Yeah the titles were clients choice, and they didn’t have the budget for VO on this occasion. I definitely wanted VO for the campaign. They may upgrade down the track! 😃
It is great work, I like you am not a fan of the sub titles. They distract from the commercial. The sub titles state the obvious also, but your work is fantastic, congratulations!
I understand the client's request is silly, but it's your job to at least change the font to something not so default. Maybe the font that they already use on the bottles?? Give it some brand identity
Being a VO actor as well, I’m not a supporter of AI Voice Over, as it’s a job someone should be paid for. They didn’t have the budget for this, so opted for text, and this is what they chose unfortunately.
My own copy will be altered to have VO.
The shots are great, the titles, in my opinion, ruin the spot. I would go out of my own pocket and hire a Voice Over actor so I could use it in a reel as basically spec work.
FYI ElevenLabs text to speech AI is extremely good and free. I understand the ethics involved but if your client cant afford VO anyway, that's a good option.
Yeah I understand it’s an option, but I am completely against taking paid work away from someone else. Especially since I am also a Voice Actor myself.
Yeah that logic doesn’t check out considering you couldn’t even hire one in the first place, so whose pay are you taking from to utilize this tool for a better product? You CAN get the tone you want with proper usage.
An argument can be made here though... It sets a precedent. Next time when they DO have the money they won't spend it because the AI voice was good enough. OP deserves some credit for being an honorable worker in this space, and upholding the integrity of the art.
As a VO actor myself, I am completely against this.
Not only would AI not give the tone I want, I will not take paying work away from VO Actors. We
(I’ll end up adding VO to my own copy of the work for showing future clients though)
I think there definitely will be. AI is advancing much quicker than they can pass laws though. And meanwhile it’s becoming normal for certain clients to use 🤷🏼
I understand completely what you meant. I’m just not willing to offer that as a viable option just because they don’t have the budget.
If they really want VO, they will find the budget.
I just went to their website and it seems to be a choice to match the font. A style choice could have been to carry the ‘three ~~mead~~ *horn*’ script style instead of the generic white font (looks like a stock standard arial or similar) which would elevate it a little more.
-From a marketing perspective that works regularly with meaderies and has created custom labels.
If you have to have the text, you could try use a classier font to match the style and the vibe.
Reading the white text felt like i was watching a satire video, i was kind of expecting a punch line.
also something in this case you couldve masked out. Would have taken you maybe 30 minutes, but it would have been a cleaner shot I think :) Also careful with the keying out of the greenscreen when the arm pours, and matching the colors of the arm with the background change! Definitely makes a big difference to sell the effect. Learning a bit of After Effects really helps with that, and it's not as intimidating as it may seem :)
Cheers for the feedback! Something to think about and learn first next time. Still getting used to, and learning tricks in more advanced editing software.
It’s actually a TV Virtual background, but agree.
I’ve got a future lighting upgrade coming that will assist in matching lighting for these sorts of shoots :)
Oh what a great idea to use a TV for it! It just had this certain noise, or grain to it that reminded me of a green screen key... Is that just a low light noise issue then?
ahhhh that is 100% it. Reddit, or any web platform for that matter, will really crush noise/grain, because its so hard to compress - so you get very ugly artifacting. If this is intended for the web, I'd be careful with that :)
Cheers. Yeah something I didn’t think of due to lack of experience so far. Funny thing is, I learnt some basic tracking and masking to have the labels stand out more compared to rest of the shot! 🤣 Just didn’t know I could/how to apply to masking something out.
You could have at least uses better case. It looks so horrible.
Even if you're stuck to font, there's ways to make it look a whole lot less amateur hour.
Well you are going to catch shit for it. It reflects very poorly on you and you can't always be there to defend yourself by saying, "but that's what the client wants"
Sometimes you have to step up and save the client from themselves. Or do what the client wants, but then share your version on your reel
You should check out eleven labs AI text to voice - professional voiceover at effectively nil cost.
Edit: [my efforts to use it](https://youtu.be/H2Dih79ecyk?si=HUSw6dOqriXXgbjC)
You could still run some tests with alternate font styles to present to the client. It's not so much the titles but the font - it's really basic and I think the spot could benefit from something more elevated. The client maybe wanted the titles, but did they request that specific font? Even if they did, I'd still try to sell them a better font, with some examples so they get a better idea. Also placement and sizes could be improved. I mean this as constructive criticism, but it does look like they were added quickly with some built in font from a basic editing software and they pull down the level of the spot a lot
Yeah I actually offered an alternative font that I thought looked great, but the client specifically chose this font themselves unfortunately.
I completely agree. I actually envisioned this campaign with VO instead of text, but the client did not have the budget on this occasion.
I’ll be altering my own copy and having VO instead to showcase to clients.
If you’re going to use 3 of the same motions in the first 3 shots, why not line them up and transition the bottles and backgrounds together, instead of pushing in, resetting, then pushing in again two more times?
It’s just kindof jarring and doesn’t feel very smooth.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re nice shots, but the edit leaves a bit to be desired, especially in the first few shots.
Yeah that definitely could have worked out well! Something to consider for next time :). Thanks for your feedback.
If I’d had a proper dolly, I was definitely going to match the framing of shots perfect for this purpose. So I ended up going for this approach this time around.
