Final Fantasy XIV: Rebirth Trailer (Work In Progress Feedback)

Hello, everybody! I've released an early build of a trailer for Final Fantasy XIV, using one of my favorite tracks from the .hack//G.U. series. The reason I am releasing it early is to get your feedback on whether or not it works well within the framework of Final Fantasy 14, and whether or not it lets on too much or too little - as well as spotting any possible audiovisual inconsistencies that I may have missed.

As a little bit of background, I work on video editing in my free time to exercise my creative muscles, and this trailer has proven to be quite the workout. I have been working on developing new techniques for the video that will spice it up far better than the current version I am about to show you. This version is also watermarked for that reason.

The objective of this video is to show how foreboding the world of Eorzea has become, and the dangers that face each of us. As a word of caution due to potential spoilers, most of these shots come from the Grand Company quests, as well as the main Storyline quests.

I look forward to your feedback.

Final Fantasy XIV: Rebirth WIP

P.S. As an important note, the FFXIV client has very poor optimization, so it has been an incredible chore trying to get smooth video capture for some of the scenes. In all of these cases, I only had one opportunity for each cutscene to capture it as best as I could! Yoshi-P has not given us a "cutscene replay" feature, which would make my life easier as a video editor! Please pressure him to add Goblin Footprints!


Quoted below is part of the YouTube video's description.

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Originally Posted by YouTube Description

This is a work in progress trailer of the Final Fantasy XIV Rebirth trailer that I plan on releasing. Currently, the compositions are generally done, and all that remains is fine-tuning, and some new effect overlays that will spice up the video considerably. There are also some errors that a sharp-eyed watcher will spot in this video, which I will be addressing, such as unsightly transitions, as well as needing to tweak the time-acceleration and editing on some clips.

This is version 0.8a. Listed below are the additional visual features that will be added to the trailer by 1.0.

To Be Added:

• Introduction (complete with voiceover + english/japanese subtitles
• Visual Overlay Effects featuring artwork & Final Fantasy motifs
• Square Enix logo bumper clip
• Credits for music

Why am I releasing this version early? To get feedback, of course. I am constantly learning and improving on my video editing wherever the opportunity arises, and this is one of those opportunities.

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Great Job! Made me want to login lol

(@.o)b

I dabbled a bit for a while myself, learning a few things along the way. Went so far as running a convention's AMV competition. I have a few things I'd like to contribute:

The initial pans of the cities go perhaps a little too fast to take in. Without a focus on a single element in the shot, the brain needs time to see what it's being shown. I'd suggest trying to time the transitions to the vocals and the actions inside the shots to the beat - the Garlean ships at 0:18 are an example of when you've done this well. Thought I'd complement that - so many people have no sense of rhythm. >_< Either way, consistency in what you match is probably most important up to the logo at 0:25.

It almost feels like a shame to have not done something with the bells at 0:36, but I can't fault what you have used.

0:45 - I want to see what spell Y'shtola has actually cast.

Kill the lip-flap (Papalymo and Thancred at 0:53). It makes you want to know what they're saying and distracts from the rest of the video.

The "combat" sequence till 1:25 - felt relatively good. Polish the timing/transitions and it should look even better.

1:27 - the eye sequence needs cleaning up or replacing. Not sure what you're trying to do here. Also way to dark. The Elezen looking up was nice though. Maybe replace the glowing eye with a star shower. It's just what I'd go for.


I can sound really critical, can't i? My overall impression is that this looks good and I kinda want to try my own hand at this again. Which would mean collecting footage... >_<

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Originally Posted by Catapult

I can sound really critical, can't i? My overall impression is that this looks good and I kinda want to try my own hand at this again. Which would mean collecting footage... >_<

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I prefer that kind of criticism. Thanks.

As an important note, my hearing is not so sharp as to catch things like the bells you mentioned. In fact, you could say I've some very profound hearing loss (this is an actual clinical term for "Deaf"), so what I did, was what I could hear with my decades-old hearing aid.

Also, what I was trying to do was imply that there was a ages-old story with my character, Feral Ren. She has quite an interesting backstory.

I've decided to respond to your criticism step by step, I owe you at least that much.

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Originally Posted by Catapult

I dabbled a bit for a while myself, learning a few things along the way. Went so far as running a convention's AMV competition. I have a few things I'd like to contribute:

The initial pans of the cities go perhaps a little too fast to take in. Without a focus on a single element in the shot, the brain needs time to see what it's being shown. I'd suggest trying to time the transitions to the vocals and the actions inside the shots to the beat - the Garlean ships at 0:18 are an example of when you've done this well. Thought I'd complement that - so many people have no sense of rhythm. >_< Either way, consistency in what you match is probably most important up to the logo at 0:25.

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I try to keep a mix of fast pace and slow pace, so I change it up a bit often.

Edit Addenum: I also prefer to look for the most clearest cues to use for shifting pace, as well as the series of compositions, rather than subtle bits of music.

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Originally Posted by Catapult

It almost feels like a shame to have not done something with the bells at 0:36, but I can't fault what you have used.

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What bells? XD I'll try to listen for them, but filtering the audio "manually" with my brain can be incredibly difficult.

EDIT: I think I hear the bells now. Thanks for pointing it out to me. I'll see if I can do something with them, but no guarantees.

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Originally Posted by Catapult

0:45 - I want to see what spell Y'shtola has actually cast.

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This was depicted in a lot of Square Enix's official trailers. I don't think it needs to be repeated here.

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Originally Posted by Catapult

Kill the lip-flap (Papalymo and Thancred at 0:53). It makes you want to know what they're saying and distracts from the rest of the video.

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I've been thinking the same.

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Originally Posted by Catapult

The "combat" sequence till 1:25 - felt relatively good. Polish the timing/transitions and it should look even better.

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Given the limited amount of video stock that I was able to capture, I didn't have a lot of wiggle room. I'll look into improving it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Catapult

1:27 - the eye sequence needs cleaning up or replacing. Not sure what you're trying to do here. Also way to dark. The Elezen looking up was nice though. Maybe replace the glowing eye with a star shower. It's just what I'd go for.

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These two sequences are intended to hint at a possible extended story beyond just the trailer, which will be addressed in due time when I finish the extra visual elements that are planned for the trailer.

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Originally Posted by Catapult

I can sound really critical, can't i? My overall impression is that this looks good and I kinda want to try my own hand at this again. Which would mean collecting footage... >_<

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Being critical like this is a good exercise in constructive discourse. I think it's something the forums have been missing for quite some time.

*gasp* You did this all with a hearing aid?!?!? O_o
Excuse me while I catch my breath. That's... incredible.

Also if you're trying to build this video around your character rather than the game, some of the scene choices indeed make more sense. *like*

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Originally Posted by Catapult

*gasp* You did this all with a hearing aid?!?!? O_o
Excuse me while I catch my breath. That's... incredible.

Also if you're trying to build this video around your character rather than the game, some of the scene choices indeed make more sense. *like*

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Not quite around the character, though. That would be a bit self-centered of me now, would it?

Edit: For comparison's sake, here's a VERY early version of the trailer using the FFXII demo loop music. Second Sequence Test 1

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Originally Posted by SilvertearRen

Not quite around the character, though. That would be a bit self-centered of me now, would it?

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Good attitude!

Amazing! Honestly I wish people would do more of these. That was better pr material for XIV than I've seen in several months!

omg... that was amazing! While it was a bit "spoilish" for me, since I'm only rank 26, I must say that it got me super excited for the things I am still yet to see... knowing that these scenes are already in the game actually blow my mind. Many of them looked absolutely EPIC.

And the work in the trailer itself... WOW You are an editing master.