Youtube Review

The above Youtube comedy skit, "Russian Reccommendation for Recession: How to Get Free Sushi," by Toby Turner, utilizes many film techniques. The piece is composed of several basic shots. Medium shots, in which the subjects appear about eight to ten feet from the camera, are used in this piece to establish the characters and the context in which the skit takes place.

Close-ups are used throughout the video to focus on one of the characters when he or she is speaking. Alternating the close-ups with the medium shots keeps the viewer from staring at any one shots for more than a few seconds. The angles used in the close-ups are constantly changing, but the shots are all taken from the same side of the couch, which avoids confusing the viewer with a reversed perspective.

The clip also uses cut-away shots, which are close-ups on objects or actions that take place outside the setting previously established. In this skit, cutaway shots are used to illustrate the process of eating sushi in a grocery store. Also used are extreme close-ups, in which the camera zooms very close to the subject. In this case, the shot of the mouth eating the sushi. Finally, the clip includes a few point-of-view shots, such as the shot where the viewer feels as though he is looking into the shopping cart. These shots help to bring the viewer into the action.

The most effective technique used in the clip is the use of cutting on the action. In several places, a cut while one of the characters is moving an arm or turning a head keeps the viewer from noticing a slight inconsistency in the position of the character because the viewer's eyes focus on the motion rather than on the position of the character. These flaws are only visible upon careful reviewing of the clip.

The clip is also made more effective by the alternating angles of the close-ups. These close-ups help to keep the viewer interested by preventing the viewer from staring at the same shot for more than a few seconds. The use of various angles brings another element of interest to the clip and also helps to cover up discrepancies in the positions of the characters.

In any project, however, there is always room for improvement. In this clip, the cut-away shots are often out of focus, and the extreme close ups are also unfocused. These errors detract from the effectiveness of the clip as they distract the viewer from the purpose of the shot. Also distracting are the rough transitions to the cut-aways, especially to the cut-aways of the soy sauce. These sudden changes make the clip a slightly jarring experience for the viewer. Finally, there are a few moments in the clip where the positions of the characters change between shots. This distraction could be avoided with better planning during filming.

Improved transitions, ensuring the camera is properly focused, and being sure to take shoot comprehensive footage that can be used to cover variations in the positions of the actors would have greatly improved this clip.