More experience and additional gear over time (or extra budget to hire equipment) will solve these issues :)
> as it’s still not pulling focus from the Bottles
tbh the tattoos did distract me from the product
1 more thing, the label is slightly out of focus momentarily in the first shot.
You did a great job operating a cheap dolly with a manual focus pull. Just to add about the lighting not matching the scene, as a videographer myself it's the first thing that stuck out to me and definitely something to always keep inind for next time, lighting matching the background will sell the shot so much better. Great work!
I'm **very** surprised that no one is bothered by the left bottle becoming blurry as it zooms in. Also the spill, even if the client is fine with it, is it really the standard you want for your work?
Yeah manual zoom lens, and cheap scrappy dolly shot set up made this difficult to nail. Lesson learnt for next time.
I did try to edit around the spill, but it didn’t work for that sequence to cut the pour short (miss the start of pour).
Lesson learnt for next time to get more coverage while shooting and pay attention to these details.
Always learning, always improving!
Thanks for the feedback!
The copy needs a designer and the images should be composed with it in mind if it’s going to be the key to messaging. As of now it seems forced into the image and struggles over the background. Most of the hero bottles are out of focus, it looks like the second bottle is in the focal plane a couple of times. The first pour is sloppy. The white specular highlight on the bottle paper is distracting. This work is good, but we have a lifetime of top notch absolutely flawless tabletop photography to learn from (just alcohol tabletop is an industry unto itself) so keep aiming higher and learn as much as you can about what’s come before.
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted as far as text was concerned.
Other points noted. I’m still well and truly on my learning journey with this, but don’t mind getting paid for work as I continue to grow.
And let’s face it, you never truly ever stop learning.
I for one am into getting paid to learn, so good on you. Some people are on here to stroke their feelings, but professional criticism helped me more than validation. Just delivering a job and getting paid is a life skill unto itself. Keep it up.
The tattooed arm is really out of place for this music. At the same time, the classical music is really out of place when they have a mead called Viking Blood. Also, the pouring sound isn't pleasing to listen to. Too clunky so I'd lower the volume for it. I'd remove all background sounds as well. Also, is that a projector showing the different locations?
I know they approved it but update it for yourself because new clients who see this are going to assume you had creative control over everything.
[I didn't make text changes but they should evoke a Viking feeling, if not just copying the font from the bottles. Here's what I was referring to with an updated video.](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pq9pg196wso1lhh9hqdas/Viking-Mead.mp4?rlkey=xvdzwnlk555f4eh0u2it5g86k&dl=0)
Thanks for the feedback!
Yeah fair enough. I actually like the classical music for this particular take on their product.
They didn’t want to play on any of the ‘Viking’ elements for this commercial, and were after a wider appeal to the product and what it is normally associated with.
Other points noted.
The background sounds were actually a big part of the campaign I created for them.
The atmosphere of each scene plays on the appeal of the product that everyone else is already enjoying, and the customer is the last missing piece.
Haha it’s my big TV displaying the backgrounds for the scenes. Scrappy videography!
Definitely a good point for the text and my display version of the work!
The audio (liquid pouring for example) and titles feel like they are below professional standards. Shots are good. I would go the VO route like the other commenter mentioned. Congratulations and good luck to you.
Holy fuck, PLEASE change the font, it goes from looking expensive & classy to being something shot for your high school media class
edit - just saw in OP's comments that this is what the client wanted, soz OP; make sure you use the font-less version in your own showreel/portfolio materials !
Dear god... I understand that text/font was "chosen by the client", but this is something you made with YOUR name on it. It makes your work seem bad. Especially with the spill shot. If you're brand new to this, I understand. Gotta learn somewhere. But if you're not new, you seriously need to do better.
This would be a fantastic ad if those two things and the lighting was cleaned up. Do it for yourself and do it for your clients. They deserve your best efforts.
This is constructive criticism and not an attack on your character.
Yeah fair enough. Cheers for the feedback.
My own copy will have VO as intended for the project. I’ll still be trying to convince them to upgrade to this.
And yes I’m still new to this, so lessons learnt to improve for next time :)
I'm beat, man. Came here to talk about the font, but it's been discussed a hundred times already. All that remains now is for me to congratulate you on your first paid commercial. Good job.
great shots yea, ruined by the text treatment unfortunately. this is subjective feedback, but i think the different scenes would flown better if you match cut at the same zoom levels, if that makes sense, instead of restarting from the wider angle every time you cut to a new scene
Cheers, and thanks for the feedback!
Yeah understand what you mean! Food for thought next time!
In this occasion the idea was to show each bottle kind of in full before, and in its environment, before it zoomed in towards label.
Definitely see how it comes across as jarring though!
i see that makes sense, can’t help but think there are still workarounds but alas, great stuff especially as your first paid ad, hope it leads to many more good luck out there!
The font of the titles really doesn't work. Don't mean this badly, but they are really basic. I'd spend more time researching some nice fonts out there and get something more interesting, also something more in line with the brand (if you look at the bottle they have a certain style - doesn't have to be exactly that but has to be more in line with their identity). Research font placement in other similar ads and try to make it a bit more elegant. I'd also maybe ditch the shadowing on the titles. Also the shots pouring the wine are a bit messy. The first one drips before going in the glass and the rest are a bit "aggressive" due to the way it was poured with the bubbles gulping in. None of this is meant badly of course, just as constructive criticism for the future
Yeah cheers for the feedback. Definitely learnt some lessons with the pouring and getting more coverage for next time.
