Appreciation post: A viewer told me my 'day in the life' videos felt too staged

They said it looked like I was just doing things for the camera, not actually living. I switched to filming one continuous take with no cuts, and my retention jumped from 45 seconds to over 3 minutes. Anyone else get feedback that made you strip things back?

3 comments

3 Comments

ramirez.vera17d ago

Honestly, that tracks. People can spot a fake setup a mile away. The continuous take works because it feels real, not like a show. Good move.

rileymartinez17d ago

Wasn't there a study a while back about how our brains pick up on tiny cuts? I read that even quick edits can make something feel less true, even if you don't know why. It makes total sense that a single shot feels more honest. You're right, it stops feeling like a performance. That's probably why so many documentary makers swear by it now.

corah7517d ago

Totally, @ramirez.vera. I always tell folks to just roll the camera and let a real moment happen, cuts ruin the vibe.