Nice Dream - Naruto Movie 1 (My First AMV)

SamMac · Post by **SamMac** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:08 am

Video: Nice Dream
Category: Sentimental, Story, Action
Anime: Naruto Movie 1: The Land of Snow
Song: Nice Dream
Artist: Radiohead
Creator: Sam MacDonald (SamMac)

I've been planning to make this AMV for a long time, after experiencing a mental click while listening to Radiohead's Nice Dream in my car. A year later, I finally got around to it as a distraction from my WoW addiction.

I wanted to get the okay or some constructive criticism before I showcase it to my friends. Since this is my first, I didn't do a good job with compression and there's a significant video quality loss from the original. I kept the special effects to a minimum--not just because I don't have experience using them--but I generally see them as distracting and adding little to the video. I used Sony Vegas 7.

I myself note some problems with the video: I don't lose focus during the slower scenes, but I could see my audience doing so--especially those who are used to fast-paced seizure-inducing techno videos. I could also see the audience not understanding the lyrics, which are a larger basis for my choice of footage than the beat of the music. For this reason I have considered adding subtitles of the lyrics so the meaning isn't lost.

Thank you for watching and I would appreciate any constructive criticism.

(As a side note: While reading the terms and conditions of uploading an AMV to the site's archive they said it was only for complete products. I don't consider this complete as I have recieved no feedback from anyone on it yet, so I did not upload it. This put me in a pickle, as one of the rules for posting in this forum was to have the AMV uploaded to the archive. If this is a problem to anyone I will upload the video ASAP.)

Emong · Post by **Emong** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:03 am

Radiohead..

can't..

resist..

downloading..

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:15 am

perhaps a better place for a beta would be either opinion exchange (as theres a stickie for a beta irc group) or amv suggestions if youre looking for suggestions that is

though no stress a mod will probably move this for you

Emong · Post by **Emong** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:03 am

Radiohead..

can't..

resist..

downloading..

EDIT: Didn't notice it was a beta.. Like JaddziaDax said, Announcement forum isn't exactly the best place for betas..

Anyways, I can still tell you that I pretty much liked the last half of your video. I think you managed to capture the song quite decently and you even used actual and focused scenes as your story-telling method for the last part

However, the first half was random.. It didn't even go with the song that well. It was just jumping from one place and character to the next with no purpose, except for maybe random mood sync.

Technically, the sync was decent at some parts but sometimes the clips were clocking in for too long, which was disturbing. Fast fades weren't too good either.. Me thinks sharp fades are a taboo 0.0

Video and sound quality were both horrible on my end..

Not too good of a beta comment but whatever..

SamMac · Post by **SamMac** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:28 am

Sorry for not posting in the correct forum.

Thank you for the criticism.

I agree that the fades could use some work. I disagree that the lyrical choice was random, as I thought it matched perfectly. It's just that it's hard to see without knowing the lyrics and having some room for interpretation. This is why I considered subtitles.

Here are the opening lyrics:

They love me like I was their brother - Naruto's relationship with his squad

They protect me, listen to me. - Scene of Kakashi falling back-to-back with Naruto, and scene of Naruto talking to Sasuke and Sakura

They dug me my very own garden - Flashback of princess, disciple and her castle

Gave me sunshine, made me happy - Flashback of princess with her father in the sunlight, and her father entertaining her

nice dream, nice dream
Nice Dream - Bitter-sweet waking from the pleasant flashback

I call up my friend the good angel - The princess' servant arriving hastely to the bar. In his eyes, she is the angel that will save his people.

But she's out with, her answer-phone. - Answer-phone I interpreted as booze.

She says that she'd love to come help - Kakashi hypnotizing her so she comes along with them to the land of snow.

But he sea would electrocute us all - Her refusal to become princess for fear of failure and dire consequences.

I think it's hard for a first-time viewer to make these interpretations without seeing the text. And I think without making the interpretations the first half is just empty. So... I'm leaning toward subtitles.