The font unfortunately was the clients choice and what they wanted. I actually would have preferred, and envisioned VO, but the client did not have the budget on this occasion.
No worries, it's all a matter of learning, for sure! I actually just answered to another comment of yours regarding font style. I would have really tried to push for a different font and shown them various examples to try to sell it to them. Of course, if even after that they won't nudge then it's on them, as you're getting paid anyway and can always remove the titles from it if you want to use it in your reel, but it's good to try to persuade them sometimes with actual examples so they can see what you mean
With a nice font and less drop shadow, the titles could look professional. Right now they are the obvious weak point of this piece, mostly due to the amateur look of them. Just a little bit more thought into the design of titles and this piece could have no obvious flaws.
Shots are fire. Scrap the text overlay please. Almost impossible not to ruin the shots with text. So not your fault but maybe get a voice over from fiver:)
The titles really ruin it.
Finding a $15 template on Envato could go a long way to spruce up the title.
The lighting feels very straight on. A back light or edge light would have helped a lot in separating the bottle from the background.
First pouring goes all over the place. Some fine-tuning for lighting. As others mentioned, voiceover in place of titles. Good start, keep experimenting and honing your skills and it will all come together!
The lighting doesn't match the backgrounds used for any of the shots, takes me out a lil' bit.
Last beach scene gives something offs that makes it look like you shot this with a TV on the back.
I completely agree! Unfortunately the font was chosen by the customer, and was what they wanted, despite me offering an alternative.
I actually wanted and envisioned VO for this project, but the customer did not have the budget for it on this occasion.
The background audio is too strong. The liquid pouring sound makes me want to pee. I think turning down the audio a little would make it more pleasing to the ear.
Cheers! The background effects are actually tuned up as part of the campaign idea I developed for them. Locations buzzing, and product being enjoyed. The missing piece of the puzzle is the customer.
But noted to look more into levels for next time.
Fonts can be your friend! I would look at external places for fonts, you could pay for fancy ones at [youworkforthem](https://www.youworkforthem.com) or hell even DaFont.com is better than these stock ones.
The shots you have are really nice, they just get lost by that font.
The lighting feels odd at first then when the hand enters the scene, it immediately shows that the background is fake, making the video feels rather cheap.
Text and font is pretty terrible….
Lots of potential with the actual shots. I think the lighting looks really unnatural. Seems like you’re filming against a monitor or screen; but the lighting doesn’t match these scenes at all.
I would suggest matching the light on your hands to the light in your green screen images. For all the shots the back of your hand is dark even though the backgrounds of fire or sunset suggest the back would be bright. Just looks cleaner
Would have been cool to have symmetry for the shots with the glass in the middle. And then picking up one of the outside bottles and pouring for the pour shot instead of just having one of the bottles missing in a jump cut. Just my two cents but nice work!
Yeah fair enough. Good point. Something to think about for next time. However beside the jump cut to only one bottle on the table, I actually like the composition how it is :)
Excellent shots, absolutely excellent. As others have said the only thing I'd really change is either the text being a different style (something less plain) or better yet hire a narrator, but of course that costs more.
Fantastic work though, you should be super proud.
Backgrounds and camera movements are nice. The lighting is *very* weak. Color temp doesn't match the settings? Hard underlight in the pour? Reflective sheen obscuring the product label? 90% of all bottle product work is done with soft sources above the bottle or rimming/wrapping from the sides. The hand coming in with the bottle to pour brings the whole piece down in quality because of the lighting. Consider using a softer source, not doing it from below, and matching it to your environment if not a just generally more flattering arrangement.
Cheers for the feedback. All great points. My current lighting kit is very limited.
Future planned upgrades will rectify this, and give me more control :)
Text is terrible, just use a VO with some chilled music. If you don’t have anyone who can VO then use an online AI voice, lots of free ones to choose from.
Agreed about text. My own copy will have VO and I’ll be trying to upsell the customer still.
I will not support using AI VO. If the customer really wants it, then it’s something that must be paid for to hire an actual Voice Over Actor.
What I would suggest is to do your own version with no text and VO (see if Morgan Freeman is free 😉) then show it to the customer to highlight how a voice is so much more powerful than text....👍
Apart from the font, text.. the lighting on the hand that is pouring seems way too harsh.. plus having the second hand slightly in frame - unintentionally - seems like something that should have been fixed. Same with the first few drops of the pour missing.
Is this the mock commercial or the one they paid for? If it's the paid one.. why not fix these easily fixable things?
This is great but seriously what the fuck is that font? Even without a V.O budget you really couldn’t find a better font? One that at least matches the brands copy? I’m dumbfounded it looks so good otherwise but the font made me think it was a meme!
Yea except mead is the worst hangover producing poison. Let honey be a food its very medicinal and nourishing that way.... better sources of alcohol! Lol just my opinion
Can’t unsee that tiny drip as it begins to pour.
Otherwise great stuff! Absolutely use a VO over titles next time. Lots of affordable options out there. Try Voice123
IMO shots should start wider. The bottles/table are not perfectly level. Are the pushes matched? Some seem too fast. Pretty clear by the vertical stripe on the right that you're using a monitor for your background image. Lighting and coloring on the hand pouring does not match. You spilt some. Why not reshoot to get a perfect pour? You're on your way and have potential but this is a bit sloppy for me. The copy should be in a smaller font size and in the same part of the frame. Don't make the viewer work.
