Friend made a Video

[RyanW]

I'll say it again, what I took out of this video is that it is a glimpse/snapshot into a man doing something he truly loves to do. Marketing aside, this makes me confident that he's building a product, not because he has to to make a buck, but because he's dedicated to it and will therefore make each one with special care and attention. I don't get that from a slick commercial. My $.02.

I appreciate that Shane!

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

You may not consider it as a marketing video, but EVERYTHING with your name on it will reflect on you good or bad.

550 views and no one even mentioned the spelling mistakes in the text ?

Aesthetics of the video style aside, that kind of thing can bite you in the arse.

Negative, 55, none of the 550 viewers saw the spelling issues because the video was so good, no one cares about the spelling. My wife loved it. She's critical. She loved it. I agree that Ryan makes insanely good knives. People know this. This type of video creates an emotional desire that only helps sales and want. It's a very personal introspect. Ryan is in my sig because he inspires me and is better than many around here. This video will not bite anyone's arse. It will only pump people up. That's my opinion.

 

[12345678910]

Negative, 55, none of the 550 viewers saw the spelling issues because the video was so good, no one cares about the spelling. My wife loved it. She's critical. She loved it. I agree that Ryan makes insanely good knives. People know this. This type of video creates an emotional desire that only helps sales and want. It's a very personal introspect. Ryan is in my sig because he inspires me and is better than many around here. This video will not bite anyone's arse. It will only pump people up. That's my opinion.

It's a good video.
No one cares about spelling ?
This video is like a resume, I wouldn't submit a resume without checking it for errors.

Knifemaking has a huge artistic component, but it's also about attention to detail.
Everything with your name on it reflects on you.

I can appreciate that Numbers. I went back and watched the video again with your comments in mind, while I get what you are saying on most points. I wouldn't change anything from fear of what someone might think when I wipe a blade on my shirt or wear a Paper Mask. It is not always about selling more knives.

The spelling is another issue, and I agree. To be honest I did not notice the "Lossing" until you mentioned it. as far as the text and content within the text, It got me a little Verklempt the first time I watched it!

From my point of view, everything gets better with editing.

The parts where the music and voice overlap is a pet peeve I see in videos often.
I can hear one or the other, but not both.


The mask and shirttail are really minor points.
Even though the shirttail is reality, I think it gets too much emphasis and that 9 seconds could be showing your finished work at that end.

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

It's a good video.
No one cares about spelling ?
This video is like a resume, I wouldn't submit a resume without checking it for errors.

I should have said, "no one noticed the spelling, because the video was so good." You're right, 55, spelling matters, editing matters. Next time, I will have my editors check my post before I send it. I think you are getting a critical response because as Jonny hinted, you can be over-critical, IMO. I don't think anyone wants false praise, but it's a damn good video. I would suggest that you balance your criticism a bit, while keeping your honesty. We have all benefited from your advice over the years. You know a hell of a lot and contribute a lot. EA

 

[Leading Edge Fab]

Nice job spotlighting you talent and shop

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Guys, take it easy, this is how Sam is. He usually says it plainly, as he sees it. And in great details with some background info and ways to fix it.
If it came form a newcomer I might understand how it can be perceived as negative but in Sam's case I am 100% sure it is meant to help. Never got a negative vibe from him or even a heated comment for that matter.

PS: Thanks by the way Sam, I really appreciate all the help you've given me and others and I am glad you are here with us.

 

[RyanW]

Patrice... It all started with your Vise comment!!!

And you are correct, about that vice. This is not my primary vise, the lighting was better for the file shot. If we would have used my stable vise Sam would have complained about the lack of light in that shot. Guess we can't win

You are probably correct about 12345678910 (Sam?) because he is always the first to give advice and be critical about posts. They are usually helpful and informative, but I have yet to see a knife, tool, or photo for that matter of something he made. It is almost like he hides behind his BF name. He talks like a knife maker and is no doubt very knowledgable but I prefer to see what someone can produce with their hands before they tell me how to use my hands to produce something! I am sure Sam is a nice guy with good intentions but I will listen to the likes of Quesenberry, Doyle, Bump, Wheeler.... because I know they have done it.

We are talking about a video here so he is entitled to his opinion regarding what sells knives (Which is not what the video was for BTW). Show me something Sam! This is not me being "Bent or Malicious" I just need a little weight behind your words I guess.

 

[12345678910]

Patrice... It all started with your Vice comment!!!

