Are we in another slump of amvs?

Castor Troy · Post by **Castor Troy** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:45 pm

It's awesome to like your own stuff, but what about the videos that you've seen at contests/downloaded/etc? The ones you didn't make.

More of what you've seen from the community as a whole this year.

godix actually had the most logical reply.

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:14 am

it could be because you are burnt out on them?

Castor Troy · Post by **Castor Troy** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:27 am

JaddziaDax wrote:it could be because you are burnt out on them?

I would actually like to make more amvs in a year, but I'm either too lazy or distracted by something else (video games) and I got alot of ideas I want to do. So I'm not exactly burned out as I am lazy..

NS · Post by NS » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:28 am

I think maybe AMVs are in a slump of us.

EvaFan · Post by **EvaFan** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:32 am

I think part of it is based off of experience and what you've allready seen. You've seen amazing amv's and thus have set standards for amazing amvs.

I remember the days I enjoyed simple cut amv's with just a general idea or concept in mind. I still do but on a much smaller scale. Usually I expect more now cause I've seen so much.

Originality seems to be key these days or maybe it has always been.

» AceMan · Post by **» AceMan** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:54 am

Both godix and Eva-Fan are right :)

I like to quote the second Sturgeon's law:

90% of everything is crap.

Kitsuner · Post by **Kitsuner** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:03 am

JaddziaDax wrote:it could be because you are burntoast on them?

Phantasmagoriat · Post by **Phantasmagoriat** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:23 am

meh

I wouldn't say a slump, but rather a hill that has a steep initial slope, but is steadily declining [a logarithmic curve... +5pts to anyone who can draw one... with correctly labeled axis] because the moment someone makes something new, it can't be new again. So as time goes on, the amount of original/creative things that haven't been done before become fewer, and more scarce. The more I watch amv's the more jaded I get, but that doesn't mean nothing new will come around. Nor does that mean I'm tired of them... I just don't get my hopes as high.

However, I see two things editors can do about the 'slump':

i. Try to be creative, and do something new...

Yes, that's the obvious answer... which will be hard... [editing-wise, I don't see much room for innovation since editing is basically all the same... it's about creating intentional alterations to the footage... whether it be via a cut, fade, zoom, synced, color, texture, combo thereof...ect.]
The only area I can think of that allows for something new, would be incorporating different story-lines/plot into an amv... the possibilities are pretty endless there... so no, we are not burned out on good ideas. I think people should just start working on their storyboards more... and make a concept that viewers wouldn't expect. A sense of unpredictability within the video is what makes amv's interesting IMO. Keep this element in amv's, and they will never grow old, and you'll never grow tired of them because you will always want to know what happens next... no matter if it's because of some underlying storyline, or even if it's about "oh, I wonder how the editor is gonna sync the next guitar riff..." you still don't know what's going to happen next, so it will keep you watching. This is the same premise of why it's sometimes hard to stop watching a wtf vid.

ii. Use existing aspects of amv's and perfect them, or take them to the extreme...

This might be a more feasible option for some editors [if they care to be successful in the first place...], since it's mostly tied-in with effort and skill... whereas the above mainly relies on a hit-or-miss idea, including a bit of luck. I think when people realize this, they shy away from even attempting to build a good idea, and this contributes to the "growing effects trend" you speak of, because editors have more control over technical aspects. Doing this would have the effect of impressing the viewer, but never really wowing them... after all, it's the same thing we've already seen, just more/better. I don't think this is a bad thing though. It does push the boundaries, and potentially creates new experiences that would otherwise not exist. Experimentation, and a general pushing-of-the-envelope usually lead somewhere.

It's logical to do both.

/pseudo-random thoughts

trythil · Post by **trythil** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:41 am

EvaFan · Post by **EvaFan** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:42 am

WE NEED MOAR HENTAI AMVS!