by Max Pritchard » Sep 9th, '09, 12:51
Hello Gunnarkr,
As my copy of Anaconda only arrived yesterday, I can't really give it a full review, but my initial impressions may be of some use.
A fair amount of stuff on the Anaconda DVD may take rather a lot of practice, so I can't really comment on how effective the moves are. It's a very slick affair, though, with Dan-and-Dave-style industrial-chic lighting and clever slow-motion sequences.
The bonus material includes a number of impressive flourishes. 'Mannequin' really stood out for me from this section - it looks really good. As with this kind of flourishing, it may not be everyone's cup of tea, although the false cuts have some practical applications.
As regards the Anaconda itself, I'm yet to see my own dribble develop, but I'm sure it will come. The teaching is insightful and tells you everything you need to know, but it is over quite quickly. The DVD is so well shot that there shouldn't be any problems in coming away knowing exactly how to produce an Anaconda, even though actually being able to manage a massive one will probably take some hard work.
The 'left-handed or right-handed?' instructions are a neat idea, too, and are a testament to how comprehensive The Virts are in their approach to teaching this kind of thing.
Some people claim to have worked out how to do the dribble just by watching the trailer and experimenting. This DVD would at least give you a head-start, I'm sure, and makes the learning process straightforward. After that, it's just about practice, I suppose. It does look amazing, and I'm looking forward to developing the skills necessary to perform it.
Hope this helps,
Max.