How low should I go?

delirium_sj · Post by **delirium_sj** » Thu May 25, 2006 2:44 pm

I'm making a new AMV to Iron Butterfly's Ina-Gadda-Da-Vida but the song is freakin' 17 minutes long! I've spliced up a good portion of the first half and have managed to get rid of 5 minutes without butchering the song.
SO my question to all you wonderfully helpful and insightful individuals is.....How long would you be willing to sit through an AMV maybe considering it wasn't OMG

PHENOMENAL! , and not think it was a total waste of your time? 8 minutes? 7? 6? lower?
I want to get a general idea before I keep going so I know if maybe I should just get rid of a big chunk of the song instead of trying to cut it up into a million pieces grabbing 15-30 seconds here and there you know?
Any input would be appreciated!

Oh and the anime will be Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, in case it matters for some reason.

delirium_sj · Post by **delirium_sj** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:20 pm

hmmmm....anybody? no takers?

It's just that I can't really get an idea from me cos I'll sit and watch anything, be it 5 minutes or 20, so yeah. Need some advice here....anyone?

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:34 pm

I think that unless the video is absolutely riveting and the concept and editing are spot on, it would be hard for most people to sit through a 17 minute AMV. Especially one made from a single anime source, since there is a greater danger of using repeated scenes and filler to pad out the video. The only exception would be for long TV series, which Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is not.

I believe the general concensus is that videos should rarely go beyond the 6 minute mark. The sweet spot is probably about 3 to 4 minutes, at max possibly even 5. You can look at the average length of pop songs released today for guidance.

If you haven't read this post: http://www.animemusicvideos.org/phpBB/v ... hp?t=67190 it has a lengthy discussion about editing the songs for AMVs.

People that will watch this AMV will either do it for the song, in which severe editing will disappoint them, or fans of the anime which will may balk at a song that seemingly goes on forever and overstays it's welcome.

Ultimately, if you can sit through the finished video regardless of the length, and be critical of it (does it drag in parts, is it keeping it's concept throughout, etc.) then the video can be as long as it needs to be.

gangstaj8 · Post by **gangstaj8** » Fri May 26, 2006 1:26 pm

I'd have to agree with Willen, unless it's spot on throughout, it'll most likely be difficult for people to sit through and enjoy the entire 17 minutes. I'm sure it can be done, but would be a fair hill to climb. If I were to give specific advice, I would recomend to cut a little bit off the end (between the last bit of singing and the final phrase), and cut pretty much all of the solos in the middle. I think you should keep one section of solo just for the fans of this song, but you should be able to get rid of atleast 10 minutes worth of filler. I would aim for a final cut of between 5 to 7 minutes.

People who like this song will probably watch it, and people who don't like this song will probably avoid it, regardless of the song's length, what anime, or how many animes you use. People who don't know this song, (aka, people still living under rocks) probably won't have the patience to sit through the entire song. Just my thoughts, good luck.

delirium_sj · Post by **delirium_sj** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:57 pm

5-7 minutes. Got it. Thank you for the advice!

I've checked that thread...my god it's long!

But I'm getting the gist of it. I got the song down to 10 minutes.

Still too long...darnit!
I think I might have my solution if I have to cut a good 10+ minutes of the song and still have it sound ok. I'm thinking about just getting rid of the whole middle of the song because it's all solos of like every instrument they have

But I can't seem to sync it...so I'm thinking of fading it out having a small bit of dialogue from the anime then fading back in the last part of the song...that'll make it about 6 minutes but maybe I can still get it down another minute or 2 in places.
Thanks for the reply again...I'm off to put on my headphones and get to work on this song!
Any suggestions, comments or bashings on my idea are most welcome!

Really!

Iamshadowkiller · Post by **Iamshadowkiller** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:59 pm

just use Blind Guardian's cover of the song, at 3:37 ...then everybody wins

/end

delirium_sj · Post by **delirium_sj** » Fri May 26, 2006 3:31 pm

Haha. Yes, easy out. Although I've never heard that version I just don't think it would speak to me the way Iron Butterfly's does. I'll look for it sometime just to hear it though. The original just like yanks the breath out of me and that's why I wanted to make something with it. Hopefully to share it with people who might not know it...the ones who still live under rocks you know

That's why I wanted to edit the song, cos I think people will be more likely to really listen and feel what I'm gonna try and say with my AMV when they're not thinking "GOD it's still going?!"

Thanks for the suggestion though.