Sumo 101

More ritualized than WWE! I like how you explain the ceremony -- good, tight storytelling. Some interviews, even with subtitles, would've been nice, but this still merits a GL.

I like your editing technique. I still think it needs some supplimental content (interview, music, etc) It seems to e missing an element

I agree mixing it up with some interviews would help the pacing. I love the editing in the beginning! Great story! GL

I agree with the previous comments. Great beginning though. The story definitely moves a bit slowly and mixing it up with some interviews or music would be nice, i still like it, so GL.

I think the quick cuts in the beginning set the pace nicely. Like where my eyes would be looking, darting around. Like you said "Fight already" Slowing it up as you did would and did take in more of the actual experience like you said. If this is the sport, this should be the feel of the video.

I agree with your explanation monchromatic22.
I also enjoy watching Sumo wrestling.
Its a good clean sport .
It could teach some American children (including soccer moms & dads) a thing or two about discipline during a sporting event.
You got my GL.

You know, the idea of adding music or some supplemental content or making the edit a little more snappy did occur to me. Let me explain why I chose not to:

i considered constructing the piece and the informational elements of it around a montage, set it to music and really make the piece move right along. But you know what? That's not Sumo. Sumo is a slow, sometimes arduous affair...and - as an outsider - you're sitting there thinking, "Common! Hurry up and fight." - So I realized that a snappy, music-dependent edit wouldn't be an accurate treatment of the subject.

This is an important point for me - just because you CAN edit a piece in a certain way or style, doesn't always mean you should. The edit's pace had to feel the way I experienced it. So I decided to let it drag just a bit because it's an accurate depiction of the true pace of the sport...Plus, for those that are really fascinated by this type of thing (like me), it allows you the opportunity to really soak in the pageantry of it all.

Also, these sumo stadiums hold 10's of thousands of people, BUT until the fight begins, you can hear a pin drop. I was so impressed by this sound void that I wanted audiences to notice the absence of sound as well.

A las, it's a subjective medium and I understand and respect the collective point of view of the comments thus far...Thanks for the GLs.

I didn't miss a bed of music or interview cut-aways in this pod (and that was before I read your explanation for not having them). The lack of music and interviews made it more suspenseful, I thought. Like I was actually sitting on the sidelines watching. So, GL from me. Check out my v-cam when you can: Freshman Fifteen. Let me know what you like or don't. Thx!

I enjoyed the begining with quick edits and interesting images. Slowed down after that. Overall, enjoyable!

Thanks for educating me on this sport, at least I understand it a bit more. GL

Shola

You kept my attention and it was well filmed.

Great job, I like the pacing of the opening & music...informational piece. GL

Great job. I love the music.

GL

Want to see more! GL!

Awesome video. I've always thought sumo looked cool and now I know a lot more about it. GL!

Check out my TMoblie if you get a chance: link

Good video. I can't believe that was all the fighting though. Seems like they should go best of five or something. I hope there was more fights to come for the audience sake. But I like how you explained all the details of what they are doing and the symbolic references...

Really really well done, love the cinematic look, editing and MOOD. GL fo sho. Come see my latest pod about the Sweet Science of boxing. Shadow Boxer link I love this pod. Getreel

perfect. entertaining + information + good storytelling green

Informative, an uncut complete fight, nothing overly extraenous... you get a green out of me.

This made me want to go to Japan and see the whole thing myself! Informative, concise, well shot and entertaining. Sumo's high-respect environment is so different than the Western concepts of entertainment! (would appreciate your comments)
GL from a new Sumo fan :)

That was Fat~ i luv sumo~!

GL! Very cool. Thanks mang...to the point, filmed well...exactly the kind of nugget i watch Current for and recommend to my friends.

Well put together, good production value, awesome! GL

Great pod! Informational and well executed. Props!

Great work!! Was this all shot with one camera? Very well put together. GL

GL nice video

Very well put together production, and a peek at a distant culture... Congrats, GL !
If you have a chance, stop by to see mine... link

This pod has some stunning shots in the beginning (loved it) and the subject matter is great, but because I am not accustomed to the art of sumo, I felt I wanted to see just a little more action - so perhaps showing a couple more matches edited down would have been a bit more interesting. I am now going to see a match when I go to Japan again!

I always waned to try sumo. I used to be a wrestler here it seems like it would be fun. Very well done GL.

Let me know what you think of my new peice Worry:Social Security and Retirement.

Right off the bat, I was struck by how wonderfully edited this was. And I appreciate the space you give to all the elements of your pod, whether it be the subjects, the music, the explanations, and the physical action itself. There's a nice rhythm to it . Thank you for providing some enlightenment on a subject that's often ridiculed in the States.
Please feel free to give me feedback on my promo, "Leap off the Edge".

Very interesting I learned something new. Now, I want to visit Japan and see a match for myself.

Very well done, simple yet very informative. Nice video imput, I liked the build up. Good exposure. I learned somthing.

If you get a chance cllick our pic and take a look at "current creation"

Cheers Talbott

Great Job Jon.
As an editor I appreciate the peice having breath.
I also dig the fact that you showed me somthing I have never seen before.
My only question is did you get those guys releases?
-tom

thanks so much for your positive words on my piece, "eighty eight". love your video! i spend a lot of time in asia and its great to have these basic yet mysterious cultural things "de-mystified". i heard that the wrestlers actually never wash their "garments", for good luck. can this be true?

Interesting question Tom.

I'm confident that releases are not needed to shoot an event like this. I considered the issue before shooting and before posting to Current's site. Your question brings us to the age-old debate over the rights of privacy vs. the rights of free press (albeit only on a molecular scale) -

Because Sumo wrestling is considered public entertainment and takes place as part of a 'public forum', the rights of the press supersede the wrestler's rights of privacy. By volunteering to participate in this public forum you (the wrestler) are essentially waving your rights to privacy (and a large, nearly naked man, standing publicly could serve as no better metaphor for this waving of rights).

Now, had I filmed these wrestlers in their homes, their right to privacy would absolutely trump free press and a release would be needed.

If you watch the video closely, you'll find that I don't use any cutaways to audience. I did this consciously as I know that I would have needed to get releases for them - something that the language barrier would have made next to impossible.

this video was so well paced, it could have been about almost anything and I would have watched! great job presenting a nice visual that supports the story. really impressive action, too. GL.

NICE. I like the intro, very cinematic. I like the conscious choice of subtitles over voiceover, which allows us to take in the solemn tradition. Well done. GL.

nice pod

This is just really neat.. wow!

Great footage! I loved that you used interesting cut-aways (ex. the watering can). Action based cut-aways always add sooooo much to the interest of the piece. Cheers!

it kinda leaves me wanting to go back to Japan. if only i could take your translated subtitles with me since i don't speak Japanese. GL for sure.

Wish I'd greenlit last week when it could have been more help to you. Nice subtle piece, very informative.

I really like the way you show the exhibition in its entirety while delivering the information with text on the bottom. You keep the viewer attached to the subject and not just jerked all over the place like over-editing can do.

I admire the sumo culture from long time ago and this is a great contribution for her.
GL