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Name: ZeroQL
Notable Work(s): CS:GO FACEIT Spring League 2014 (Fragmovie), DREAMHACK WINTER 2013 - Quake Live movie
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, interests, etc.?
Are you self-taught or have you taken formal classes on editing?
What software do you use?
When starting a project, what is your approach like? Do you have a specific workflow?
Could you describe your syncing process? For example, some editors start with certain parts of songs - like the "peak" of a song - and then build around it. Some just start at the beginning.
I just discovered Video Copilot, by the way. Very nice YouTube channel! Whoever the main guy is he has a great sense of humor, too!
What can you say about the difference (if any) between making CSGO movies and Quake movies? Is there any difference? (I am honestly not that familiar with CSGO so I am not sure what difference may be within the moviemaking communities.)
If I recall correctly, you did some frag highlights during a major Quake tournament (I can't remember which. Dreamhack maybe?) and I was really impressed that you could do such quality videos during a tournament. Normally these things take people days if not weeks. Could you maybe talk about the difference in your approach when you have these time constraints versus more freedom to take a lot of time on a project? I wonder if your workflow is different or if you have some process during the events that keep you on track to be able to finish in time?
What has inspired you in your work? Are there specific movies or moviemakers that changed the way you approach your own work?
Which of your own projects are you most proud of? Which do you think were most instrumental in your development as a moviemaker?
There is a range of game movies in terms of editing styles and structure. Some you could call some "old school" (minimal editing) and then there are very elaborate projects with significant amounts of editing. Where do you think your movies fall? In your opinion, is there an ideal balance between editing and content?
What do you think the future holds for game movies? Are there new styles/techniques possible?
What advice do you have for new moviemakers?
Any last comments/shoutouts?
Notable Work(s): CS:GO FACEIT Spring League 2014 (Fragmovie), DREAMHACK WINTER 2013 - Quake Live movie
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, interests, etc.?
Hi! My name is Djordje Simonovic and I am from small town called Zrenjanin in Serbia. I was born in 1988 so that make me 30 years now... damn the time flies! I started playing video games around 1998 and got addicted. Since then I got a bunch of achievements. You can find list here:ZeroQL_TV. I finished high school for a Chef. Had a burger shop but that didnt work out. I finished army in 2009. In 2013 I was invited in Milan to work for FACEIT (video production) and i am still working for them :) BTW, I didn't do only CSGO and Quake movies. I also did World of Tanks, League of Legends, Fortnite, and Overwatch.
Are you self-taught or have you taken formal classes on editing?
Self-taught. Basically i was watching bunch of video tutorials on youtube and other sites like VIDEO COPILOT.
What software do you use?
Mostly MAGIX Vegas PRO 15 and After Effects CC 2018, but sometimes i need to light up that good old Premiere Pro for some edits.
When starting a project, what is your approach like? Do you have a specific workflow?
Well it depends on project. If its a frag video / highlights then i need to find proper music for it since music is 50% of your video, then i capture all frags/highlights and try to sync them to music after that i fill empty spots with camera shots/cinematics or how kids days call it "smooths" ....and whola you have yourself a sexy video!
Could you describe your syncing process? For example, some editors start with certain parts of songs - like the "peak" of a song - and then build around it. Some just start at the beginning.
Well depends on a song, my sync process starts like this: First I add a song find "drops" "peaks" which I like. Then mark them and pick best frags that will fit with that part and then fill up with rest, you allways need to have section with "MUST GO FRAGS" and "FILLER FRAGS" and at end you add cinematics. But sometimes song is so good you dont have to sync :). This movie is perfect example FACEIT Stage 1 Finals.
I just discovered Video Copilot, by the way. Very nice YouTube channel! Whoever the main guy is he has a great sense of humor, too!
Yeah Andrew Kramer is a GOD. :D
What can you say about the difference (if any) between making CSGO movies and Quake movies? Is there any difference? (I am honestly not that familiar with CSGO so I am not sure what difference may be within the moviemaking communities.)
Transition from Quake to CS was very hard since I didn't know anything about CSGO movie making, so I started to watch and learn how other people made their videos. Gameplay influence will be slap to your editing decisions but you will manage it after while. Learning a game which you edit is a must, so that means you need to play it and figure out whats a difference between good highlight and bad one, after you figure out what it best to capture from a game then you need to learn how to capture it. Every game has it own perks.
If I recall correctly, you did some frag highlights during a major Quake tournament (I can't remember which. Dreamhack maybe?) and I was really impressed that you could do such quality videos during a tournament. Normally these things take people days if not weeks. Could you maybe talk about the difference in your approach when you have these time constraints versus more freedom to take a lot of time on a project? I wonder if your workflow is different or if you have some process during the events that keep you on track to be able to finish in time?
Yeah, it was Dreamhack! Well, during a tournament I was timestamping frags and after it was done I stayed the whole night editing. If you have motivation to work on a video then you will lose your self in editing and finish it quicky but it won't be as good as you imagined since you always need fresh pair of eyes do judge your video. That's why people take weeks to make one proper video. There will be a lot of betas, change this... change that ... etc. until you make it perfect. If you edit a lot videos you will become quicker and you will able to finish anything until deadline
What has inspired you in your work? Are there specific movies or moviemakers that changed the way you approach your own work?
What inspired me the most its other people's work. One of reason I started with movie making cuz i watched this frag movie back in 2002 The Fuse 2v2 Recap and I started thinking like wow that was so cool maybe I should give it a try and make my own movie and then addiction was born! I cant even remmber how many movie I made since then but it's a lot. Moviemakers that changed the way you approach my own work?... Well, I can name the few: silu (q3) is one of reasons I started using "epic" music in my frag videos, entik (q3/reflex) is the guy who inspired me to use cinematics in my videos, DatJellyFish (League of Legends) inspired me to fool around with sharp cuts and velocity, viRRe/Daniel Hagelin how to proper edit CS:GO videos and Ian Sansavera editing overall, that man is GOAT of editing. I will list videos below which inspire me the most... I get goosebumps every time I watch them:
What Defines A Master
Conquer Yourself
Win Again
AnnihilatioN
Which of your own projects are you most proud of? Which do you think were most instrumental in your development as a moviemaker?
It's sad to say but it not any of my Quake movies. My proudest project is a CS:GO video FACEIT Stage 1 Finals and most instrumental project that made me improve as a movie maker was my first ever CS:GO movie FACEIT Spring League 2014.
There is a range of game movies in terms of editing styles and structure. Some you could call some "old school" (minimal editing) and then there are very elaborate projects with significant amounts of editing. Where do you think your movies fall? In your opinion, is there an ideal balance between editing and content?
It really depends on taste, my movies fall in "old school" style section but with a twist! :) If you want a nice video then there must be ideal balance between editing and content, if your content sucks then you need to make it work with editing, or you wont get paid lol :)
What do you think the future holds for game movies? Are there new styles/techniques possible?
I dont know what future holds but yes there is allways new styles/techniques possible.
What advice do you have for new moviemakers?
Watch a lot tutorials and videos of other people work and try to have your own style of editing.
Any last comments/shoutouts?
Thanks lolograde for interview much appreciated!