Ok I know the thread is dead (regardless if anyone's opinion was changed), but I think something needs to be said in general to the AMV community since this sort of thing continually comes up. Given the majority of it has been implied, but it is a public forum and I wanna share my thoughts so
Also Ashton this is in no way directed at you. I just think something needs to be said since "stuff' keeps coming up.
As MJ said, most of us make videos for ourselves. I hear a song, see a vision and want to see if I can create it. I then have
fun making it and am happy with the results. Now what's wrong with just that? I mean, it *is* a hobby and if you're having fun making it and enjoying the result, why do you need an award when you were happy creating it and watching it (as you have mentioned)? Now of course, I love getting a positive review and realizing that someone else likes my videos (other than myself), but honestly, if I am satisfied with the result...that's all that matters. I mean if I based my "happiness" on awards on my videos...I'd be a very sad person haha. Again it's a H-O-B-B-Y.
At the few cons that I've had the honor of being on a panel, I always tell the "n00bs" that it's all about yourself. If you're not happy doing a video, do something else. If you feel like making a Linkinball Z video, do it. Have fun doing it, but don't expect everyone to like it (i.e don't feel entitled).
People are entitled to their own opinion and if they don't agree that your video is the second coming...oh well. At least you are getting the opportunity to show your work. There are countless people that don't even get that opportunity due to lack of equipment, software, etc.
I may add that (as someone said earlier), what's the joy in getting award when you had to ask all these people to nominate you? I think most creators who didn't expect a nomination are the most pleased. By getting all your friends, famliy, etc. to sign up
just to nominate you kind of makes it a bit biased and not a
real award in my opinion. When I give my videos to my friends, they always tell me they're great. That's because they're my friends. I like it more when I get a random e-mail or IM (as Machine said). If you aren't having fun when not winning, maybe you should pick up another hobby that you can win in (and in result be happy). If you're doing this to win, doesn't it feel more like a job?
I might add that the VCAs are really just a popularity contest. Given it's an honor to win, but it's usually fans recognizing a name and voting for it. They have very little in terms of "being the best" and whatnot in my opinion.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that each of us as creators need to really analyze our actions towards each other (Yes, I realize how I just jumped topics and started preaching). I guess the reason I'm posting this (although this thread is dead) is because we as creators need to honor each other's works (and opinions). I have seen countless incidents where a creator bashes another video which is usually by a n00b and it makes me sick.
I won't lie, there are videos that I don't like, but regardless of what I think, the creator made it for themselves and
not for me. They are obviously satisfied enough with the results to share it with the world and I
chose to watch it. So, what do I gain by bashing them? I should feel honored that they want to share their work with me. Therefore, we as creators need to honor each other's work and if we share opinions, be polite about it (and helpful if we think there is need for improvement). We obviously all like making videos and should just be happy doing it. I'd also like to add that we could've been a bit more polite when trying to tell Ashton our opinions. As I said above, he's entitled to his opinion as well.
I think that's why AWA is such a great con...we get together with other creators who do the same niche thing we do and we are just happy with that. I mean...we are a sub-culture of an already sub-culture (i.e. anime - sub culture AMVs a sub culture of that...it's a Binary Tree...such a nerd am I. I wonder if anyone got that?).
In any case, that's all I wanted to say. I apologize for the length and preachiness (oh and lack of coherence). It's something I've wanted to say for a long time since I'm fairly disillusioned with the community in general. Hopefully it made sense, but more importantly hopefully all of you already do that ^_^. So with that said...Preacher Daniel has spoken!
Daniel Chang ^_^
Ninja Gaijin Productions
Chanko Nabe
