I know that there are many videos on the internet regarding the Police reforms. After watching a number of these I have decided to join the fight by publishing my own piece in the belief that any publicity is good publicity.
I hope that it gives a little insight into the current situation and the reasons that caused 35.,000 off-duty officers to take to the streets of the capital on 10th May.
The voice over from Teresa May is intended to be a reminder of the difference between the public portrayal of our Home Secretary and the private betrayal of her Government.
It’s less than three minutes in length so have a look and share the link with your friends.
*** Now in HD ***
May 31st, 2012 at 22:14
Federation are Spineless
June 1st, 2012 at 11:47
Very moving video (love the music)
June 1st, 2012 at 11:47
Re the vid. Needs to have bit more punch- esp opening which is a bit PowerPoint’ish. Maybe cut the opening down to 2 screens?
June 1st, 2012 at 12:11
Nice sounds, don’t think the cuts will make much difference, they do sod all now.
June 1st, 2012 at 14:51
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June 1st, 2012 at 22:03
I wouldn’t normally criticise anybodies video, but you did ask. I hope that if I have criticised anything that I’ve pointed out the good bits or offered a helpful suggestion. When you have read and considered this comment, please delete it as the points raised are really only for your consumption. And I feel a bit bad about putting critical stuff on a blog I enjoy, and its not my best piece of writing ever.
The length of video you made is spot on not to short and not to long.
The start is a bit over stretched, it starts well and then dribbles out a bit and then out stays its welcome.
“In 2012
Policing is face its worst year ever…”
That’s a great line, it does the whole job. Then cut to some fast moving noisy action to make sure people are really watching the screen. Not scratching their bum or drinking coffee, With that one line you set up an expectation that something dramatic is going to happen and you need to feed it. Once you have fed it, people are engaged. And they will stay and listen to what comes next. So you can then feed the points out till you get to the big “out”
After the intro and the hook, a general montage of 4 or 5 shots and then a point, 3 shots and a point 3 shots and another point, 2 shots and a point, 2 shots and a point, 1 shot and a point, one dramatic final shot and the strongest point. Hold and fade just as its almost black, cut to “Cutting the Police by 20% is criminal” with a sound effect as an underline.
Don’t refer to rioting scumbags as the Public, The Public are the law abiding normal folk and your audience. If you lump rioters in with the Public it gives the impression that police officers think everyone is scum. (I may have phrased that badly)
Don’t push the pension issue with the public (I understand its very important, and I would be F&£%ing livid about the issue if it was me), a best they don’t care and are power less to help. Most are going to face a much grimmer retirement than you or any of your colleagues, so waving it in their faces isn’t going to get you any sympathy, (Personally I think your pensions are hard earned and fully deserved.) Complaining that you only have a crust of bread in a room full of starving people will win you no friends.
White text over a colour image tends to fade into the background, so individual letters vanish and it can make it hard to read. especially on a small screen (iPhone/Android). White text over a moving image can be even worse as different letters fade in and out as the image changes. If you want to use text in this way, try to pick a colour that doesn’t exist in the background. (I appreciate this can be hard to do and keep a constant colour throughout, though handily a police themed blue might work best.)
If you are going to use rostrum effects, don’t use the same one each time, (i.e. zoom in centre). Each effect has to have a point. E.g. try a pan across and then zoom into the face of a bloodied or exhausted officer, or start tight on an officer and then pull back out to show the chaos surrounding them.
I think the public are asleep on what is happening, and they need waking up and to be told what is about to happen to them. Focus on the cut in numbers, the cut in resources and the lay out the impact. Less police, less traffic units, less dog units, more crime, more burglary, more muggings, more street dealing, more violent disorder, more ASB, the list goes on. You are the people best placed to tell the public what is going to happen, no one else will tell them, ACPO won’t, Politicos certainly won’t.
If you want another line for another film can I offer,
“In 2012
The Police are under attack…”
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Well done MC, good work.
June 1st, 2012 at 23:29
Thanks for reading…
Unfortunately a piece like this is always going to attract a few different points of view. I can see your point of view in respect of most of the constructive comments given and appreciate your honesty.
For that reason I have removed the embarrassment and corrected your gramatical mistakes (to which you later referred) at no charge. Hope you don’t mind the beneficial edits…
If I could write the backing music, re-shoot and re-edit I may have made a few tweaks with your comments in mind, but this format and forum is, pretty much, a one shot deal – once its up its up….good or bad
Thanks again…
MC
June 2nd, 2012 at 21:01
Thank you for your very gracious reply and for sparing my embarrassment. I felt I should risk being so bold, because its a very important issue and as you say needs much more publicity. It is to your great credit that you managed to juggle work, home and social commitments to produce it. You have a very good visual sense, and your video is well crafted. I would respectfully urge you to make more (if you felt inclined).
In the present world of social media it is exactly videos like yours that are vital to communicate the facts to a wider audience.
(I also look forward to congratulating you on your blog anniversary in 3 and a bit weeks time.)