the importance of effects in an AMV

valiant ardor · Post by **valiant ardor** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 10:54 am

ok, i dont know if this is the right forum for this but im going to put it here so that i get an answer.

i read a lot of bad opinions about windows movie maker and i understand that it is important to be able to export to a good file type (mpeg etc.) instead of just .wmv. but the thing that really confused me was how everyone complained about it not haveing special effects options. are special effects really that important? i always figured that you get the video for the anime scenes, not the effects. ive seen a number of videos that really go overboard with it and it ends up getting in the way of the visuals. so why do people need so much stuff?

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 11:18 am

Actually, this would likely be the best place to ask this question and discuss it.

The importance of effects and if they're overdone is something that has been heavily debated in the past, but is always worth discussing, IMO. At least in my opinion, in probably 90% or more cases, effects should be used to enhance a video, and can't really stand on their own. Having a good concept and a good video without the effects is what really matters. There are some videos where the effects are core to its existence- Transcending Love, for example. But even there, the effects are intended as much as possible to not be obvious (beyond the basic fact of having characters from very different series.

There are some times when people go overboard with effects. Well, actually, probably more than just 'some times'. A number of videos in the last contest I saw made entirely too much bad use of transparency. Sometimes, a lot of effects in a video does work well. The DDR project vids tend to use lots of effects, along with Odorikuruu and the likes. For flashy, dance-type songs, effects are quite common and fit in well.

Basically though, I think you need a good, solid effect-less video (in effect [no pun intended] at least- I realize most times the effects are added in as the video is built, not at the end) before special effects should be considered. And even then, in most cases, they should just subtly enhance the video, not steal the show on their own.

iserlohn · Post by **iserlohn** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 11:30 am

I agree with Ashyukun. The most important thing is to have a solid concept and a good groove going - if your pacing and intensity are off, no special effects will save your video.

That said, I wonder what Euphoria or Shameless Rock Video would look like without the anime and just the FX running on coloured stills...

Lyrs · Post by **Lyrs** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 12:23 pm

I believe FX's should be used to compliment the project, not rule it.

/end

AbsoluteDestiny · Post by **AbsoluteDestiny** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 12:49 pm

I've never understood why this idea of effects is even discussed. It's all footage to me...

you have footage as a source to your amv, if the footage doesn't fit the vision in your head for an amv then you change it until it does. That's all effects are really. Most of the time they are not needed but occasionally they are integral to the concept of the video.

Neither situation is more important than the other - it all comes down to the same thing... making it all fit perfectly. If you need an effect then fine, if not then fine

Rozard · Post by **Rozard** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 1:34 pm

Sometimes you don't need effects. MJ's Liquid Petal's is the best WMM-made video I've ever seen.

"Flowers in her haaaaaaaaaaaaiir....FLOWERS EVERYWHEEEEEEEEEEEERRRREE!!!!"

trythil · Post by **trythil** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 2:11 pm

Ashyukun wrote: There are some times when people go overboard with effects. Well, actually, probably more than just 'some times'. A number of videos in the last contest I saw made entirely too much bad use of transparency.

Like this one!

Effects...meh. It's a process of tweaking what you have to get what you want. In that light, effects are either crucial or totally irrelavent. Depends on what you want to do.

As a tangent: The best effect, of course, is the one that nobody notices as an effect -- just a "whoa, that really fit the music" kind of moment.

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 2:29 pm

Heh. Nope, sorry tryhil, that video makes fairly good use of transparency, all told (and is quite good overall). I'm talking about videos where there were two scenes with lots of action going on just left overlaid and running for some time where you couldn't really figure out what was going on in either scene.

I very much agree with your 'tangent', though- really well done effects are not noticed as such, they're just seen as part of the footage.

Speaking of which (and going more on a tangent myself), it's been a while since i've seen all of the EVA footage you used in that vid, but- did you add some of the tears in the scenes in yourself?

JCD · Post by **JCD** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 2:52 pm

Overall I agree with the people above, but to come back to valiant ardor's suggestion, one additional thing why the most of us don't use programs like windows movie maker is that you can only do straight scenes and straight fades.

Some videos like Caldwells ones (except Believe) seem to have no changes on the source when you watch them the first times, but soon you'll recognize that the speed is pulled up there. Oh, and a clip is at reverse play there. And another part is zoomed.
This aren't really effects, but this are helpful things for almost any video and are sometimes hard to recognize. And if you edit with an editing program which can't do them like wmm ... good luck

Like AD said, effects and other additional things are used when you have to change a scene that it flows better. That's why programs like premiere are popular here, because they offer the possibillity do so much with the source. If we use the effects is another question, but it's always good to have the choice.

(please excuse any errors in this post due to my average english)

CaTaClYsM · Post by **CaTaClYsM** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 3:15 pm

Depends on how you want to use the effects and if the concept needs them or not. But I personal would take a vid with a solid concept and delivery than one with good visual effects.