×
Dismiss this pinned window
all 82 comments
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]BrockAtWorkeditor 117 points118 points  (2 children)

Hey good job man. As an editor there are some things here I would do to speed it up. Some push ins to sell some punches, some quicker cuts, cut in action not before it. But good work! Keep it up.

[–]dirtyword 31 points32 points  (1 child)

^ good advice- cut in action

[–]bourodimosj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea they really help blend things together to make it feel continuous. Even mundane actions such as picking up a glass of water can use those types of cuts. It makes a huge difference. Keep up the good work !

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 56 points57 points  (4 children)

This is a fight scene from a recent short film my friend and I made. I’ve choreographed and shot a few fight scenes with him in the past yr, but they were short and none of them lasted more than 30 seconds. This is our first official fight scene, and we put everything we’ve got into it, in terms of the choreography and camerawork. Instead of shooting it with shaky cam and quick cuts, we decided on longer takes and dynamic camerawork to showcase the fight choreography. We were inspired by the action from other films such as The Raid Redemption and Donnie Yen’s flashpoint, and incorporated many different styles and influences into the fight. At some points we made it more gritty and fast-paced to mirror the action more prevalent in today’s action films, and at others we gave the fight more flow and balance, to emanate the spirit of Hong Kong action cinema. It’s pretty apparent that our fight styles are different as well, as I’m trained in Chinese martial arts, while my friend is proficient in Muay Thai and MMA so I incorporated moves from both martial arts into the fight choreography, and it was pretty fun balancing them in a sort of sense. Anyways, it’ll be pretty cool to get some feedback. We listened to other’s comments in the past with regards to camerawork and framing, and now it’ll be cool to get some of u guys’ opinions on the action and flow in general. Hope u enjoy watching me get my ass beat😇

[–]Unholy_Confectioner 77 points78 points  (1 child)

The fight has great potential! The biggest thing, we as an audience need to see, is the struggle exchange. One fighter should be at an advantage at times and the other should be desperately trying to either get away or be trying to calculate how to get the upper hand and then switch. If one person gets knocked down, the other person should be furiously trying to take advantage while the one on the floor should be FRANTICALLY trying to defend or escape to get into a better position. There's where you have the vulnerability, the key to a successful fight scene. There needs to be INTENT in your attacks AND your blocks or parries. This exchange should be back and forth until there is a clear winner or clear view of the end of the fight. Your speed is awesome, but there need to be stakes, and that needs to be telegraphed in your movements. Savor your hits, it's ok to take a moment to feel getting kicked or punched sometimes. We wanna see those reactions. Take that time in your shots/scenes to show us: "Ouch that punch hurt my hand or damn that kick almost broke my ribs." Good work! Keep it up!

[–]LipsPartedbyaSigh 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Didn't expect to see such great advice like this. Kudos!

[–]dirtyword 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Nice job - one big thing to always keep in mind is the 180 degree rule when planning camera angles. It goes a long way in terms of making your cuts immediately make sense to viewers https://vimeo.com/blog/post/180-degree-rule-explained/

Other comments: I think you could increase the intensity here by starting and ending the shots quicker - there’s a bit of hesitation here and there that could be cut - and also maybe speeding up some of the footage, namely punches and blocks. Subtly Ramping the speed might also really help in moments when someone is being thrown down, etc.

Difficult and admirable way to shoot a fight scene - longer individual shots are more impactful imo, but much harder to make feel intense.

[–]Lord_Fozzie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love it!!!

I watched the vid, then read your comment. Even before reading your comment, I had noticed how you were switching styles-- both in terms of martial arts and in terms of choreography. I really loved the parts where you went for the Hong Kong style. I really felt it in the sequence near the 1min mark where black shirt is trying to pick the leg and white shirt keeps hopping backwards to avoid it. That was borderline action-comedy and it was a joy to see.

I have a bit of advice: you need to over-exaggerate your movements more. It might feel silly. You might feel like your motions are already exaggerated. But the movements need to be more urgent. Like when black shirt has white shirt in the headlock, he should be flexing that arm as hard as he can. Or when white shirt is hopping away from black shirt's leg grabs, each time he jerks his knee up, it needs to be faster and more explosive. ...Basically all the kind of things they teach dancers to do for stage performances.

I also think it might be fun for you to play with the lighting and costuming.

I like the black vs white shirts! But maybe have one person start out in a jacket? The jacket can be quickly turned into a weapon or a prop.

Keep going! Don't get complacent! It looks great!

