What do you like to see in a DVD?

[stickarts]

I have been making instructional DVD's for my students for some time now and they seem to be very helpful. What do you like to see in an instructional DVD? (please give details!) What are the key things you look for that will help you in learning? What have you seen in DVD's that you don't like? I know prices may differ in different areas, but what do you consider a fair price to pay for a good video that will assist you to your next rank level or just will teach you useful information? I look forward to your replies!

 

[stickarts]

PS. If you don't ever purchase instructional DVD's, why not?

 

[tshadowchaser]

First I almost never buy instructional DVD’S, why, because I make so little money at my work that I have only very limited funds to spends on other things that are outside of paying rent and surviving.
What I look for on a instructional DVD is information I do not already have and a presentation that explains the Technique, form, technique, etc. in a manner that shows it in fast motion then a break down in slow motion from various angles.
Sometimes I look at simply the movement and how it corresponds to what is intended to be the outcome. I have seen to many instructional that show only one angle and found out later that what I thought I saw was not what was actually happening.
At times I am looking for specific information and will purchase a video only if it has that information
What I do not like is people promoting themselves more than displaying technique, information, etc. This I can say I do not believe you would do

 

[stickarts]

First I almost never buy instructional DVD’S, why, because I make so little money at my work that I have only very limited funds to spends on other things that are outside of paying rent and surviving.
What I look for on a instructional DVD is information I do not already have and a presentation that explains the Technique, form, technique, etc. in a manner that shows it in fast motion then a break down in slow motion from various angles.
Sometimes I look at simply the movement and how it corresponds to what is intended to be the outcome. I have seen to many instructional that show only one angle and found out later that what I thought I saw was not what was actually happening.
At times I am looking for specific information and will purchase a video only if it has that information
What I do not like is people promoting themselves more than displaying technique, information, etc. This I can say I do not believe you would do

Thank you! I show techniques from 2 angles and speeds and its all strictly material. I appreciate the feedback. Funds sure are a concern for many of us.

 

[Phadrus00]

I personally think DVD's are an excellent way to remind ourselves about curriculum we already have been taught as well as for learning new techniques and curriculum we haven't been exposed to.

I have many hours of video and have a couple of things I find annoying in the production:

1/ Just like porn, I don't need a story line.. Forget the "scenario" just get right to the good stuff! Understand that I speak from expereince, I too have put together video where I tried to do my Steven Segal impression. It makes for a good laugh with my students. Unless you are specifically showing a particular application (car-jacking, using the environment, etc.) then skip the acting and go right to the materiel in the DoJo.

2/ I need to see it from different angles. Show me multiple angles. If you are really smart you will shoot it from multiple angles simultaneously and then build your video with those multiple camera angles encoded so I can easily switch between them.

3/ Block the Shot Properly. Typically One Camera is not going to do and you need to think about where to shoot from so you can see the most important stuff.

4/ Get a good mic or re-dub the sound. If I can't hear the important safety tip you are explaining about the "Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique" then all the other stiuff is kinda less than useful right?

5/ Use a neutral background and get good lighting. It doesn't have to be completely boring but it should not be distracting and PLEASE for heavens sake turn on some lights so I can see what is going on!!!!!

6/ Lastly... Don't mix in your favorite Thresh Metal band into the voice over. You don't need to add energy and gravitas to the soundtrack, it's an instructional video, not a Wachowski Brothers Film..

Rob

 

[Andrew Green]

New drills, training excercises, strategy, tactics, etc.

What I would not want would be a library of techniques, techniques should compliment the concepts being shown, not be the basis for the dvd.

But it's been a long time since I even watched a instructional dvd, very often they seem shallow and overpriced. They've gotten better though, the 12 x 20 min set priced at $50 / each or $400 for the set I think was the low point. Esspecially when youreally only got a few minutes of footage shown from 3 angles, 3 times at normal speed and twice in slow motion.

 

[stickarts]

I personally think DVD's are an excellent way to remind ourselves about curriculum we already have been taught as well as for learning new techniques and curriculum we haven't been exposed to.

I have many hours of video and have a couple of things I find annoying in the production:

1/ Just like porn, I don't need a story line.. Forget the "scenario" just get right to the good stuff! Understand that I speak from expereince, I too have put together video where I tried to do my Steven Segal impression. It makes for a good laugh with my students. Unless you are specifically showing a particular application (car-jacking, using the environment, etc.) then skip the acting and go right to the materiel in the DoJo.

