up leaving the shots the way they were. Now I'm thinking about going back and making the change after all.

Of course, that made me think of the other crashes I'm putting into the vid. The way they're shot, the direction switches a lot. I'm thinking of maybe making them all the same direction (which still irks my physics sensibilites a little) and making all the motion from right to left, if that could possibly make the crash scenes feel more ominous.

On the other hand, I'm thinking I kind of like the contrast of the motions being in opposite directions. Not necessarily the car crashes, but like the "first eyefuck" scene where Dom is walking towards the right in shadow and Brian, with face dark and the sun behind him bends his head consideringly towards the left.

Also, I took one of the night to day shots and ran it backwards because I needed the scene to grow lighter, not darker. Now the clouds are running right to left instead of left to right. After reading sockkpuppett's comment I'm thinking I'll flip the scene horizontal to enforce the illusion of going forward in time.

I'm almost thinking of making two versions of my vid, one with these changes, one without, and comparing the two to see which changes I really want. I suppose I can do that after I finish laying down clips.



At least I know I've got No. 4 covered.

[lierdumoa.livejournal.com]

Oh, also, I couldn't get the link to work. I googled it. You might try replacing it with this link: http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/spider-man_2/

[permetaform]

Then my physics sensibilities kicked in and, not wanting to defy the laws of nature, I ended up leaving the shots the way they were. Now I'm thinking about going back and making the change after all.

o.o why does it have to be the same car? I would flip it just because of the car motion, and imply they were different cars wooshing about. ::shrugs::

On the other hand, I'm thinking I kind of like the contrast of the motions being in opposite directions. Not necessarily the car crashes, but like the "first eyefuck" scene where Dom is walking towards the right in shadow and Brian, with face dark and the sun behind him bends his head consideringly towards the left.

see this? is supported by the music.

After reading [info]sockkpuppett's comment I'm thinking I'll flip the scene horizontal to enforce the illusion of going forward in time.

I think it'll work better, yeah.

I'm almost thinking of making two versions of my vid, one with these changes, one without, and comparing the two to see which changes I really want. I suppose I can do that after I finish laying down clips.

heh, and you know what? That'll end up in some future panel on vidding, you know it.

[lierdumoa.livejournal.com]

o.o why does it have to be the same car? I would flip it just because of the car motion, and imply they were different cars wooshing about. ::shrugs::

Destroy what little continuity my vid has left, why don't you.

:P



see this? is supported by the music.

Aaaah, you have a point. The music changes mood there. Mood change, direction change. Duh. I'll look for that in other places where it's applicable.



heh, and you know what? That'll end up in some future panel on vidding, you know it

Making two versions? It's probably already been on a panel somewhere.

[permetaform]

Destroy what little continuity my vid has left, why don't you.

::snerkle:: like that bothers you!

But really, the only continuity that matters, I think, is brian and dom's emotional arc. Everything else could go hang, because car porn is car porn but brian/dom is GUTPUNCH. =D

Making two versions? It's probably already been on a panel somewhere.

but on motion, specifically? =)

heh

[lierdumoa.livejournal.com]

Everything else could go hang, because car porn is car porn but brian/dom is GUTPUNCH. =D

I suppose it's fine if I switch horizontal on that scene. I think people will assume it's part of the same scene anyway, unless they're looking at it really closely.

I plan on bringing that scene back at the end and I kind of want people be able to tell what's going on. Letty's car crash is part of the buildup to the big betrayal scene where Dom finds out Brian is a cop. I have big plans for the scene of Dom touching pissed off/injured Letty's face. Letty turning away from Dom when injured vs. Dom turning towards Brian when injured. I don't have it completely solidified in my head how I'm going to play that out.

The point I think I'm trying to make is that the car porn is part of the GUTPUNCH. It's like a theme in this movie. Dom crashes right before Brian passes over "the keys of love." Letty crashes and Dom gets run off the road before the whole Brian coming out (as a cop) scene. I think you made a passing comment in AIM about how car love was transmuted into Brian/Dom love in the dancing scene (or maybe it was adrienne2 who said that). Also, I went back and couble checked, and there's a distinct shot of Jesse's car being shot in the driveby before Jesse himself is shot down.

Holy shit. Symbolism! Hey, look, I'm coming up with meta as I go!



but on motion, specifically? =)

Huh. I guess no one has. This seems like something that should be obvious.

[permetaform]

aaaah, that makes sense! and see what I mean about the meta? it aaaallll comes together with the meta...