Came across this video in the HV20 channel. *Love* the vibe. This is the way a party with a bunch of friends feels and you captured it perfectly - the lighting, choice of shots, editing, music, the whole thing. Good stuff. :-)

awesome man...love the beer on the 50! Classic shot!

Very nice! The problem is now I am hungry (and thirsty).

great video.awesome............

Ben thanks for coming to the FCP meeting last night and sharing your video with us. You're all the buzz now!
Hope you can make it to other meetings as well.

when it's next party? i wanna go! it looks really funny.
very good video.

NIce stuff brotha...makes me miss home...

the color on this is great. that hv20 is an impressive little guy. really packs a punch. looks good.

thanks on the credits, props. i'm really excited about doing the bio/autobio edits from same footage project.

Incredible! I second the statement an earlier person made, you nailed the vibe of a party with friends. Great flow and music. Next time I'm in New Orleans THIS is exactly what I want to do!

Hey one question- what lens did you use? I just bought a cheap static 35mm adapter, and was trying to decide whether to buy a wide angle or normal lens (50mm). I was afraid that wide angle would have too much DOF, but obviously at f2 you got great results (especially when subject was close.) I think too shallow a DOF is problematic anyway (hard to keep focus). My adapter has a Canon EF mount, but I'll probably look for a cheap M42 to EF adapter or something like that, I want a manual lens with manual aperture control...

Thanks!!!

Cool, like it. Actually think the shaking adds more to the partytime feeling. Forget steadycam rigs they are HEAVY and limit movement. What you might look into is a steadystick type of solution or just get a good shoulder mount thing for the indirods. The main problem with any Adapter setups is balance, you can go for a batterypack on the back hoping it might shift the weight but its all pretty expensive.

Steadystick is a monopod on a beld, this kinda helps but don't expect to walk around with it like a steadycam.

What will help you is some nice hand/grips so you can hold the whole thing more steady agains the horizontal moving around. Something cheap and simple like the cavision stuff you just add to the indirails do the trick.

Rails, jibs, steadycams and all that heavy fancy gear: forget about it for now. It will take you half a day to shoot something like this and it wil be so clean and setup the whole element of FUN will be shot to pieces.

Only thing I can't find if the type of 35mm Adapter you used?

Anyway, the short version of my rant: keep it real :)

I liked the video but the shallow DOF was overused. Only use it when you want to draw the attention to the subject. I have one question. Can you also have wider DOF with the 35mm adapter on? Lets say you had to shoot the video again....can you have the same image without that much DOF? or even without the DOF, just with the film-look's unsharpness and stuff?

oh dear that was well decent mate
dam i need some indiSYSTEM stuff
those seafood things freaked me out though init
well done!

Man, so much to say!

I really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for shallow depth of field with the setting sun. Such a great look.

I actually didn't think the camera was terribly unstable considering you were a bit buzzed working off a flipped image. Could've been much worse!

I actually just got my HV30 yesterday, I'm very glad I came across this -- definitely inspirational.

I watched the video again. One quesion. WHy is it like flickery...and as if a short shutterspead was used.....there is no motion blur between frames.

Dude this rocks!!!....try running each shot through FCP Smooth Cam....you will more than happy with the results.....check out this video. vimeo.com/1308996 , the footage I shot from a chopper over the freeway was bumpy as hell.....and I mean BUMPY !!! .......But smooth cam hooked me up sweet......you will see the result for yourself.......good luck , and tell me if this helped you out.

I was born in N.O. and visit frequently (from Baton Rouge). This video hits home.

Great Job! I actually really liked the lack of stabilization for most of the shots. It helps it portray that sort of warm friendly party feel. What was the music that you used?

oh man, oohhhh man. great vid, no 'bad's', only 'good's' i can think of in this short movie. really positive, will click like, so could watch few more times. :-)

If you still need a flycam here's a video for a DIY project that costs about $70. Its a nice set up - shows 2 easy to change versions that lets you work in tight spaces. Plus it uses a monopod which gives it even more flexibility.

vimeo.com/1394069

This is absolutely sweet! Has *such* a nice feel to it.. hazy and warm. The colours are great too, amazing job can't wait for more.

