Digital Effect vids vs. Simple Digital Effects or none vids.

genestarwind21122 · Post by **genestarwind21122** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:41 pm

My question to you now is there is a debate in my club rather or not that vids with little digital effects or none could be a video that has massive effects that blow the mind away. Take for example Jamming with Edwards that had no effects except overlays. What about Engel you know that the video is awsome and is great? And how about Dwchang Glory of Love now that video had some but not mind boggling. And also Path of the Deus by Senta Miller. Then on the other hand you have the uber digital effect video like Euphoria - Koopsikeva, Die Another Day - Vic Bond 007. I mean videos like these make some people think that all that matters is the special effects and timing of the beats. Where as the other ones above focus on the lyrics and timing of the beats most of the time but if it would interfer with the lyrics it doesn't. That's what these high quality digital effect ones do. Now maybe its just me but a video doesn't need super effects to be a great video. If it has a good story to it. Follows the lyrics for the most part and hits certain beats when it needs to that's great. That video should win over some other videos that I've seen at cons that have poor storyline and nothing to do with the vid. Now these last few comments don't apply to Euphoria or Die Another Day because your videos do have a story but it is of that type that makes me upset. Do you think that videos that have more simple effects and a great storyline to it and timing could beat out an uber special effect vids that lacks it.

SnhKnives · Post by **SnhKnives** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:52 pm

I think it all depends on what you are going for. Comedy videos and action videos.... why not. Effects can help make it funnier or make the action more intense. But hey.... like with my newest video i used 0 special effects minus coloring. Before that I was known for using some pretty snazzy effects in my videos. I knew i didnt need them and I went out to prove that I didnt. Right now that video is ranked 5th, it used to be 3rd, on the top 10%. So it goes it show you that you dont need great FX to make a great video.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:03 pm

I tend to stay away from effects. Technically, I tend to stay away from anything, unless I really need it. And if I do need it, I'll cut corners like there's no tomorrow.

And it does all I need just fine. The maxim is: honor sufficiency.

I love effects videos, don't get me wrong, but considering the effort these things take - and for what gain - makes me stay away from them as much as I can.

When I learn easier ways to do them, or bump into something where I absolutely need something funky - alright, then we'll see...

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:05 pm

Effect's don't make a video. If you look at the top videos with effects, they arent on the top BECAUSE of the effects... they are on top because they use the effect's to compliment their design. I know a ton of videos with better effects than Euphoria, but the videos themselves suck (I won't name any names though).

Effect's are merely a means to help you create your vision of what the video ought to look like, nothing more.

godix · Post by **godix** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:05 pm

I personally like either provided it's well done. I do find that as I see more videos it gets harder and harder for effects to wow me anymore. For what it's worth my own special effects with no story video is almost a full point higher on the star scale than any of the ones where I tried to include something as mundane as a point to the video so I can hazard a guess where the silent majority lies in this debate.

godix · Post by **godix** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:14 pm

Zarxrax wrote:Effect's don't make a video. If you look at the top videos with effects, they arent on the top BECAUSE of the effects... they are on top because they use the effect's to compliment their design. I know a ton of videos with better effects than Euphoria, but the videos themselves suck

As far as I can tell Euphoria is loved for it's effects and nothing else by most people. Which makes sense because the effects so overpower the story that it takes two or three viewings to even realize there is a story. I personally love Euphoria but the biggest influence it's had in my own work is to make sure that the only time I throw around tons of pointless effects is when the video is pointless to begin with. It like the old advise to writers, if you have a point then KISS but if you're just wasting time then make it as flowery as you like.

As a counter-example to your thesis, consider Elvis Vs Anime. No meaning at all to the video really but it's still a good video specifically because of it's effects (well, effect. There really was just the one).

inthesto · Post by **inthesto** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:25 pm

godix wrote:Which makes sense because the effects so overpower the story that it takes two or three viewings to even realize there is a story.

Strangely enough, I feel the same way about Euphoria. After I got over the "WHOOOAAAAA SHINY" feeling of the video, I went back and thought "Wait, is there a story or concept beyond effects to this video?" Turns out I really had to read Koop's notes on the video before I could really understand it.

I mean, I think effects are great and all, but you really shouldn't sacrifice the point of your video in favor of them.

SnhKnives · Post by **SnhKnives** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:27 pm

Well, I have seen RahXephon so i knew the story Koop was trying to tell from the beginning, its actually a good one. Most people jsut dont see it cause they are blinded by the pretty effects

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:31 pm

godix wrote:
Zarxrax wrote:Effect's don't make a video. If you look at the top videos with effects, they arent on the top BECAUSE of the effects... they are on top because they use the effect's to compliment their design. I know a ton of videos with better effects than Euphoria, but the videos themselves suck
As far as I can tell Euphoria is loved for it's effects and nothing else by most people. Which makes sense because the effects so overpower the story that it takes two or three viewings to even realize there is a story. I personally love Euphoria but the biggest influence it's had in my own work is to make sure that the only time I throw around tons of pointless effects is when the video is pointless to begin with. It like the old advise to writers, if you have a point then KISS but if you're just wasting time then make it as flowery as you like.

As a counter-example to your thesis, consider Elvis Vs Anime. No meaning at all to the video really but it's still a good video specifically because of it's effects (well, effect. There really was just the one).

I disagree. Elvis vs anime is not loved for the effect, it's loved for the video itself. If you want to see the effect you can go watch something like Trancending Love. That does it even better, but its not as popular of a video is it?
And as for Koops video being liked solely for the effects, can you seriously believe that? If you do, I'd be glad to make a video that consists entirely of little shapes and stuff moving around, with no anime to get in the way. I'm sure it would be the best video ever.

inthesto · Post by **inthesto** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:32 pm

Yeah, there is the factor that the story of an AMV tends to be easier to follow if you've seen the anime.

I guess it's a poor choice of words to say Euphoria's story was sacrificed for the effects, but the overwhelming effects certainly do obscure the thought of a story being attached.