FCProX FX: Stan Bush: Dare experiment

IGS Media Technician John has started editing a video for Stan Bush's Dare, popularised through its inclusion in a 1986 animated Transformers movie OST (though I have to confess being unfamiliar with either of these!). The highest google ranking for vids goes to a UGC/fan-made vid from 2008 featuring footage from the 80s and newer Transformers flicks.
Arguably, then, the target aud for a vid for this today would have crossover appeal to an older, 35-44, age range from its original release as well as a contemporary youth audience (though the AOR nature of the track, and some dated/80s elements of this, might well limit youth appeal). As an independent artist in his own right, John's own auteur stamp is evident, with the fantasy themes and abstract style that marks much of his work (in film and other media) suggesting a more niche appeal than the very mainstream original use of the track.
The early, initial guide cut (not much further than laying down a basic guide track + starting some FX experiments) is embedded below, followed by a summary feedback from a sample of 17 year-old Media students. I'll add further details of FCProX tools used, and further cuts as they become available.


FEEDBACK SUMMARY (1st rough cut):

Overall the lip-synching worked well but the general agreement was that more coverage is needed to provide greater shot variety and keep audience engagement at a higher peak.

The filters deployed for the two lip-synching tracks were effective with a third layer of different colours providing a vibrant visual effect – preference was indicated that the black and white graphic filter worked better.

The narrative element of the video is still being filmed and mapped into the edit, and even taking the use of narrative enigma into account the material is still not quite varied enough to sustain a 4min video.

The use of still images in a fast music video is divisive – some class members felt they worked best when used sparingly, edited to match the pace of the music and deploying shot-in-shot tools via video layering.  As the structure of the edit is still very rough there was some repetition of shots that will be addressed in further edits.  Some class members felt there should be less still images and more moving footage deployed in the narrative sections.

More cutting to the beat would be of huge benefit to the video, and in terms of lip-synching making sure the footage matches it, using zooms, layering tools to match shots to long drawn-out notes where there is a discrepancy.  These techniques would avoid the need to re-shoot.

TBC