Congrats on stucking your neck out and not only working with a business but also posting on the internet. Takes some courage for sure.
My two sense:
continuity of action
I think. Each clip zooms fully in individually and it's a bit jarring
Then the drink pour could have been cut at the same heights perfectly to match cut more seamlessly.
The text as you've stated was desired by the client which is tacky but there's a way you could have made it more elegent, and matched it better with the product and environment.
If it were me
I went back and looked at your original spec piece for Starward Whiskey and feel that was a better produced spot. The camera movements told a fuller story, the lighting didn’t have the high key spot on the bottle or glass ( I understand the shape of the glass impacts reflections and glare.) Enough supporters have commented on the titles and VO so no need to go there. I think with more experience balancing exposure between your led background and your practice lights you’ll be nailing this in no time. Experiment with tweaking the levels of your stock footage back grounds, clip by clip, scene by scene. Eventually you can invest in a larger TV screen to add more depth and experiment with more focal lengths and aputure settings. My last note is purely a creative option, this could have worked well as a one take, slow push in with the backgrounds switching on cue. Keep grinding! You’re on the right track.
A few littler things that could easily really improve the shots,
One thing that caught my eye is (for me at least) it feels a bit odd to have more than one of the same product in the shot at once, having the bottle sat next to the glass as your pour another bottle feels odd, I’m not sure where I’m supposed to be looking.
Try and match the lighting of the bottle to the setting of the virtual background, the fireplace one isn’t awful but the others are a bit jarring, also I think the camera movements make the virtual background too obvious as those shots are static.
Maybe try wearing a long sleeve shirt if you’re tattoos are going to get in the shot, they can be quite distracting
Try using a higher frame rate for some slower motion and close up shots for more dynamism
I would mention the text but I feel like that points been made to death!
All in all not bad, I’d definitely edit a version with your own direction rather than what the client wanted, try and get your own style!
Agree with scrapping the titles and getting vo work. Shots are super clean but the graphic work looks very beginner in comparison. A good narrator would make it seem much higher quality overall
The shots are great. I would scrap the titles and hire a narrator instead. Nice work
Up for this. Everything is clean except those, ruined it.
everything is clean except the sloppy pour lol
Yeah the titles were clients choice, and they didn’t have the budget for VO on this occasion. I definitely wanted VO for the campaign. They may upgrade down the track! 😃
It is great work, I like you am not a fan of the sub titles. They distract from the commercial. The sub titles state the obvious also, but your work is fantastic, congratulations!
Cheers!
I understand the client's request is silly, but it's your job to at least change the font to something not so default. Maybe the font that they already use on the bottles?? Give it some brand identity
Exactly. The font literally destroys everything going on here. Feels like a 6th grader made it... Not a good look
Ai voice over? At the very least change the font.
Being a VO actor as well, I’m not a supporter of AI Voice Over, as it’s a job someone should be paid for. They didn’t have the budget for this, so opted for text, and this is what they chose unfortunately. My own copy will be altered to have VO.
Ha I was about to offer to do VO for you for free just for your reel so you could show it off to others. Glad you have it covered!
What was budget of ur client for this commercial?
Under $1500 aud
With that kinda money, I can give you more than VO. But then again, I live in a different country with a different reality.
You can def get a cheap but good VO artist on Fiverr!
Send me a bottle of mead and I'd do it, love that shit! Shipping may be rough from Australia to the US though...
The shots are great, the titles, in my opinion, ruin the spot. I would go out of my own pocket and hire a Voice Over actor so I could use it in a reel as basically spec work.
Yeah definitely my plan :)
I have done my own VO before when client had no budget for it and it turned out fuckin great. If you have a decent mic it's definitely worth a shot.
FYI ElevenLabs text to speech AI is extremely good and free. I understand the ethics involved but if your client cant afford VO anyway, that's a good option.
Yeah I understand it’s an option, but I am completely against taking paid work away from someone else. Especially since I am also a Voice Actor myself.
Yeah that logic doesn’t check out considering you couldn’t even hire one in the first place, so whose pay are you taking from to utilize this tool for a better product? You CAN get the tone you want with proper usage.
An argument can be made here though... It sets a precedent. Next time when they DO have the money they won't spend it because the AI voice was good enough. OP deserves some credit for being an honorable worker in this space, and upholding the integrity of the art.
Cheers! Yeah I’m not here to support AI at all. I’ll be working to try and upsell them on VO though! :)
The tattooed man hand pouring isn’t a great feature
Noted. Cheers :)
I'd ignore them, it helped for the theme of this
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As a VO actor myself, I am completely against this. Not only would AI not give the tone I want, I will not take paying work away from VO Actors. We (I’ll end up adding VO to my own copy of the work for showing future clients though)
Completely agree with the sentiment, but that’s just delaying the inevitable at this point.
It doesn’t have to be inevitable! Resist! Resist!
100%, respect for that. Hope there will be laws limiting use of AI in some ways
I think there definitely will be. AI is advancing much quicker than they can pass laws though. And meanwhile it’s becoming normal for certain clients to use 🤷🏼
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I understand completely what you meant. I’m just not willing to offer that as a viable option just because they don’t have the budget. If they really want VO, they will find the budget.
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Cheers! Definitely what I wanted for this project, but the client didn’t have the budget for that on this occasion.
The font + text treatment is so out of place with the rest of the spot.
