Seeking advice from the masters.

Tycho2k · Post by **Tycho2k** » Thu Aug 29, 2002 10:48 pm

I know I am flirting with a nice "n00b" flaming from this, but I just wanted to ask. I have created 3 videos so far, none of great success, but it's a start. What I wanted to ask was, how do you extremely popular guys get your videos so good? Example: Vlad G Pohnert's "Memories Dance". HOLY SHINTO that vid is good. ErMac, no introduction needed. I have been watching your career for over a year now. (Have fun in Japan!) In my own videos to start with, I already know some of my faults, such as bad source capture, not the greatest sound source and the timing definitely could use some improvement. But so far in my AMV career, my resources have improved, including good ol' Adobe Premiere and my own self-exploration into DVD ripped source material. Anyway, long post short, I'm just looking for some input from the greats. How do you get your inspiration to match video to audio? What kind of fundamental editing techniques have you developed since you have started making AMV's? Any advice you have for an aspiring AMV creator would be much appreciated. Not to be presumptuous, but please refrain from telling me to read any guides, I have read them all.

I am very dedicated to this, I even wrote a program a while ago to catalog AMV's so you could search the ones you have much in the same way you can search them here. I am still trying to get Phade to put it in the Useful Files section of this site.

Anyway, thanks in advance to any posts!

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 12:20 am

I'm extremely popular!!! I never really thought of myself that way...

Basically quality and software really don't have that big of an impact as the idea and how it's presented. I would rather watch really good video in terms of presentation and concept even if the quality is not that of one that has extremely high quality video but a poor concept or presentation. I used Laser disk sources for Memories Dance and premiere 5.1 no DVD ripping whatsoever since I didn't know how to do it back then anyway. I think in some cases there is just way too much emphasis on video quality….

I think the important thing for a good and enjoyable video is to get a good idea or concept and to really focus on it and not loose site of what you want to do. It's easy to start off great and loose the concept at some point or to start to hurry to finish it. I like to make videos that I greatly enjoy and even express my feelings towards an anime(s). That keeps the "drive" in me going to do the best job I possibly can. For me lots of planning even if it's in my head really helps me to focus and maintain the same level of energy through the whole video.

In terms of guides, yes they do help, but not in the realm of the concept or artistic expression, that's something each of us must develop through examples or practice. In other words keep making and watching music vides and learn form each one. Also, treat each video project as something very special, that way you'll inspire to do the best job you can on it...

Vlad

Fluxmeister · Post by **Fluxmeister** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 12:55 am

I'll reiterate what Vlad said: Make videos for your own enjoyment and truly love your work. Regardless of the opinions of others, if you can accomplish this one goal, you will be greatly rewarded.

Quality doesn't always matter... when I made my first real AMV, I used the MS Video1 codec... but it didn't matter... that was the only option I knew at the time (pre amv obsession haha). I loved the video I made with it and still do to this day. Though I did update the quality because I knew the video deserved it.

Audio video sync is simply something you customize to your own liking. Find a method that works for you and practice practice practice. Take in the videos you enjoy and note what you like the most in syncing and assimilate it into your own style... and also always stretch your imagination. Creativity in general is always something a video benefits from.

Practice and experimentation help alot. I make videos because I enjoy the process and I like to share my thoughts or viewpoints of a given anime/song. Don't worry about effects unless your personal vision includes them. Also never let anyone discourage you. If you've gotta make dbz + linkin park because you love it so, then go for it.

As for .org:
Never expect anyone to watch your videos or write reviews for them. Share comments in the reviews of videos you enjoy. Take advantage of the review exchange forum. Interaction is the key to personal networking... of course positive or friendly is better than 'u suck!'

The key: Make what you want to see.

I am an aspiring video editor also.

Castor Troy · Post by **Castor Troy** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 1:14 am

Quote in my sig.

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 1:47 am

Yes, I agree with the idea thing, good point ot bring up.

Just how original is an idea? Some will say that if you do a video with anme "X" to song "Y" your video is not original! Yes it might be true, but can be far from it as well.