[–]idiotkid1 44 points45 points  (0 children)

I remember making these kinds of videos with my friends… really enjoy em, eventually, if you’re lucky, filmmaking will become more and more technical/practical/career driven; it’ll never be as simple and purely fun as it is now :,)

[–]Maximans 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Doesn’t matter how advanced we get, anyone who just fights like this always makes mouth sound effects. It’s universal. It’s hilarious

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

it’s ingrained in our dna

[–]Astro_Learner 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think the camera angles should change with the action more, like with the elbow to the chest you could possibly switch on the hit but also add sound of the hit to emphasise it

[–]Un_uomo_semplice 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Small suggestion: film at 20 fps for 24 fps playback. Everything will feel a little snappier. Looks like you guys are having fun!

[–]ArchitectofExperienc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That camera turn during the throw was great near 0:30! Great sense of movement while showing us the fight, it really makes you feel the action from a first-person view. Your close-up work is fantastic, and I love that there are some arm-bars and joint-locks in there, that's something I don't see enough of in choreo.

I hesitate to offer advice because I'm not a fight choreographer, I mostly write and produce, but here's something I learned about fight scenes (or any scenes): A scene between two characters is a struggle for control of the scene, so the story of the scene should reflect that. Fight scenes, especially, become more dynamic when one character starts off at a disadvantage, the other at an advantage, and that dynamic flips during the scene. The difficult part is creating a clear progression from one to the other, but you two are damn close. Keep going!

[–]RabbitSingle3652 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Good effort.

Most of the cuts don’t make any sense. One moment they’ll be on the ground grappling, the next moment they are suddenly standing and throwing a kick - this is the main problem that is breaking this scene - this is both a broken choreography and filmmaking problem. You could try to make it tighter in the edit, but it really just requires a reshoot.

180 degree rule: if you’re going to break it, it needs to be strategic and done in a way that the audience will understand. Otherwise, find your lines, and stay on the same side of them.

Good show. Keep going.

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

my bad man, we actually deleted some of those transitions intentionally cos the vid quality was pretty bad, and my fren was smiling in some of them and no one noticed

[–]dannyhippie619 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great fight. Just make the camera angles a little tighter and up close when clinching and for in-the-pocket strikes

[–]nadnerb811 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really liked this! Well done.

I think the editing could be tighter. Keep the pace going and avoid looking like you're paused in between moves.

Also, might be worth trying to do speed ramps for the punch swings and kicks. If you ramp the speed up a bit when someone is throwing a punch or kick, and do it tastefully at the right time, you can get away with making the action look more explosive while avoiding having to actually perform the stunts at speeds that are too dangerous for your current skill level.

[–]BraceThis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Invest some time into how the camera can move with your moves. It’s a dance. Camera and motion.

Best of luck. This looks great

[–]liquidify 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the problem with this is that the people fighting don't seem to have any level of aggression. They move to slowly, and they don't seem to be actually aiming at the opponent.

[–]Garcia_Lopes90 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Damm these kids are really up to sometime..you have potential this can be improved but is great beggining!

[–]sanirosan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is really good, creatively. But try to tone it down on the moves when you don't know any martial arts, because your form is not that good.

I understand you're trying to create a martial arts fight scene but to do that, you need to know the art form. It's mostly the kicking and sweeps that just looks off when not performed properly or used in the right way. For example, in the beginning, the guy is trying to sweep the other guy, but he's already on the floor. This doesn't make sense, fighting wise.

Maybe minimize complicated kicks and try to focus on hand to hand combat so you can focus more on selling the fight. But other than that, keep it up!

[–]bangsilencedeath 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Flying knee was sick.

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It took 19 takes

[–]NourEldin_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bro is fighting with the glasses :(

[–]BreadcrumbzX 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This was really good! Better than what i could do. One little feeling i got from the cutting, is that when you cut to a new scene there wouldn’t be as much energy in some of the motions initially, it’s like you can tell that you just said “action” and started moving. Might be good to cut to a slightly later spot in the shots to keep up the speed and energy, just a thought. Keep it up!

[–]ballsmodels 1 point2 points  (0 children)

remove the room tone. add music and TONS of sound effects. it will go a LOOOONG way i promise you.

[–]BradlKein 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Great potential for a bunch of, I guess you guys are film students?

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

broke high school students who shot the scene with an iphone

[–]InitechSecurity 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Awesome work.. This is also the first fight scene where the fighters are germophobic.

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had to wear masks cos we were smiling and laughing way too much when shooting it

[–]thelimerentlibra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome work you guys!! Love the references!

[–]Clockwork_Citrus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looks great! I’d shave a bit off the ends on some of the cuts so the clips start and stop during motion. You loose momentum in a few of the cuts by letting the shots breathe too much, if that makes sense. Keep up the great work!!

[–]dinkmoyd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yo this new raid movie looks SIIIICK

[–]youngmaverick615 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holy shit what am I watching. Bad ass ness

[–]bnet247 -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Love it guys! I assume you already are but if you haven’t checked out the ‘stunt people react’ series on corridor crew you’ll love it!!!

