Our Peace Corps family has been suffering some tragedies lately. Stephanie Chance, a volunteer in Niger, has died of what appears to be natural causes. My thoughts are with her friends and family. Below I'm posting a letter from Director Aaron Williams. I am deeply saddened to write that Municipal Development Volunteer Stephanie Chance, an admired member of the Peace Corps family in Niger, died on Thursday, October 7, 2010. Stephanie, 26 years old, was found in her home in Zinder, and, at this time her death appears to be from natural causes. Her sudden passing is mourned by the entire Peace Corps community, including her fellow training group members, who were recently sworn in together as Volunteers on September 23, 2010. Stephanie was a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and she had arrived in Niger for training in July 2010. She had just arrived at her site in Zinder and was busy getting to know the community to help local officials better coordinate local government servi...
I thought it was swell, Ryan. Succinct, punchy, interesting. I was wondering why such a quick pace? Your normal speech pattern is not that swift. I could follow you, but just. I'd like to debate the comparison of the danger of a nuclear war with the danger of climate change with you one day. But in the end, I agree with your conclusion. Hope you make some more video comments. I really liked it. B
ReplyDeleteI agree with B. Excellent video with the right tone and arguments but you could have slowed down a little bit. I don't know what the right pace would be but somewhere between how you normally speak it the speed in this video would probably be the sweet spot. Most important is that you make more videos because this one was great. Good job man.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! Part of the quick speech is probably just imitating one of my favorite video game reviewers, though I think it does make you pay attention a bit more. I'll have to experiment with that. Any suggestions for the next subject?
ReplyDeleteAnd Noah, what are you up to these days?
I agree with the other commentators. It was a great video, with good material and interesting narration, but the pacing was a tad too quick. Looking forward to the next.
ReplyDeleteYou're a fast learner, Ryan, so the noob argument is null. First off, it is much more focused than your first entry, and it shows that you're more willing to experiment with editing possibilities. That being said, here's some feedback from which I hope you will benefit:
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the juxtaposition of a slow and deliberate narration against flash images often depicting what is already being spoken, either directly or vicariously (and not without added [often personal] emphasis), is contrapuntally ineffective. By providing little to no contrast with the subject matter depicted in the visual imagery, the only variation we detect occurs in the pacing -- as every commentator has indicated. The solution to this is simple: break the dominating rhythm established by the narration by focusing on key thematic elements and advance them in sequences, rather than laying down a complete audio track and assembling -- like a motion collage -- a set of corresponding images. This splitting process does not dismiss what the narration states by any means; rather, it provides ample breathing room for the audience to allow the meaning of what is being said to settle in, giving time for accompanying -- and (I would recommend) contrasting -- visual imagery to reiterate through counterpoint a deepening sense of ethical iteration to what is essentially being addressed through the audio. Setting musical cues aside, consider the possibility of laying down an ambient track of various (preferably relevant) environments beneath the narration, meshing with fades out and in from the narrative track, to provide you with a continuous bed of sound for arranging your images. I think you'll find this really works wonders for cathartic poignancy. As a last suggestion, I would ask you to try and watch the video (i.e. just the visual imagery) without the narrative track upon completion and to take some notes about how progressing from one image to the next produces emotional responses, e.g. heightened suspense, sorrow, hope, etc., and to see if the subjective cadences match what you would like to have resonate from the material being discussed. (This final step is often best reiterated through second and third opinions from people who have not heard the audio track.)
That being said, I think your next vid on Climate Change would benefit greatly from some of the philosophical issues presented in Stephen M. Gardiner's "A Perfect Moral Storm", though any form of conversation on this topic is valued.
Keep up the good work, editing is all about practice and learning what styles suit you, and I look forward to your next entry. Cheers, A.B.P.