Maybe you answered already this question a lot of times, but would like to know what camera you used for this beautyful video? Amazing look.

amazing video, man. so golden.

Fun way to save memories with friends. Yeah, stabilization would produce better results but nevertheless you still captured your memories.

You'll have to experiment with your rig but in general you don't want to stop down a 35mm lens on these adapters beyond f5.6 without starting to introduce grain from the GG. And don't have too fast a shutter speed if you have a vibrating adapter.

Hello, Like the Video Loads!

I really want to get into video and this inspires me!

I wanted to find out about equiptment, I have very little technical knowledge on the subject of video, I just have a Mini DV camcorder, and am willing to purchase new equiptment (lowest cost if possible) if i were to be able to get that quility of footage.
Could you please advise me on how i could get such results with limited bugget?

Thanks

GeekStars!

Glad I could help!

Now if only I could find some decent crawfish in VA...we had em for awhile last year but haven't seen em once this year dammit.

Be safe with Gustav out there.

Awesome vid. I'm a fan of your stuff!

Absolutely love the music. Doubles the awesome-ness of this vid. About how long did the editing take?

I don't have much experience in videography, so forgive me everyone already knows this.

It's not the best way to stabilize, but a very cheap alternative to a steadicam or any kind of stabilization equipment is to mount it to a basic tripod, keep the legs fully retracted, the base extended, and hold it by the base. It makes for a pretty decent counterweight.

Great video!

I really enjoyed this video. It put a smile on my face.

That was fantastic. Beautifully shot. Great feel good video!

A Tilly Down on a Jamma Line. Wah Dah Tah.

A really good atmosphere... Now i've to go on a spree!

this has to be one of my favorite video's ive seen on this site

Wow. I love this. Now that summer is almost over, it's making me sad. You HAVE IT. I predict I wil be watching your movies some day. -Rich from Capo Beach, CA

Didn't see a music credit - Mungo Jerry isn't it?

excellent work, completely nailed the atmosphere. A1!

Great video. I've still never had crawfish, missing out?

I think it's great man, I cant imagine the challenge of shooting upside down. I shoot on an HX_A1 and it's way to heavy for that rig. I wonder if they make any cheap 35 mm adapters that will work with the XH_A1......

This lens is awesome...the shifting depth of field on such wide shots works wonders.

great work.

WOW, that looks more film-y than some film!

The good times rollin'...Love it!

Looks like a damn good way to start a summer.. not sure if Ive ever been to New Orleans but now I know I wanna go. Plus I always love that song.

You truly captured the spirit of this wonderful city, but white wine with crawfish? Yuck! Gotta have me an Abita Amber with my mudbugs! Great job!

David
Uptown, New Orleans

very cool

I can help you with the inverted image problem without adding weight and too much cost to your rig.
jag35.com/fliphack

Good times man...nice job capturing the moment.

Just beautiful, makes we want to go to New Orleans!

heh... I like 0:53 ..it looks like an underager sneaking a bit of alcohol.. :P

om nom nom nom!

That was fantastic. Really wonderful stuff.

visually awesome.
great job!
the girl with the strawberries was cute.

Crawfish!

Dude! This video is epic! I've been going through your videos and have enjoyed everything so far. Great stuff!

Really nice atmosphere... Looks like a lot of fun.
The colours are beautiful (oh i long for a warmer climate!), some shots are really really great, the edit works well.

On thing I might suggest is getting a handle to go on top of your shrigg rig which should make the image a little more stable when hand holding...

maaaan awesome work whats the name of the song btw haha i liked it

i like the atmosphere

You really captured the essence of New Orleans and I've never even been there. Very well done.

Ben, I'm so proud of you!!! The videos are awesome! Keep up the great work!

what kind of 35mm adapter was used. Was it static or vibrating? Nice video!

Fantastic video man! I have not seen crawfish in a box like that in a while. Picking up the crawfish with a plate is so New Orleans, I love it! You left out my favorite thing though! The Beignets man!

I really like the FEEL of this video, it feels so relaxed and homey, LOVE it.