what makes a good amv content wise?

lady_ho · Post by **lady_ho** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:02 am

content wise i mean... other than the syncing and storyline. i mean, i'm finding a lot of people make really admiring comments on amvs which i don't consider to be good... to me seems to be random cutscenes which do sync well with the lyrics but kind of destroys the whole original storyline (imho) or doesn't convey enough story to me (again, imo)

(ok... i am making comments from looking at the various you-tube uploaded amvs)

while i'm finding a lot of guides on the technicalities of amv making, i noticed there were only 2 guides on content general theory.

hmmm... does anyone understand where i'm coming from? can you point me to a good amv content structure guide or is this a question that can only be answered by the individual artistic expressionism of amvs?

i appreciate some guidance... i have looked at some award winning ones on this site. i see why they're outstanding but still not grasped the concept.

JudgeHolden · Post by **JudgeHolden** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:07 am

Ignore the theory GUIDES and edit what you find to be good and what you like. You are your own guide.

lady_ho · Post by **lady_ho** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:08 am

hmmm ok, JaddziaDax just informed me that there are no guides on content structure...

can i ask the experienced amv makers what process they go through in their minds when planning a amv concept then?

Kitsuner · Post by **Kitsuner** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:13 am

Let your conscience be your guide.

Seriously, like Holden said (and I may be putting words in his mouth here), if you like it, it's good. Then again, if you want to get a wider set of people to like it, watch popular videos and try to emulate them. Mix and match those ideas as you see fit, or forget them or add new ones too.

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:16 am

there are a couple "guides" on this site, and no offense to anyone but i think they are a bit outdated

lady_ho · Post by **lady_ho** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:17 am

hmmm... ok... that's quite helpful.

i guess i'll go do some research then and play around with the opinions forum after i make something new. lol

thanks for guidance.

still... i'd like to know some of the steps you process in your mind when making an amv. can i ask that or is that a secret?

Kitsuner · Post by **Kitsuner** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:25 am

lady_ho wrote:still... i'd like to know some of the steps you process in your mind when making an amv. can i ask that or is that a secret?

For me, it's just occasional strokes of inspiration when I let my mind wander across the audio. Between the parts that I really love, I pretty much just wing it and toss in filler crap until I come up with a better idea.

Kalium · Post by **Kalium** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:27 am

1 - Concept. What do I want to edit?
2 - Source gathering.
3 - Procrastination.
4 - ???
5 - Possible actual editing.
6 - Profit!!!

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:27 am

for me?

listen to a song
think this would go awesome with this (or I imagine scenes in my head as the song is playing)
visualize ideas/effects (if any effects) gather basic concept
clip harvest while listening to song - often gives more ideas
edit.
publish.

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:31 am

Don't take YouTube comments on random videos as actual significant critique. Case in point, somebody had uploaded my very first video which is honestly really crappy. Yet it's got hundreds of people being like "OMG THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER IT MATCHES SO WELL!" So it really gives me the impression that YouTube AMV viewers are impressed very easily. I think that's why several people who have come to this site from YouTube and who've posted their videos only to get negative comments leave the Org thinking everybody's an asshole.

But as far as AMV Theory goes, I do think that there are a handful of tried and true elements that have been accepted over the course of the past 9-10 years that simply "work." So there certainly is value in learning what those things are. But nevertheless, at the end of the day this is still a creative hobby and the video is only going to be as good as the imagination and effort you put into it. Just like how an aspiring filmmaker could read books upon books on the art of filmmaking and still churn out garbage.