This is a peer review of a profile video created by my classmate Allyson Scully. I have written it as a direct review to Allyson.
I really enjoyed the main focus of this video. I loved that you focused on passion and also loved that never really spoke of what your
passion was yet using gymnastics as a metaphor, works in the gym but also works
in any other artistic or creative endeavor. I also thought that the use of
child as the younger version of the subject was clever.
I am wondering if you purposefully left out the person you
are highlighting? I think the video is focused on passion and not on a specific
person. Because it is a video portrait, I would assume that we are supposed to
showcase a person. I believe that adding a voiceover at the beginning or the
end of the video introducing the person might work for this. I love the focus on passion but wonder if it
should be specific to your subject’s passion.
Personally, I’m not a giant fan of the side-by-side clips of
the same footage. I find it distracting to have two clips. I’m also not a huge
fan of reversing the clip. For example,
when the younger subject does a tumble then comes back in reverse. If you don’t have enough footage, maybe try
slowing down your footage so you can fill the time. I feel like the voiceover
is about perseverance and forward momentum; and seeing the footage in reverse
feels like a contradiction to that.
I think this video is quite creative. I love the focus on
passion since it is something we all can relate to. I do believe that making it
more personal to your subject will feel more impactful than a generic voiceover
about passion. If you personalize the voiceover, I think it will work better.
All in all, I think this is great. The footage is well shot, the story moves
forward and keeps you engaged, and with a couple tweaks could really work as a
great video profile.