Look at movies, if you take it to the extreame, almost all movies are a copy or variation of something already done! But that does not every mean it not orignal and good!

I think there is way too much emphasis on trying to be too original as well when it comes to AMVs. I say if you want to express yourself and feel it hasn't been done in the manor of how you want to do it, then using a song or music that has been used somewhere else or using an anime that has a lot of videos made to it is perfectly fine.

In short, never let your exitment over an idea be killed just because someone has done something on the same lines. If you feel your expressing something different or new then go for it! (Besides, we do it as a hobby so there is no such thing as "you can't use that idea" concept anyway. I think the whole thing here in North America has been blown totally out of proportion (just look at all the law suites about accusations on idea stealing, copying, etc)

Vlad

ErMaC · Post by **ErMaC** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 5:02 am

Thanks very much for the praise. Hopefully TommyRude won't find his way in here and flame you for being an ErMaC Fanboy.

I don't think there are really any "secrets" exactly to give out. Basically I just make videos. I think that if you come up with a good concept, flesh it out, and stick to it, you're set. A good concept not only involves the actual song/anime choice and possible plot, but also the editing style. I think consistency of editing is important, although this rule can be broken with good reason (take the last portion of "The End of Me" for example).

That is one thing worth mentioning too - any "rules" that people can come up with can be broken under the right circumstances. Most of the times the "rules" are there to keep people from being stupid. Take the rule "don't combine letterboxed and fullscreen footage in the same video." A very wise rule, I would say, and 99% of the time it's right. But Kevin broke that in "Engel" as an effect during the solo section, and it worked, because he knew what he was doing and broke the rule on purpsoe. Same thing with the "Use good source footage" rule. MeriC broke this bigtime with "All-Purpose DBZ Music Video" but he did it for a reason - he even tripped out the analog tracking on his VCR to make things look WORSE.

Anyways just sit down and edit. If I were editing music videos for other people all the time I wouldn't still be making AMVs. All of my good videos are videos that I would want to watch again. In fact I still have all my AMVs with me here in Japan (the ones encoded to XviD) because I enjoy watching them. If you can make a video that you still enjoy watching a year after you've made it then you're doing something right.

Paul Kievits · Post by **Paul Kievits** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 6:18 am

ErMaC wrote: Same thing with the "Use good source footage" rule. MeriC broke this bigtime with "All-Purpose DBZ Music Video" but he did it for a reason - he even tripped out the analog tracking on his VCR to make things look WORSE.

Um dude, MeriC is a woman...

ErMaC · Post by **ErMaC** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 6:38 am

Yea sorry I'm aware of that - sorry MeriC! Wasn't thinking at the time. Just woke up ^_^ My apologies.

MeriC · Post by **MeriC** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 9:08 am

ErMaC wrote:Yea sorry I'm aware of that - sorry MeriC! Wasn't thinking at the time. Just woke up ^_^ My apologies.

I am woman, hear me type! S'OK, I'll forgive ya.

I guess I need to just stop being such a man.

It's really hard to attempt to do something different with an AMV, since it always feels like everything's been done. But even a simple concept that's new can make a huge difference. I think proper usage of text in a video can be very effective (I'll use dokidoki's "Right Now" as an example). One of the things I wanted to do differently in the "All-Purpose DBZ" video was to make it obviously crappy looking, so I put my good ol' fansubs to use, and make 'em look even crappier my messing with the tracking and contrast/brightness. So, silly and small things shouldn't be overlooked, I think.

SarahtheBoring · Post by **SarahtheBoring** » Fri Aug 30, 2002 12:28 pm

I'm a severe newbie myself, but in anything you're bound to improve at least a bit if you...

1) study other examples (good, bad, and indifferent) with an objective and open mind, and see what works and what doesn't
and
2) practice, and review what you've done with that same approach - "OK, this part isn't that interesting - why is that?" or "This seems all right, what about it worked?"

Generic but I think it applies.