And you are correct, about that vice. This is not my primary vice, the lighting was better for the file shot. If we would have used my stable vice Sam would have complained about the lack of light in that shot. Guess we can't win

You are probably correct about 12345678910 (Sam?) because he is always the first to give advice and be critical about posts. They are usually helpful and informative, but I have yet to see a knife, tool, or photo for that matter of something he made. It is almost like he hides behind his BF name. He talks like a knife maker and is no doubt very knowledgable but I prefer to see what someone can produce with their hands before they tell me how to use my hands to produce something! I am sure Sam is a nice guy with good intentions but I will listen to the likes of Quesenberry, Doyle, Bump, Wheeler.... because I know they have done it.

We are talking about a video here so he is entitled to his opinion regarding what sells knives (Which is not what the video was for BTW). Show me something Sam! This is not me being "Bent or Malicious" I just need a little weight behind your words I guess.

This doesn't relate to the discussion of the video at hand but let's have at it.

I may not have been soft enough with my comments.
I did this a 3AM and used a linear list rather than a conversational style, which as Jonny Mac and Patrice have mentioned does not come across as well as it could.

I apologize for that. It takes conscious effort for me to do that and sometimes I skip that.



Well, I would listen to Quesenberry, Doyle, Bump, Wheeler too they are legendary makers with great skills.
I can't thank them enough for their contributions.
I have learned more here than ALL of the books and videos I've purchased put together.
Nick and Bruces WIP threads are epic.

But not every discussion can be answered by the elite echelon.
The beauty of the WIKI effect is that the collective knowledge will eventually be successful.
In return for the help I've received I try to help in ways that I can, when I can.

I'm an old fart stick in the mud, so my opinions can be biased, take that for what it is.


I've got some skills and experience, but I consider myself to be a "hobby maker"
I'm better than some, but worse than others.
I'm careful to limit myself to commenting on things I am knowledgeable about.
I'm not about to tell you how to hamon, because you are doing far better at that then I am.

I can't always tell you how to do something, but I can often point out when something needs a second look.
(If you look in the custom forum there are many well known collectors that have never made a knife but are still highly knowledgeable in their field)


I have sales, but It's not my full time job.

I DO hide behind my username here.
(I'm not the only one BTW)
I work in an industry that isn't understanding of my knife interests.

(I don't want to get dinged for being political here )
I've already had at least one conversation with a "far left" (vegan, PETA, Greenpeace, Million Mom March) HR lady about this and if I need to job search in the future I don't need that kind of Google search to stigmatize me as a "weapons interested / violent person" for following family traditions in making a knife that I enjoy using including harvesting food and cooking with.

And that kind of search is not Big Brother ish. It's real, intensive, intrusive and surprising what they can uncover and link to you and what they consider important

I can't fight that and can't afford to ignore my obligations, so all I can do is hide from that and participate here within those bounds.

I have made a conscious decision to avoid using my last name or posting photos that would identify me.
I'm not the only one with a "username" instead of real names here.



When I point out things in detail with time references it's so you can see exactly what I refer too instead of it being a vague general negative attack.


By all means ignore what I tell you, or use what I tell you to investigate, research and make your own decisions.

If your vidoegrapher chooses to make edits or not,
hopefully he gets better with every video the same way I try to get better with each knife.

I was hoping that my comments would help make that video better and more accessible to everyone who watches it.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Ryan,
I thought it was a really professionally made video. You talked just the right amount and didnt leave me with the feeling of "Look at Me" at all. I didnt read all the comments here and have no idea what the negative is about and dont care to find out.
This vid could be used to promote your product if your wish, Its just that good. Besides You have a paid membership here and have every right to advertise anyway. Very enjoyable and loved the music and various shot angles only available from an experienced film maker.

 

[Shaw Blades]

Cool video Ryan, I like it.

 

[RyanW]

Ryan,
I thought it was a really professionally made video. You talked just the right amount and didnt leave me with the feeling of "Look at Me" at all. I didnt read all the comments here and have no idea what the negative is about and dont care to find out.
This vid could be used to promote your product if your wish, Its just that good. Besides You have a paid membership here and have every right to advertise anyway. Very enjoyable and loved the music and various shot angles only available from an experienced film maker.

Thank you Bruce, I really appreciate that and you taking the time to comment here! Jake has a very creative way of looking at angles and effects.

Sam,
I get where you are coming from and don't mean to attack you personally, we all have an outside life and can't be ourselves I guess. I just find it hard to put weight behind posts that have no backing. I have yet to see a photo of your work, I don't need your name or your credentials just a photo. You give great advice and probably know more about knife making brain wise than I do (I am sure you do). but I am a hands on kind of person that would rather be shown than told.

Back to the topic... The Video. when I put the video up I was looking for comments about the feeling it left in people. Not technical aspects that needed to be changed, I did not make the video nor do I have the ability or desire to change what Jake created. Bruce's response is exactly what I was looking for (not just because it was positive). I don't want to leave people thinking, wow Ryan is full of himself. Maybe I should have been more specific in my original post of what I was looking for.

