IC standards?

[-MD]

So....I use to IC quite a bit....I've always wondered. If you were a judge, how would you rate an IC.

Recent Example (I helped judge for):

Both people used the same song (of course)
AND both used the same anime.

Editor #1's video was 2 mins and 30 secs long and had basic syncing and focused more on filling the timeline (had a mild story to it)...it is not a bad vid.

Editor #2's video was 1 min long because they focused a lot more on sync and polishing up the video (it looks good)...story and theme is somewhat lacking.

I guess what I'm say....what sticks out the most to you? What do you mainly score an IC on? Because I notice that some people value more things than others.

[JaddziaDax]

if it comes down to it, I go for the one I enjoyed more...

[Infinity Squared]

if it comes down to it, I go for the one I enjoyed more...

Yup visceral enjoyment... If I enjoyed it, then it must have done something right.

[Nessephanie]

It's mostly the same for me. I don't take the technical merits into account much, I vote for the one I enjoyed (and everyone enjoys different stuff), which to me is usually whichever is well edited and uses the match up the best. It doesn't matter so much to me if someone uses the whole song or only does 1 minute as long as I enjoy it.

I will say that if someone does 15seconds and focuses only on making it a pure effects spasm, I don't much enjoy those. I just don't really see an IC as the place for that kinda thing, you're supposed to make the best video that you can in the time, and I don't see that as really being in the spirit of it. *shrugs*

[Kitsuner]

Both people used the same song (of course)

I think this "of course it's the same song" business is silly. Different battles can use different rules, and that's what I like about any competition.

As for the actual question, I'll parrot the previous posters and vote for whichever seems more interesting.

[EvaFan]

Editor #1's video was 2 mins and 30 secs long and had basic syncing and focused more on filling the timeline (had a mild story to it)...it is not a bad vid.

Editor #2's video was 1 min long because they focused a lot more on sync and polishing up the video (it looks good)...story and theme is somewhat lacking.

I would think this boils more down to the judges own editing style preference. Some people really like beat sync, flow, consistency, and movement, they can really get into an AMV more easily that way cause it's the style they like. Some people prefer story, coherency, or some kind of discerning reaction to it (more than just "that's awesome!") or just some basic emotional experience. That doesn't go on to say it completely makes the whole of their decision as to which is better but it definitely effects it cause this all so plays a factor in enjoyment. I'll go ahead and admit that editor#1 is more appealing to me for enjoyment (due to my editing style) but that's just from reading it... Without an actual video comparison, it's impossible to decide.

This is why IMO it would be a good idea to have a variety of judges.

Slightly off topic:
You can probably tell your preference by just asking yourself: Which would you rather edit to? An instrumental song or a song with lyrics.
I'd pick a song with great lyrics or opera styled vocals over an instrumental anyday.

[Nya-chan Production]

This is why IMO it would be a good idea to have a variety of judges.

Seconded.

Slightly off topic:
You can probably tell your preference by just asking yourself: Which would you rather edit to? An instrumental song or a song with lyrics.
I'd pick a song with great lyrics or opera styled vocals over an instrumental anyday.

I'd pick instrumental anytime :>

[NS]

yah, basically It's whichever I like better based on the editing. It's kinda sad because I've seen a lot of shorter videos that SHOULD have won IMO lose to kind of lackluster longer videos because I'm pretty sure the judges were like "LOLOLOLOLOL LONG VIDEO, IT MUST BE GOOD"...but it doesn't seem to happen TOO much.

[Nya-chan Production]

yah, basically It's whichever I like better based on the editing. It's kinda sad because I've seen a lot of shorter videos that SHOULD have won IMO lose to kind of lackluster longer videos because I'm pretty sure the judges were like "LOLOLOLOLOL LONG VIDEO, IT MUST BE GOOD"...but it doesn't seem to happen TOO much.

I've seen that attitude once and it was kinda different, like "dunno, both seem the same to me, so the longer one wins", which to me seems weird |:

[Ileia]

I've seen the reverse attitude before. There is sometimes an assumption that if you finished a long video that it sucks because there's no way you could make it worthwhile in the amount of time you edited, that it was slapped together with no forethought and that if a video is shorter it automatically must have had more put into it. There are simply too many variables to assume those are the only reasons why someone edited more or less on the timeline. How well the song works with your source, how well you KNOW your own source, possible hardware/software issues, etc.

Judgement on length can go both ways, it just depends on the judge. I haven't really seen a trend of longer or shorter videos consistently winning because (usually) a variety of judges with different tastes are selected. Besides, everyone knows they should really be judged on girth. :O