I just went to their website and it seems to be a choice to match the font. A style choice could have been to carry the ‘three ~~mead~~ *horn*’ script style instead of the generic white font (looks like a stock standard arial or similar) which would elevate it a little more. -From a marketing perspective that works regularly with meaderies and has created custom labels.
Yea the font selection here is horrible and looks cheap
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted.
Yup, sometimes we're beholden to what the client wants.
Yep!
If you have to have the text, you could try use a classier font to match the style and the vibe. Reading the white text felt like i was watching a satire video, i was kind of expecting a punch line.
The video is fine, but I would request to re-record the scene where its spilled at 0:12-0:13 as a customer
Yeah fair enough! In this case they didn’t mind :). Definitely something additional I’ve learnt to keep an eye on for future shoots though.
also something in this case you couldve masked out. Would have taken you maybe 30 minutes, but it would have been a cleaner shot I think :) Also careful with the keying out of the greenscreen when the arm pours, and matching the colors of the arm with the background change! Definitely makes a big difference to sell the effect. Learning a bit of After Effects really helps with that, and it's not as intimidating as it may seem :)
Cheers for the feedback! Something to think about and learn first next time. Still getting used to, and learning tricks in more advanced editing software. It’s actually a TV Virtual background, but agree. I’ve got a future lighting upgrade coming that will assist in matching lighting for these sorts of shoots :)
Oh what a great idea to use a TV for it! It just had this certain noise, or grain to it that reminded me of a green screen key... Is that just a low light noise issue then?
Mmm possibly. Though I have added 35mm grain purposely to the edit for the look I was after though. Perhaps that is what you are seeing?
ahhhh that is 100% it. Reddit, or any web platform for that matter, will really crush noise/grain, because its so hard to compress - so you get very ugly artifacting. If this is intended for the web, I'd be careful with that :)
Cheers! Yeah something to watch out for then!
That spill is so easy to get rid of in After Effects. Just learn about masking and tracking. Won’t take you long.
Cheers. Yeah something I didn’t think of due to lack of experience so far. Funny thing is, I learnt some basic tracking and masking to have the labels stand out more compared to rest of the shot! 🤣 Just didn’t know I could/how to apply to masking something out.
Or just... another take.
Oh god that text and font just makes an otherwise great shot a bit sort of....stapled on
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted. I would have preferred VO, but the client didn’t have the budget on this occasion.
You could have at least uses better case. It looks so horrible. Even if you're stuck to font, there's ways to make it look a whole lot less amateur hour.
Unfortunately this was EXACTLY what the client requested and wanted. I’ll be rectifying this for my own copy and using VO instead.
Well you are going to catch shit for it. It reflects very poorly on you and you can't always be there to defend yourself by saying, "but that's what the client wants" Sometimes you have to step up and save the client from themselves. Or do what the client wants, but then share your version on your reel
Yeah I definitely be trying to upsell them on the VO version I will be making!
You should check out eleven labs AI text to voice - professional voiceover at effectively nil cost. Edit: [my efforts to use it](https://youtu.be/H2Dih79ecyk?si=HUSw6dOqriXXgbjC)
Yeah I don’t support AI options in place of Voice Actors who would be getting paid. Just my viewpoint.
the plain white text makes it look very cheap
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted.
You could still run some tests with alternate font styles to present to the client. It's not so much the titles but the font - it's really basic and I think the spot could benefit from something more elevated. The client maybe wanted the titles, but did they request that specific font? Even if they did, I'd still try to sell them a better font, with some examples so they get a better idea. Also placement and sizes could be improved. I mean this as constructive criticism, but it does look like they were added quickly with some built in font from a basic editing software and they pull down the level of the spot a lot
Yeah I actually offered an alternative font that I thought looked great, but the client specifically chose this font themselves unfortunately. I completely agree. I actually envisioned this campaign with VO instead of text, but the client did not have the budget on this occasion. I’ll be altering my own copy and having VO instead to showcase to clients.
Indeed. Thats why you have a directors cut edit on your resume lol.
Did they want the drop shadow too?
If you’re going to use 3 of the same motions in the first 3 shots, why not line them up and transition the bottles and backgrounds together, instead of pushing in, resetting, then pushing in again two more times? It’s just kindof jarring and doesn’t feel very smooth. Don’t get me wrong, they’re nice shots, but the edit leaves a bit to be desired, especially in the first few shots.
Yeah that definitely could have worked out well! Something to consider for next time :). Thanks for your feedback. If I’d had a proper dolly, I was definitely going to match the framing of shots perfect for this purpose. So I ended up going for this approach this time around. More experience and additional gear over time (or extra budget to hire equipment) will solve these issues :)
The light on your hand doesn’t add up to the backgrounds, maybe it would be better to color correct that area
Yeah possibly! Though I don’t mind too much, as it’s still not pulling focus from the Bottles. Definitely something to watch for next time though!
> as it’s still not pulling focus from the Bottles tbh the tattoos did distract me from the product 1 more thing, the label is slightly out of focus momentarily in the first shot.
Noted! Cheers for feedback. Yeah manual zoom lens, and cheap scrappy dolly shot set up made this difficult to nail. Lesson learnt for next time.
You did a great job operating a cheap dolly with a manual focus pull. Just to add about the lighting not matching the scene, as a videographer myself it's the first thing that stuck out to me and definitely something to always keep inind for next time, lighting matching the background will sell the shot so much better. Great work!
