what you wish you'd known when you started

jadedcritic · Post by **jadedcritic** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:51 am

Hi. Hopefully I'm not breaking too many rules here; a couple of search attempts haven't turned up a thread like I have in mind, but if I have, hopefully I can beg forgiveness.

I've gone through my phases of wanting to be more involved with AMVs and not, and I'm getting pretty serious about it. I've got hardware sufficient to the task, and though I'm something of a nothing in terms of getting the raw footage, I've worked out a pretty brain dead way to get workable .mp4's in 720p. I think I have a concept idea in mind and an attack plan. Can't really afford the hardcore editing software, but I'm thinking I'm not gonna be any good for a while anyway, so I might as well start out in imovie.

Primary attack plan is to cut a 30 second clip, then a 1 min, then a full video. I've been reading in the opinion exchange threads, and I plan to start giving feedback to others in there for a couple months or so before I ask for anything on my own. (Who needs feedback when I know it will suck anyway?)

The purpose, however, of my thread is this. They say hindsight is 20/20, so I wanted to ask around if any of the regulars are willing to talk about pitfalls/landmines they hit in their experience, and how to avoid them? Allot of the guides I've been reading on the site date anywhere from 2K4 to present, I can't help but think they're out of date.

In any case, thank you in advance to those willing to respond, and apologies for any forum rules or etiquette I may have missed or violated. Been kinda lurking the sites for many moons (as you can probably see by my registration date). I don't really plan on posting much outside of the opinion exchange however, so a brief thank you to the behind the scenes powers that keep this site going.

MycathatesyouAMV · Post by **MycathatesyouAMV** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:52 am

I wish i wish i were a fish.

The Origonal Head Hunter · Post by **The Origonal Head Hunter** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:13 pm

Editting isn't all the fun and games its cracked up to be.

Quu · Post by **Quu** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:17 pm

you can't do everything. Once you can, people will get bored and wait for the next rabbit to come out of the hat.

CodeZTM · Post by **CodeZTM** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:52 pm

*Don't use WMM
*Buy DVD's
*Learn Avisynth
*Reading the Guides

DriftRoot · Post by **DriftRoot** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:03 pm

*scratches head* What I want to know is what I don't know now.

Pitfalls, landmines...go read my journal. It goes back quite a few years. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that I hold the record for the longest time spent attempting to make AMVs, but failing miserably (however still succeeding at the end of the day).

My advice - that will probably do more people more good than a lecture about not screwing up aspect ratios - is don't give up. You may want to stab your eyes out, throw your computer off the roof or murder your editor idols who seem to have it so *expletives deleted* easy, but that just means you've got passion.

If you give up, you'll never ever know whether you can do it or not - some people can live with that, others can't. If you're the latter, then take a deep breath and keep trying. I didn't have anyone telling me this, it's not something I wish I knew "then," but I think it is valuable advice. Making AMVs isn't easy for everyone, but that doesn't mean the editors who have unbelievable raw talent are the only ones who can enjoy this hobby or make decent AMVs.

guy07 · Post by **guy07** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:08 pm

CodeChrono wrote:*Don't use WMM
*Buy DVD's
*Learn Avisynth
*Reading the Guides

I agree with one of those. Read the guides. The rest is a matter of opinion. I think wmm is fine for linear editing. I've seen videos made with RAWs that looked fine, and i just started learning avisynth after like 5 years. but yes, guides are a must.

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:36 pm

When you make a very random video that is supposed to annoy people, it will backfire.

Things I wish I knew when I started:

1. Don't use footage with subtitles: just because thousands of other newbs do it, that doesn't mean that it's okay. DVDs FTW!

2. Trying to read EADFAG from start to finish will make you cry, but it's useful as a reference when you have a problem to look up.

3. You will never please everyone. No matter how awesome your amv is, SOMEONE will hate something about it.

4. Friends are what makes the hobby fun.

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:02 pm

Time remapping in AE. It makes everything better.

x_rex30 · Post by **x_rex30** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:04 pm

The Origonal Head Hunter wrote:Editting isn't all the fun and games its cracked up to be.

Yeah, and you make something creative, and you feel you could of put that creativity into something.. well.. more creative. I can't watch an amv anymore without feeling I've seen something just like it. Some effects are so pointless it reminds me of Stuart Larkin.