The Failed Video: A Post Mortem

When I have a really spectacular failure, I try to figure out what happened and how I can do better next time. I thought for this video, I'd do that in text form so you guys can get a little insight into that process. I present: the Jester ASMR post mortem.

I've attached a quick edit from last night, featuring as much noise reduction as I could manage without making the voice sound completely hollow.

Here's a little info on what ASMR is, in case you don't know.

Cause of death: Bad audio.

ASMR is all about audio, which is why I prepped for this video by doing lots of research and multiple test recordings. I ended up filming at my mom's house in order to avoid traffic noises near my own apartment — which backfired, because I realized afterwards that there was a LOUD ticking sound coming from an old retro clock in their basement. I also needed to be closer to the mic, which is challenging when you're trying to keep the mic out of the video frame.

Normally I would've done an audio test IMMEDIATELY before filming and identified these problems, but I didn't think beforehand about how I can't wear headphones once I have the Jester costume on, so I had to just trust that my previous tests were enough. (They weren't.)

Other injuries:

• Weak costuming — My initial thought was that a nightgown would suit the "bedtime" vibe of the video and would be easy to wear. Instead, it came off looking too intimate and clearly displayed every wrinkle and seam in my bodysuit.
• Uncharacteristic lighting — The lighting of the video is pretty, but doesn't suit the theme of nighttime in a medieval building. Next time I'll do a soft, more warm-toned side lighting.
• Too "sexy" — ASMR already feels very intimate by nature, and I definitely don't want to lean into that too far and give it a "girlfriend experience" vibe. In order to fit my head & the surface (for the cards) in frame at the same time while keeping my face close to the mic, I ended up in a pose that felt really "paint my like one of your French girls." Combined with the nightgown, it definitely came off too sexy for my comfort.

Not everything about the video sucked, of course. I thought it had a strong premise — doing a tarot reading for the viewer is an easy way to fill a 15, 20 minute video with improvised dialogue and has a natural arc to it that lends itself well to this kind of video. I'd like to try it again and correct the weaknesses for a better final product. Here's my plan for next time:

• Make a blanket fort — It's a huge pain in the ass, but if I want to take soundproofing seriously, I will need to literally build a blanket fort. It will need to be large enough to fit me, my set, my camera, my mic, and my lights.
• Test audio before getting into costume — obviously.
• Reframe — I'm still trying to work out the best framing to allow me to get closer to the mic. Here are some options I'm considering:

I'm currently leaning towards the last one. It feels like the highest production value answer to my problem.

I still want to do my best to create a good ASMR video, even if it turns out nobody likes it and I never do another one again. I've always been really interested in doing in-character videos in cosplay, but scripting something funny enough or interesting enough is a huge challenge. ASMR feels like the perfect medium in which I can "play" a little in character without having too much pressure on the script. Fingers crossed that take two goes more smoothly!