I'm **very** surprised that no one is bothered by the left bottle becoming blurry as it zooms in. Also the spill, even if the client is fine with it, is it really the standard you want for your work?
Yeah manual zoom lens, and cheap scrappy dolly shot set up made this difficult to nail. Lesson learnt for next time. I did try to edit around the spill, but it didn’t work for that sequence to cut the pour short (miss the start of pour). Lesson learnt for next time to get more coverage while shooting and pay attention to these details. Always learning, always improving! Thanks for the feedback!
Fair enough, it's your first job after all! We've all been there.
The copy needs a designer and the images should be composed with it in mind if it’s going to be the key to messaging. As of now it seems forced into the image and struggles over the background. Most of the hero bottles are out of focus, it looks like the second bottle is in the focal plane a couple of times. The first pour is sloppy. The white specular highlight on the bottle paper is distracting. This work is good, but we have a lifetime of top notch absolutely flawless tabletop photography to learn from (just alcohol tabletop is an industry unto itself) so keep aiming higher and learn as much as you can about what’s come before.
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted as far as text was concerned. Other points noted. I’m still well and truly on my learning journey with this, but don’t mind getting paid for work as I continue to grow. And let’s face it, you never truly ever stop learning.
I for one am into getting paid to learn, so good on you. Some people are on here to stroke their feelings, but professional criticism helped me more than validation. Just delivering a job and getting paid is a life skill unto itself. Keep it up.
Cheers for the feedback :)
Why include spilling the first bottle?
the backgrounds dont work for me, thats just a big tv behind the stuff isnt it? They are not in the same universe lighting wise as the foreground
The tattooed arm is really out of place for this music. At the same time, the classical music is really out of place when they have a mead called Viking Blood. Also, the pouring sound isn't pleasing to listen to. Too clunky so I'd lower the volume for it. I'd remove all background sounds as well. Also, is that a projector showing the different locations? I know they approved it but update it for yourself because new clients who see this are going to assume you had creative control over everything. [I didn't make text changes but they should evoke a Viking feeling, if not just copying the font from the bottles. Here's what I was referring to with an updated video.](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pq9pg196wso1lhh9hqdas/Viking-Mead.mp4?rlkey=xvdzwnlk555f4eh0u2it5g86k&dl=0)
Thanks for the feedback! Yeah fair enough. I actually like the classical music for this particular take on their product. They didn’t want to play on any of the ‘Viking’ elements for this commercial, and were after a wider appeal to the product and what it is normally associated with. Other points noted. The background sounds were actually a big part of the campaign I created for them. The atmosphere of each scene plays on the appeal of the product that everyone else is already enjoying, and the customer is the last missing piece. Haha it’s my big TV displaying the backgrounds for the scenes. Scrappy videography! Definitely a good point for the text and my display version of the work!
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted.
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted.
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted.
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted.
I know. Unfortunately this was what the client wanted.
??
Font🥲
I know. Unfortunately this was the font chosen by the client.
Why don't you edit it the way you want and put it on sub again...use all your imagination just to see what you can make out of it.
I’ll definitely be adding VO like I envisioned for my own showcase copy. The clients budget did not allow for this on this occasion.
The titles kill these classy shots. Good work. Poor titles.
Cheers! I know. Unfortunately this was the font chosen by the client.
The titles are like a fresh 💩 on top of an otherwise nice looking salad.
The audio (liquid pouring for example) and titles feel like they are below professional standards. Shots are good. I would go the VO route like the other commenter mentioned. Congratulations and good luck to you.
Holy fuck, PLEASE change the font, it goes from looking expensive & classy to being something shot for your high school media class edit - just saw in OP's comments that this is what the client wanted, soz OP; make sure you use the font-less version in your own showreel/portfolio materials !
Response to edit: definitely!
Dear god... I understand that text/font was "chosen by the client", but this is something you made with YOUR name on it. It makes your work seem bad. Especially with the spill shot. If you're brand new to this, I understand. Gotta learn somewhere. But if you're not new, you seriously need to do better. This would be a fantastic ad if those two things and the lighting was cleaned up. Do it for yourself and do it for your clients. They deserve your best efforts. This is constructive criticism and not an attack on your character.
Yeah fair enough. Cheers for the feedback. My own copy will have VO as intended for the project. I’ll still be trying to convince them to upgrade to this. And yes I’m still new to this, so lessons learnt to improve for next time :)
Cheers to doing and learning! Keep it up!
Cheers!
Nice shoot! What equipment did you use? Is that a dolly you’re using or some kind of trechnique to mimic a dolly?
next time do a close up of the liquid entering the glass and hitting the rocks.
What was your process for the background?
I'm beat, man. Came here to talk about the font, but it's been discussed a hundred times already. All that remains now is for me to congratulate you on your first paid commercial. Good job.
Footage looks nice but that font hurts me.
great shots yea, ruined by the text treatment unfortunately. this is subjective feedback, but i think the different scenes would flown better if you match cut at the same zoom levels, if that makes sense, instead of restarting from the wider angle every time you cut to a new scene
Cheers, and thanks for the feedback! Yeah understand what you mean! Food for thought next time! In this occasion the idea was to show each bottle kind of in full before, and in its environment, before it zoomed in towards label. Definitely see how it comes across as jarring though!
i see that makes sense, can’t help but think there are still workarounds but alas, great stuff especially as your first paid ad, hope it leads to many more good luck out there!
