Tipps for videos designed for conventions

[Bauzi]

Heyho,

I'm planning an amv for a local convention and there was a question popping up in my mind:
How do I get the crowd's attention right on the beginning and how to make them shut up?

You see I'm thinking about using a very calm instrumental piano song and I want the crowd to stop talking and paying attention right at the beginning of the video. I can't just display a giant penis to get their attention I need something serious. Something that shows them: Hey stop talking, this will be interestting.

Do you have any suggesstions? Or any other suggestions for convention videos?

I have one: Don't place text or credits in the bottom lines of your video. There is a high chance that people won't be able to read it because of the head of the person who is sitting in front of them. Also it distracts a lot of they have to move their head around to read some stuff.

[JaddziaDax]

I got people to shut up at A-kon by submitting a Disney's Little Mermaid video to one of their contests... actually several of them laughed at first when they saw the video info then they were all silent.

[Kireblue]

Is your AMV meant to be a promo for something? If so, then it may be a good idea for your AMV to have a interesting intro. Here is the video that I made for Momocon's 2010 AMV Exhibition. The theme for Momocon's sixth ("roku") year was rock music, so I made it the theme of the AMV exhibition as well. And it's pretty conveionent that Ah, My Goddess has a few episodes that mention the number six ("roku") and rock and roll.



Or you could show them something weird or unexpected. Starting off with one of the Kara no Kyoukai shorts would be pretty funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhI3fgyc ... re=related

[outlawed]

How do I get the crowd's attention right on the beginning and how to make them shut up?
You see I'm thinking about using a very calm instrumental piano song and I want the crowd to stop talking and paying attention right at the beginning of the video.

Unfortunately there is very little you can do. Any quality contest coordinator will make certain to place the most serious and pretentious entry RIGHT after the funniest and biggest crowd pleaser. It's the only way to be sure that people have a good entry in mind so they don't immediately vacate the room thinking that "le suck has begun it's time to bail." Instead they will wait and see if another "good" entry or something showing a cool anime like Bleach or Naruto is shown.

I'm not certain if that wholly answers your question =p

I have one: Don't place text or credits in the bottom lines of your video. There is a high chance that people won't be able to read it because of the head of the person who is sitting in front of them. Also it distracts a lot of they have to move their head around to read some stuff.

Another smart thing would be for them to actually learn about NTSC/PAL title safe areas.

[JudgeHolden]

If you just want to get their attention and look at the screen, turning off the lights helps. Honestly, at a con the last thing I want to hear during and after my video is complete silence. I love to hear / see people laughing, hooting, singing along, bouncing up and down in their seats ... so on and so on.

I think the last thing people want to be at a convention is depressed ... most want to leave the emo at home and let loose for a weekend. So for me the most successful convention video is one that is upbeat and maybe a tad silly.

So, if this video is for the opening of a con ... Make it Big, Make it Loud, make it Proud!

[Bauzi]

I think the last thing people want to be at a convention is depressed ... most want to leave the emo at home and let loose for a weekend. So for me the most successful convention video is one that is upbeat and maybe a tad silly.

Unfortunately there is very little you can do. Any quality contest coordinator will make certain to place the most serious and pretentious entry RIGHT after the funniest and biggest crowd pleaser. It's the only way to be sure that people have a good entry in mind so they don't immediately vacate the room thinking that "le suck has begun it's time to bail."

This weekend I coordinate my first convention contest and we will show the hard cost at the beginning and get more and more into the fun videos. Let's see how this will turn out At least we don't want them to go home depressed.

Is your AMV meant to be a promo for something?

No it's a simple amv with a really calm and almost fragile song. I sounds strange, but even with headphones it's not that easy to get every tune. It's an emotional video and that's why I would like to make them stop talking.

I love to hear / see people laughing, hooting, singing along, bouncing up and down in their seats ... so on and so on.

That's cool and I would like them to do the same, but not with this one

Another smart thing would be for them to actually learn about NTSC/PAL title safe areas.

Yeah it's really bad stuff. I got a lot of problems with other videos and forgetting it in my videos.

[Kitsuner]

Why are you designing an emotional video for a convention?

[godix]

I can't just display a giant penis to get their attention

Why not?

[EvaFan]

Why are you designing an emotional video for a convention?

Why not?

[Bauzi]

Why are you designing an emotional video for a convention?

Why not?

That's a good question because I think that the average con goer doesn't give a shit about such videos. I don't blame him. Actually he is not my audience. If he wants his caramel dansen he gets it, but he should shut the fuck up at the right time

Call me biased, but I think that highly complex video themes and content are probably not good crowd food There is a different if you have editors as viewers or the average viewers.