2/ I need to see it from different angles. Show me multiple angles. If you are really smart you will shoot it from multiple angles simultaneously and then build your video with those multiple camera angles encoded so I can easily switch between them.

3/ Block the Shot Properly. Typically One Camera is not going to do and you need to think about where to shoot from so you can see the most important stuff.

4/ Get a good mic or re-dub the sound. If I can't hear the important safety tip you are explaining about the "Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique" then all the other stiuff is kinda less than useful right?

5/ Use a neutral background and get good lighting. It doesn't have to be completely boring but it should not be distracting and PLEASE for heavens sake turn on some lights so I can see what is going on!!!!!

6/ Lastly... Don't mix in your favorite Thresh Metal band into the voice over. You don't need to add energy and gravitas to the soundtrack, it's an instructional video, not a Wachowski Brothers Film..

Rob

Thanks! Some great info there! I have much of that covered but need a better mic. getting the sound right is a pain sometimes and thats a great recommendation!

 

[stickarts]

New drills, training excercises, strategy, tactics, etc.

What I would not want would be a library of techniques, techniques should compliment the concepts being shown, not be the basis for the dvd.

But it's been a long time since I even watched a instructional dvd, very often they seem shallow and overpriced. They've gotten better though, the 12 x 20 min set priced at $50 / each or $400 for the set I think was the low point. Esspecially when youreally only got a few minutes of footage shown from 3 angles, 3 times at normal speed and twice in slow motion.

thanks! I like the slow motion idea.

 

[Andrew Green]

thanks! I like the slow motion idea.

I was referring to it in a negative way there, a lot of videos use a ton of unnecessary slow motion to draw out the video, allowing them to spread it out on more volumes.

Slow motion is great when it is necessary, but highly irritating when it is not.

 

[stickarts]

I was referring to it in a negative way there, a lot of videos use a ton of unnecessary slow motion to draw out the video, allowing them to spread it out on more volumes.

Slow motion is great when it is necessary, but highly irritating when it is not.

Yup. I know what you mean. Some techniques are shown well when zoomed in and showed slow but too much slow motion is annoying.

 

[shihansmurf]

I like to see the techniques shown from the top view. It allows me to see the relational positions of the attacker and defender, in terms if range, better.

Mark

When I read the thread title all I could think of was Scarlet Johanssen ....:wink1:

 

[stickarts]

I like to see the techniques shown from the top view. It allows me to see the relational positions of the attacker and defender, in terms if range, better.

Mark

When I read the thread title all I could think of was Scarlet Johanssen ....:wink1:

LOL! I will see if Scarlet is available for filming my next DVD.

 

[Andrew Green]

top down view with Scarlett Johanssen... what sort of dvd are you planning?

 

[Shicomm]

Don't get 300% serious , i doesn't hurt to smile or drop a funny line once in a while to loose up the whole thing a bit

Price is an important thing.
When hiring a cammer and get a bad price on pressing the discs then you get expensive end products.
Most of the time you can produce your own raw video , just shoot plenty of material and after some tries it will just work fine.
You can try to edit and produce as well.
Editting is not that easy but does a video always need to be super slick ?
Imho , no .

Once it's editted it's very easy to produce the discs as well for yourself ; a simple computer or even laptop with a dvd burner can do just fine.

But even when you can have the discs pressed at a plant it doesn't have to break the bank ( i've worked for years pressing cd's and dvd's so i know it's possible to get a production out without breaking the bank ... )

 

[shihansmurf]

LOL! I will see if Scarlet is available for filming my next DVD.

If so I can assure you of at least on sale. LOL

Mark

 

[shihansmurf]

top down view with Scarlett Johanssen... what sort of dvd are you planning?

one of tremendous artistic merit.

Mark

A Samuel L. Bronkowitz production......

 

[stickarts]

Don't get 300% serious , i doesn't hurt to smile or drop a funny line once in a while to loose up the whole thing a bit

Price is an important thing.
When hiring a cammer and get a bad price on pressing the discs then you get expensive end products.
Most of the time you can produce your own raw video , just shoot plenty of material and after some tries it will just work fine.
You can try to edit and produce as well.
Editting is not that easy but does a video always need to be super slick ?
Imho , no .

Once it's editted it's very easy to produce the discs as well for yourself ; a simple computer or even laptop with a dvd burner can do just fine.

But even when you can have the discs pressed at a plant it doesn't have to break the bank ( i've worked for years pressing cd's and dvd's so i know it's possible to get a production out without breaking the bank ... )

Thanks! We do them ourselves.