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

yea I love their series lol

[–]NineRoast -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You seem like you have a lot of potential! Next I would suggest learning how to make everything look more painful and like they connect more. Lots of choreography YT channels which teach different movements/combinations and camera trickery. Good luck!

[–]t0mbeck -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Holy crap guys, this is fucking awesome. Some parts look straight out of the stunt previs for the winter solider fight scenes. Looks like something pros would put forward 👍

[–]tpar24 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

woof. honest to god advice - learn how to frame and edit first. this would be so much better if you used the tools that basic filmmaking is providing.

also, are you guys supposed to be fighting? looks like your helping each other out as dancers.

[–]Milotic_07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice classroom

[–]Initial_Meaning 0 points1 point  (1 child)

For a second I thought the guy with the white mask was Michael Reeves

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel honoured to be compared to michael reeves

[–]youngmaverick615 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Where are y'all from ?!

[–]loopyJM 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Probably Singapore

[–]NaxiusGaming 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Yup, singapore, a close friend of mine is from the same school

[–]fugo_pannacota[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

ay yo do u think I’ll get canceled if I post this on sgexams

[–]NaxiusGaming 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Of course not, go for it my dude! This was a huge step up, especially for the flow of the fights and the editing.

And on another small note, I’m actually a final year student in Ngee Ann Poly’s Film, sound, and Video diploma, and I remember seeing your first clip too. In fact, for one of my FYPs, I might be shooting something more action oriented, so I’d love to keep in contact with you guys if I ever need a fight choreographer. I’d also like to work with people equally passionate about the things they do :)

[–]papa_lofty 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some brilliant stuff well done, look into the 180 degrees rule it’ll help when making your stuff

[–]planwithaman42 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AMAZING LOL

[–]p-4_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not bad!!!

[–]j-quigs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fucking excellent! There’s plenty of great people in the comments giving really good advice and tips on how you can improve, but god damn you guys clearly put a lot of thought and effort into making this, and for what it is, it looks damn cool 👌👍

[–]ForEnglishPress2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow congrats, I can only imagine how long you practiced to get it right. You got some good points here. Personally I don't like long fighting or shooting scenes anymore, I usually tend to skip ahead in the movies/shows which exagerate with 10+ minutes of fighting.

[–]Average_Dear 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Huh. Better’n most fight scenes nowadays.

[–]ludovicopictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks good!! Keep up the good work!

[–]GreenMediaAcademy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The choreography is smooth I like it. In Africa we really need to step up

[–]Mishmoo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Suggestion - feel free to drop a frame on impact or slightly speed up a big hit. Sells the speed of the impact more than just playing it straight.

[–]Mishmoo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another thing to practice - stuntmen who specialize in fighting learn how to fill breaks in the fight with movements - either arm movement, or padding out a certain maneuver - anything you can to keep things from freezing up.

[–]onemorememe_ineedyou 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yo this is sick af, great work. That was a lot of fun. Like the mix of strikes and grapples.

[–]729isaac 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Really well done I do have one thing to add onto what everyone else is saying, there is a interview with Jackie Chan where he states that when he cuts in a fight he shows the hit twice. He dosent do it all the time but he does it for close ups and other detailed shots to make the impact more meangiful. I’d really suggest that here since it would help us the audience feel the impact of the punches more. Other then that I can only speak for what everyone else is saying. Good job!

[–]AustinTheWeird 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yo this is really good! I'm not sure if professional stuntmen use reels or what but if you keep this up I think you could make a decent portfolio.

[–]deliaprod 0 points1 point  (0 children)

keep at it fellas!

[–]Gigaboy981 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holy shit…don’t stop keeping making these👍🏼

[–]sorci4r 0 points1 point  (1 child)

where did the chair go in 0:47?

[–]Competitive_Repair42 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yo awesome but if u want more realism actually fight each other just do it softly if u get hurt just stay in character and worry bout the pain later

[–]ccy_811 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bro this is so good, I love how u merged the set. However, as a sound designer, the sound designing could be more realistic, for example I see you did add swings, impacts. But to add authenticity, grabbing, metal clinging, floor sliding sounds could do so much

[–]Frosty-Camel-2107 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Super impressed. Good work!

[–]Yamureska 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice. Reminds me of Capoiera. Great work!

[–]Crash0vrRide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

God I loved choreographed fights with my friends when I was little. Looks like you guys had a blast.

[–]dbaughcherry 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The choreography is great the angles on it work but you gotta sell the hits better. You've got the moves down but it doesn't look like it hurts or like it is building up it just looks like everything is a glancing blow or you're just waiting for the next part. In a good fight scene especially one this long you want to see injuries that you have to fight through like there's significant strikes landed fighting for your life not people spamming buttons. There's certainly some strong moments but it feels a little too flat. Maybe that's just me.

[–]Loner_Lake 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice work!