 

[GTH11]

Well Ill be.....Ryan, cool video I picked up on some of numbres' critques, but I also remembered this wasnt a commercial video, so I was excited to see "how you do what you do" and thanks, I was inspired to go and make some dust, and also send you up one of my shirts to wear!! J/K!!
Greg

 

[Snody]

Video is a pretty important aspect of marketing now.

Some here like that music.
I don't completely hate it, but I don't really care for it.
It's a Snody-ism I want to watch interesting videos, but the music has the ability to drive me away from them.
No matter what music you use you will offend somebody.

I am jealous of his video.. It is brilliant.. The use of the fish eye lens and narration coupled with well chosen background music.. Simply Masterful..

The Reality is that you are not going to buy any of his knives regardless of what video he makes or what editing recommendations he follows.

Dude, was keeping it real, I have seen knifemakers like Edmund Davidson wipe a $15,000.00 (fifteen thousand) knife on their shirt.

Posts like your only serve to stifle the creative and entrepeneur spirit that our struggling industry so badly needs.

Much Respect from Texas.

 

[RyanW]

Thank you Mr. Snody! I will continue wiping dirt on my shirt despite my wife yelling!

Jake (The Video Guy)
Jumped on the thread here and asked me to post this up for him since he felt it was not his neighborhood....

"Easy fellas! No need to bicker over little old me.
I am in no way a professional videographer just some dude that likes to make watchable videos of stuff i dig. I put something together from an idea that was bouncing around in my head with the time and equipment i had. Probably like allot of knife guys do with blade ideas. I like to get ANY critiques on my videos as it only helps me to get better each time. Yes there are a few shortcomings in this film that I am already aware of however they do not warrant cutting them or trying to fake a re shoot to get them(Save for maby that typo). Not really sure how that one got missed? This is a short film I posted with Ryan's blessing just to give people a tiny taste of what it takes you guys to put together something so great. In this day and age if I can make something that will hold your attention enjoyably for 7 full minutes or even more if watched repeatedly that is not porn then I think Its all good.
Thanks for all the comments and keep doing what you love to do.

Remember like many of you I want my work to get seen and used to help me hone my craft so share with others and see if it provokes the stoke in them.
If you would like to contact me for any explanations or critiquing please feel free. you can get my email from RyanW!

 

[RyanW]

Negative, 55, none of the 550 viewers saw the spelling issues because the video was so good, no one cares about the spelling. My wife loved it. She's critical. She loved it. I agree that Ryan makes insanely good knives. People know this. This type of video creates an emotional desire that only helps sales and want. It's a very personal introspect. Ryan is in my sig because he inspires me and is better than many around here. This video will not bite anyone's arse. It will only pump people up. That's my opinion.

I really appreciate the kind words Erik, You will surpass me in a very short time!

Cool video Ryan, I like it.

Thanks for watching it!

Well Ill be.....Ryan, cool video I picked up on some of numbres' critques, but I also remembered this wasnt a commercial video, so I was excited to see "how you do what you do" and thanks, I was inspired to go and make some dust, and also send you up one of my shirts to wear!! J/K!!
Greg

haha Thanks Greg. I would be happy to wear one of your shirts, don't be upset if I wipe my knife and nose on it

 

[RyanW]

Will be uploading the video to Youtube... for those that dont like Vimeo.
Thanks

 

[NickWheeler]

So.... wait a minute.... there's water in Utah?!?!?





I really liked it Ryan!!! While my grammar and structure is "my own," I am usually pretty big on spelling... so the "lossing" did jump out at me, but that's a simple fix.

I didn't even notice the stuff Sam pointed out when I watched it other than the typo. Somehow I didn't even see the shirt wiping incident. Angi and I did notice the Jonny Mac T-shirt though!

How much would your friend charge me for a video? I mean, you guys could come up here where there's actually a lot of water to dive in, and he could make me a video.

 

[RyanW]

So.... wait a minute.... there's water in Utah?!?!?



I really liked it Ryan!!! While my grammar and structure is "my own," I am usually pretty big on spelling... so the "lossing" did jump out at me, but that's a simple fix.

I didn't even notice the stuff Sam pointed out when I watched it other than the typo. Somehow I didn't even see the shirt wiping incident. Angi and I did notice the Jonny Mac T-shirt though!

How much would your friend charge me for a video? I mean, you guys could come up here where there's actually a lot of water to dive in, and he could make me a video.

Haha Thanks Nick! We have Cold Dark water in Utah, Right now we have to cut out a chunk of water to get in...

We do have these things called Airplanes that transport us to other locations though!

I was hoping that wearing the JMK Shirt my grinds would improve... Nope. I am sure Jake would be happy to shoot a video for you I will have him send you a Bid.