@vicharris Unless I missed something, I guess it just comes down to simple narrative of "someone in a dark, difficult place in their life....then they reach out for God...then they are saved/delivered... to a happier/brighter place". I think similar narratives have been done non-religiously in mainstream films, but when you add a religious feel and theme to a film, it kinda acts as an emotional ND filter...lol...and everything has a different shade to it...so I too have seen some religious films where at first glance it's hard to emotionally connect and relate.

Mainstream films usually have the main character solve his problem via struggle, or help from loved one, or a journey where he learns, struggles, makes choices, etc. Religious films just have main character solve their problem by turning to God for help, which usually involves humbling oneself before God.

@spaceandtime If I have the film's meaning wrong, I apologize and would welcome any discussion. Re filmmaking - you have some nice skills and should continue honing your craft. I think @Maxr made a good point about how this film could use a little more nuance. I suspect he is referring to the perhaps overly simple way the woman sits up a smiles...as if "bam-all is solved-life is good".

Bottom line: What I like about this film is the way you feel the woman is in a dark place/situation. The imagery really achieves this. That's the best part of this film.

It was ok. I personally liked the message. But the actresses voice seemed robotic. I wish she sounded like she was in distress or something. It would have came off much better. Visually I liked it. But then towards the end the aesthetics of the video changed (not sure if this was done on purpose). If you could get her to do the voice track over...same line, eq and effects etc. but with more desperation in what she is saying then it would elevate this piece a great deal. Oh yeah...those opening credits....too distracting and long.

Ahhhh, I'm just all confused in this thread. Vic out!! :)

@jpbturbo Who's giving the same advice? Looks like we're all over the place on this apparently controversial piece :)

Why would someone give exactly the same feedback as others?

Here is my (somewhat)technical critique from start to finish.

The WUFYS_GIN motion graphics at the beginning are not very clear. Even at full HD the second row of text is hard to make out because of it's size. The bevel/emboss effect on the lower row of text serves to obfuscate the outlines of the letters with the shadow section of the text making the overall letter forms even slimmer and harder to read.

0:39 has a weird shake/distortion to it.

0:42-44 This is awkward. It's really hard for a closeup shot of a woman's chest heaving up and down to not feel somewhat exploitative.

0:47 the movement looks like slowed down normal(24p) footage. It feels kind of disorienting which is good but it also feels a little cheap from a production quality standpoint.

0:50 a lot of noise.

1:12 out of focus except for a brief moment where it blips into focus before shifting back out of focus as the camera pans to the right.

I find the robotic voices pretty distracting. I kind of think that reducing the spiritual change of heart you are trying to convey to something that sounds mechanical and robotic only denigrates the importance and weight of what you are trying to convey.

I think it's hard for such a literal visual allegory as you have made here to not come across as heavy handed, even to other Christians. Perhaps something with more of a story that was less abstract and not visually so literal would be more approachable for non-christian viewers.

Ok, watched it again. I'd have to say it has a pretty strong magenta/purple skew. Not sure if that was on purpose but it really stood out on her skin. Also it's noisy, but clean....if that makes any sense at all. I'd send it though neatvideo then throw some grain back on it to take down the edges and smooth out the blocking but I'm on a grain kick right now so maybe that might not be the right way to go.

As for the shots, they all looked fine technically to me. The camera movement looked fine. Was this lit with LEDs?

I agree with Matts advice on maybe opening up and not telling us anything. That's always fun for the audience to figure out what's going on. Gives them something to invest in.

On a rougher note, I had a really hard time believing anything the girl was saying. It just felt like she was line reading a script. I just listened to her voice without looking at the monitor and it didn't have any life or point of view. If you are able to go back and do a quick VO session, that might REALLY help the video. Really sorry if that sounds harsh but I've been through the same thing on here asking for editing advice. I was told just to drop huge hunks and kill my babies. It hurts but they were all right! :)

@maxr "It also has a lot of noise, now VK cannot say it's offtopic :P"

Cmon man..I know you have a poibt with the Christian views being all in your face and I'll lzisten to your advice in the future. But did you really have to water down feedback for a video that someone spent alot of time on by just saying it has alot of noise? We all want to improve here, i do videos just as you do. Why did you have to downgrade your feedback like that? I know what you said is true about the noise but don't you think you could of been a little bit nicer with saying that? Yes it's a Christian video but can you at least give it the same feedback image quality wise as others?

@spaceandtime I'm with vicharris, how are we gonna avoid comment/touch on the religious content of this piece of yours if it is not but a vessel for your believes. And that drive is at the same time what makes it absolutely boring, my POV, ok? It is too direct, zero nuances, religious propaganda served like porno It's Maquiavelo's five hundred years old the end justifies the means which is a a way of being in this world I really can't understand nor share.

It also has a lot of noise, now VK cannot say it's offtopic :P

Thanks for the advice Matt. Can you guys give me some more feedback on the video as well. I know the nature of the video is Christian but you don't have to comment on that. It would really mean a lot.