Comments on: Watch 'I'll Be Home for Christmas,' a Single Steadicam Shot 120FPS RED EPIC Music Video, Plus BTS Clip

By: Steve Grant

Steve Grant — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:22:19 +0000

It seems I’m in a minority of one here – but I enjoyed it. I thought the lighting was very well done, and the concept itself was delivered well. Accusations of ‘lame’ and ‘boring’ are surprising.
My criticisms would be the inactivity of Santa after his initial shot, and exactly the same with the lumberjack who split his log and clearly had no idea what to do next. The constant movement of the girl is what provided the continuity, even when she’s out of shot you have the sense that she is still in motion. So when she stops and waits at the final room, this valuable continuity is completely broken and to my mind, that’s a major mistake.
Technically I thought it was very strong, and it was certainly visually interesting, but the faltering continuity loses it points.

By: Francesco

Francesco — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:29:55 +0000

Bad, boring and full of errors. Cinematographer sometimes go away…
It’s a pity…

By: Gary Simmons

Gary Simmons — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 05:59:34 +0000

Are you kidding? First Santa cutting a deer horn then 3 out of 5 around the coffin were looking straight into the camera the second policeman turning the light off and on girls popping balloons I could go on. What about any of that is well thought out. This is a bad example of visual story telling in my humble opinion there was no story other than a little girl seeing several inane XMAS references that made no sense at all. Where is the story? the only thing accomplished is showing they can do 120 FPS big deal. It was very boring and not entertaining at all. This is the first time I have been very critical about any of the films shown here and I am still a beginner compared to a lot of people so I try to shut up and observe to learn but I have to say this is not worth while other than visually it is acceptable the cinematography is good enough but not stunning. There was far to much money spent on this production fro the results all because there is no story to support the title we didn’t learn anything other than the camera can do an okay job at a high frame rate in subdued lighting. Sorry but that is this mans opinion.

By: Shane Barett

Shane Barett — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:53:02 +0000

Lot of work, well executed TECHNICALLY… but there was absolutely no emotional connection for me with any of it.

Many others have said it was “boring” and I’ll completely agree with that… but to me I find “pretentious” to be a more accurate vibe that I get from it. Very VERY pretentious.

I think it was a good effort and decent execution, but of an extraordinarily weak concept.

By: Darren (VIP Video)

Darren (VIP Video) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:40:28 +0000

LAME!!! I agree with Neil and many others on this. Big deal, steadicam, slo-mo, Red Epic.
I’m not hating, but I honestly don’t get it. If its art for art sake, fine whatever, but even that really requires a 35 man team? Come on.
A lot people say well I think he’s supposed to make you feel disconnected and blah blah blah.
You can go into it as much as you want, the art, the meaning…. its still lame.
Everyone has their own artistic approach, opinions, philosophies, but this video is NOT GOOD.
I’ve seen wedding trailers that have more emotion and substance than this, and we all know what we think about wedding films.
If he was going for an annoying, mediocre, boring slo-mo feel that just doesn’t even meet the depressed, dark, ominous line, then he accomplished his goal.
Again, LAME, not saying I could’ve done better, maybe I could’ve maybe not, but LAME

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:55:02 +0000

I think I agree with you. From a technical perspective I thought it looked great and gave the desired feel of a dream/nightmare. I just don’t think their was any point to it, it didn’t connect at a personal level. I want to feel for the character, try to understand them and how they see things. What they are feeling? Why is she dreaming about those things? What do they mean? Those are questions this video really failed to address and because of that it seems like it had a much greater potential that it didn’t reach. Just an opinion mind you.

By: Nick Timblin

Nick Timblin — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:46:44 +0000

First time on this site, and first time posting. I find single shot videos very interesting, creative and obviously a lot of work. I’m not particularly a fan of the content of this video, but I’m also not particularly a fan of Sufjan Stevens. His work is generally pretty weird and out there. I saw him in concert once and the man had on giant butterfly wings. So while this was shot well, lit well (I think it’s meant to be that dark) and probably flawless to what they were trying to accomplish, I didn’t feel connected to it, but I think that’s part of the point as well. I think a lot of people feel disconnected around the holidays and that might what be what he’s trying to accomplish. I like the idea and the execution. Would I do something different? Absolutely because I’m not a fan of this content but I do find it interesting and even now I’m racking my mind trying to interpret Sufjan’s meaning behind these symbols when in context with this song.