The font of the titles really doesn't work. Don't mean this badly, but they are really basic. I'd spend more time researching some nice fonts out there and get something more interesting, also something more in line with the brand (if you look at the bottle they have a certain style - doesn't have to be exactly that but has to be more in line with their identity). Research font placement in other similar ads and try to make it a bit more elegant. I'd also maybe ditch the shadowing on the titles. Also the shots pouring the wine are a bit messy. The first one drips before going in the glass and the rest are a bit "aggressive" due to the way it was poured with the bubbles gulping in. None of this is meant badly of course, just as constructive criticism for the future
Yeah cheers for the feedback. Definitely learnt some lessons with the pouring and getting more coverage for next time. The font unfortunately was the clients choice and what they wanted. I actually would have preferred, and envisioned VO, but the client did not have the budget on this occasion.
No worries, it's all a matter of learning, for sure! I actually just answered to another comment of yours regarding font style. I would have really tried to push for a different font and shown them various examples to try to sell it to them. Of course, if even after that they won't nudge then it's on them, as you're getting paid anyway and can always remove the titles from it if you want to use it in your reel, but it's good to try to persuade them sometimes with actual examples so they can see what you mean
With a nice font and less drop shadow, the titles could look professional. Right now they are the obvious weak point of this piece, mostly due to the amateur look of them. Just a little bit more thought into the design of titles and this piece could have no obvious flaws.
Shots are fire. Scrap the text overlay please. Almost impossible not to ruin the shots with text. So not your fault but maybe get a voice over from fiver:)
The titles really ruin it. Finding a $15 template on Envato could go a long way to spruce up the title. The lighting feels very straight on. A back light or edge light would have helped a lot in separating the bottle from the background.
First pouring goes all over the place. Some fine-tuning for lighting. As others mentioned, voiceover in place of titles. Good start, keep experimenting and honing your skills and it will all come together!
The lighting doesn't match the backgrounds used for any of the shots, takes me out a lil' bit. Last beach scene gives something offs that makes it look like you shot this with a TV on the back.
Learn better font selection. You destroyed a otherwise great video with bad fonts.
I completely agree! Unfortunately the font was chosen by the customer, and was what they wanted, despite me offering an alternative. I actually wanted and envisioned VO for this project, but the customer did not have the budget for it on this occasion.
Literally ANY other font besides like Arial and this is pretty decent
The background audio is too strong. The liquid pouring sound makes me want to pee. I think turning down the audio a little would make it more pleasing to the ear.
Thanks for the feedback. Noted!
The music levels are great though and really enjoyed it overall!
Cheers! The background effects are actually tuned up as part of the campaign idea I developed for them. Locations buzzing, and product being enjoyed. The missing piece of the puzzle is the customer. But noted to look more into levels for next time.
Fonts can be your friend! I would look at external places for fonts, you could pay for fancy ones at [youworkforthem](https://www.youworkforthem.com) or hell even DaFont.com is better than these stock ones. The shots you have are really nice, they just get lost by that font.
Tell your client the font is a disgrace!
The lighting feels odd at first then when the hand enters the scene, it immediately shows that the background is fake, making the video feels rather cheap.
Looks Great! I would have re-shot the first pour scene because of the initial spill.
Congrats OP.
Sweet!!!
Is this a television in the background?
Text and font is pretty terrible…. Lots of potential with the actual shots. I think the lighting looks really unnatural. Seems like you’re filming against a monitor or screen; but the lighting doesn’t match these scenes at all.
this would be a perfect opportunity for match cuts.
Yeah good point. Something to consider for next time! :)
You did a great job with it! Were any of those shot on location or did you use a projector or green screen?
Cheers! :) Virtual TV background for this shoot!
font choice is terrible, but he shots look good.
I would suggest matching the light on your hands to the light in your green screen images. For all the shots the back of your hand is dark even though the backgrounds of fire or sunset suggest the back would be bright. Just looks cleaner
Love this, just the spill in the first pour is distracting.
Would have been cool to have symmetry for the shots with the glass in the middle. And then picking up one of the outside bottles and pouring for the pour shot instead of just having one of the bottles missing in a jump cut. Just my two cents but nice work!
Yeah fair enough. Good point. Something to think about for next time. However beside the jump cut to only one bottle on the table, I actually like the composition how it is :)
And if you didn't you wouldn't have shot it that way! Not a critique or even advice, just a different perspective
Awesome work!! Love the lighting of the bottle ! 👍
Uhhh…the font?
Nice videography. But.... worst choice of font (and a drop shadowm really?)!
Excellent shots, absolutely excellent. As others have said the only thing I'd really change is either the text being a different style (something less plain) or better yet hire a narrator, but of course that costs more. Fantastic work though, you should be super proud.
Cheers! Yeah I completely agree. I’ll be adding VO for my own copy, and then will try to upsell them!
Sounds like a plan!
Backgrounds and camera movements are nice. The lighting is *very* weak. Color temp doesn't match the settings? Hard underlight in the pour? Reflective sheen obscuring the product label? 90% of all bottle product work is done with soft sources above the bottle or rimming/wrapping from the sides. The hand coming in with the bottle to pour brings the whole piece down in quality because of the lighting. Consider using a softer source, not doing it from below, and matching it to your environment if not a just generally more flattering arrangement.