By: Natt

Natt — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:55:46 +0000

FOR YOU

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 23:00:39 +0000

yes another dumb stupid video trying to be way too ‘artistic’

By: Aaron G

Aaron G — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 20:22:06 +0000

Look man, I’m with you kinda, but you’re falling into the same trap as being too aggressive at passive aggression… you’re jumping down every person’s throat who’s being critical, why so defensive?

I get this all the time with Sufjan Stevens, one of my best friends and I basically got into a shouting match because I said I didn’t like “Age of Adz”, all of a sudden I was lumped into “You’re one of those hipsters that’s buying into an overdone folk genre and you only like ‘folky’ Sufjan…” WTF, Sufjan has every right to do any kinda music he wants but I’m not going to listen to it out of devotion. The fact that we were shouting at each other over a musician was awful I know but we shout over everything so NBD.

If you like Sufjan, you’ll probably like this video, if you don’t like him you probably won’t like this.

By: Jonas Bendsen

Jonas Bendsen — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:21:02 +0000

It do think it WOULD however make people less apt to simply say “stupid” instead of thinking about what or *why* they are saying something. Again, internet troll behaviour verses thoughtful forum discussion.

By: Austin Mace

Austin Mace — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:57:33 +0000

Meh. This is my kinda 1 take music video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDVW81bXo0s

By: Lliam

Lliam — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 07:10:19 +0000

I agree Jonas, and think you’ve made your points really well. It;s about the level of conversation it would be nice to promote and take part in at NFS.

I think it’s quite a beautiful piece with a lot of hard work and skill, but unfortunately it didn’t hold my interest either. My thoughts were, inherent to the location limitations and slow mo that the pacing/transitions were problematic… at times just too long and slow. I also felt the lack of a “closer” relationship to objects and events made the experience more emotionally passive. Then add that articular score which I think doesn’t quite gel with a little girls wondrous journey and it didn’t quite click for me. But still a quality piece of work.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 06:38:16 +0000

Why? What difference would it make?
See, I’ve never agreed with the logic that we have to do better in order to criticize.
I’m not a musician, but I know when one misses a note. I’m not an athlete, but I know when someone screws up a play. I’m not a politician but I know when one is being incompetent.
I can be the worst filmmaker in the world, but that doesn’t make my criticisms any less valid than anybody else.

By: michael

michael — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 03:08:33 +0000

that’s not the rules in a democracy pal, and you can thank god, or whoever is responsible, that it it’s like that.

By: michael

michael — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 02:58:34 +0000

hm…and a painting is a painting, right??

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 02:33:38 +0000

Really annoyed by the cinematography. I found myself struggling to see what was going on at certain points. If you’re going to light it, light it!

Greatly appreciate the effort but it became boring to me while waiting for the actress to get into the next room. It was so damn dark in sections, we couldn’t see any of the supposedly awesome set design. It certainly would have made “waiting” less tedious because we’d have something to “study”.

By: Jonas Bendsen

Jonas Bendsen — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 02:08:33 +0000

I have no problem with your opinion; my problem is with your delivery and attitude. “You’re just as ridiculous as the video is, empty of sense.” Thanks so much for your contribution to this discussion and in turn filmmaking in general. I trust you will go far.

By: Jonas Bendsen

Jonas Bendsen — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 02:00:34 +0000

I wish all of the people posting glib comments like “rubbish” and “annoying” and “waste” and the like would post some of their *what-I-can-only-imagine-must-be-transcendent* works for the rest of us to see.

By: Jonas Bendsen

Jonas Bendsen — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 01:56:36 +0000

You mean like the feathers falling? Or the balloons with glitter in them popping? Ot the light going on and off (which you mention)? Or the wood splitting? This is to say, every vignette except the first two (creepy santa and the vampire funeral/feast) has an element of what you say is missing. Just sayin’.