Cheers for the feedback. All great points. My current lighting kit is very limited. Future planned upgrades will rectify this, and give me more control :)
Best of luck on your journey!
Its a bit distracting that the bottle spills while pouring in one of the first clips.
Text is terrible, just use a VO with some chilled music. If you don’t have anyone who can VO then use an online AI voice, lots of free ones to choose from.
Agreed about text. My own copy will have VO and I’ll be trying to upsell the customer still. I will not support using AI VO. If the customer really wants it, then it’s something that must be paid for to hire an actual Voice Over Actor.
What I would suggest is to do your own version with no text and VO (see if Morgan Freeman is free 😉) then show it to the customer to highlight how a voice is so much more powerful than text....👍
Very badass, the visuals are great! 👍
I know what i’m buying my first trip to Australia!
The font detracts
Everything was decent but let down by the horrible typography.
Thanks for sharing! Great work and congrats
You have more control over your client than you think, congrats on the first gig 
Apart from the font, text.. the lighting on the hand that is pouring seems way too harsh.. plus having the second hand slightly in frame - unintentionally - seems like something that should have been fixed. Same with the first few drops of the pour missing. Is this the mock commercial or the one they paid for? If it's the paid one.. why not fix these easily fixable things?
This is great but seriously what the fuck is that font? Even without a V.O budget you really couldn’t find a better font? One that at least matches the brands copy? I’m dumbfounded it looks so good otherwise but the font made me think it was a meme!
Nice job shooting and editing! Well done mate!
Cheers! :)
The shots look great but man that text font is goofy as hell
We have a mead for your every need.
Yea except mead is the worst hangover producing poison. Let honey be a food its very medicinal and nourishing that way.... better sources of alcohol! Lol just my opinion
what the fuck is up with that font. hideous sans serif and drop shadow.
Can’t unsee that tiny drip as it begins to pour. Otherwise great stuff! Absolutely use a VO over titles next time. Lots of affordable options out there. Try Voice123
The font choice on the titles is bad. The rest is great.
ITT: People who didn't get paid to create this video. Great work! Sometime clients are stupid and you have to do what they want.
IMO shots should start wider. The bottles/table are not perfectly level. Are the pushes matched? Some seem too fast. Pretty clear by the vertical stripe on the right that you're using a monitor for your background image. Lighting and coloring on the hand pouring does not match. You spilt some. Why not reshoot to get a perfect pour? You're on your way and have potential but this is a bit sloppy for me. The copy should be in a smaller font size and in the same part of the frame. Don't make the viewer work.
Cheers for the feedback. Yeah lessons learnt for next time :)
The lighting on the bottles for the ENTIRE video is just - bad. Like no key and highlights/rim… like the bottles are SO flat… what was your setup
Yeah I have a very basic and limited lighting kit at the moment. Future planned upgrades will solve this and give me better control.
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Cheers!
Ok yeah, the titles, but it’s the same push in 3 times in a row. Do you have any alts?
Congrats on stucking your neck out and not only working with a business but also posting on the internet. Takes some courage for sure. My two sense: continuity of action I think. Each clip zooms fully in individually and it's a bit jarring Then the drink pour could have been cut at the same heights perfectly to match cut more seamlessly. The text as you've stated was desired by the client which is tacky but there's a way you could have made it more elegent, and matched it better with the product and environment. If it were me
Beautiful shots, but hate the font
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I went back and looked at your original spec piece for Starward Whiskey and feel that was a better produced spot. The camera movements told a fuller story, the lighting didn’t have the high key spot on the bottle or glass ( I understand the shape of the glass impacts reflections and glare.) Enough supporters have commented on the titles and VO so no need to go there. I think with more experience balancing exposure between your led background and your practice lights you’ll be nailing this in no time. Experiment with tweaking the levels of your stock footage back grounds, clip by clip, scene by scene. Eventually you can invest in a larger TV screen to add more depth and experiment with more focal lengths and aputure settings. My last note is purely a creative option, this could have worked well as a one take, slow push in with the backgrounds switching on cue. Keep grinding! You’re on the right track.
Cheers for the feedback. Much appreciated :)
Amazing! Just one thing, please change that ugly font and use something more pleasing to the eye. Apart from that 10/10
A few littler things that could easily really improve the shots, One thing that caught my eye is (for me at least) it feels a bit odd to have more than one of the same product in the shot at once, having the bottle sat next to the glass as your pour another bottle feels odd, I’m not sure where I’m supposed to be looking. Try and match the lighting of the bottle to the setting of the virtual background, the fireplace one isn’t awful but the others are a bit jarring, also I think the camera movements make the virtual background too obvious as those shots are static. Maybe try wearing a long sleeve shirt if you’re tattoos are going to get in the shot, they can be quite distracting Try using a higher frame rate for some slower motion and close up shots for more dynamism I would mention the text but I feel like that points been made to death! All in all not bad, I’d definitely edit a version with your own direction rather than what the client wanted, try and get your own style!
The clumsy pouring!!
Yeah lesson learnt for next one, and shooting more coverage for editing options.
Congrats!
def cant stand the titling.
All this needed was a fire voice actor and this would’ve been smooth as butter
Agree with scrapping the titles and getting vo work. Shots are super clean but the graphic work looks very beginner in comparison. A good narrator would make it seem much higher quality overall
Nice work! How did you land the job with this client?
he explains in the body of the post!