What rules/ stats do you set making a AMV?
- Bulghod
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- Wonka
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As far as theme and flow, I have no real set guidelines other than the fact that they should be present (the theme and flow, not the guidelines).
From an editing standpoint, I do have rules I always abide by.
(Note: just because I abide by them doesn't mean I feel a video is bad because it doesn't, nor am I not aware that there are always exceptions to these)
- No mouth flap. I will go through hours of work photoshopping a clip to get rid of it, or just trash the clip entirely. It just feels too distracting to have lip flap.
- When the song changes gears (i.e. verse to chorus or different movements within), the clip changes with it. Never do I allow one clip to bridge two segments of a song unless it's for a very specific reason.
- Don't blow your gold footage early on. The end of a video is the most impactful part, as it is the part that people will really walk away thinking about. I've seen allot of videos that start out strong, but use all of their best scenes early on, and have the video completely peter out do to lack of any interesting footage.
- Don't make a concrete plan for your video. When you make an inflexible "this is how this video is going to be" plan, you risk running into major creative problems later on, as all plans will inevitably have to be altered when making an AMV.
Just come into it with a lose idea of what you want built around a few central themes, and then just go with the flow.
- Don't rush it. This is my hardest rule to abide by, as I always get excited and try and hurry it up to show the world my new vid. This is bad. Always. There is rarely an instance when finishing the vid and holding onto it for a week to look for flaws can't and shouldn't be done.
Anyways, this is just what I go by. I've broken all of the rules at one time or another (all but the mouth flap one), but for the most part, I've found that they have worked well for me
From an editing standpoint, I do have rules I always abide by.
(Note: just because I abide by them doesn't mean I feel a video is bad because it doesn't, nor am I not aware that there are always exceptions to these)
- No mouth flap. I will go through hours of work photoshopping a clip to get rid of it, or just trash the clip entirely. It just feels too distracting to have lip flap.
- When the song changes gears (i.e. verse to chorus or different movements within), the clip changes with it. Never do I allow one clip to bridge two segments of a song unless it's for a very specific reason.
- Don't blow your gold footage early on. The end of a video is the most impactful part, as it is the part that people will really walk away thinking about. I've seen allot of videos that start out strong, but use all of their best scenes early on, and have the video completely peter out do to lack of any interesting footage.
- Don't make a concrete plan for your video. When you make an inflexible "this is how this video is going to be" plan, you risk running into major creative problems later on, as all plans will inevitably have to be altered when making an AMV.
Just come into it with a lose idea of what you want built around a few central themes, and then just go with the flow.
- Don't rush it. This is my hardest rule to abide by, as I always get excited and try and hurry it up to show the world my new vid. This is bad. Always. There is rarely an instance when finishing the vid and holding onto it for a week to look for flaws can't and shouldn't be done.
Anyways, this is just what I go by. I've broken all of the rules at one time or another (all but the mouth flap one), but for the most part, I've found that they have worked well for me

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Re: What rules/ stats do you set making a AMV?
rules are ment to be broken =)SailorX wrote:I have rules I have to follow in order for a Music video to work for me. If a song has nothing to do with it, I won't make it. my standards.
The clips have to go with the words of the song. If the lyrics have no preferance to a scene, find a clip to match the mood and it has something that matches a down beat. Try to fit the mood as much as you can.
AMVs aren't just things you should just throw together. For Me each Music video is a story. It can either do with the song or scenes. Or it can almost make a story of it's own if put together right.
Unfortunatly I apply this to Vids I watch as well. It anoys me when People pick a great song but just throws clips that have nothing to do with the words or mood.
What about you? do you have any guidelines you follow when making a vid?
I have no set of "rules" or "guidelines" I hear a song & try to envision what anime it should go to, as I have a CPU filled with MP3s coruppting my HDs =p they at least should go to good use, so I make AMVs.... even though ive been out of the loop for 2 years now & just starting to get back into it.
but generaly I hear I see I make
wait that is a rule isnt it....
Yuri of CSPGPRP
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"wishes he could change his user name to the above"
Let Chaos Riegn, then eat some marshmellows to pass the time

Best Gif animation ever!!!!
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- OtakuOutpost
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Rule 1) Try a concept that is challenging and conveys some sort of message. Preferably something that reflects my interpretation of the anime itself. By challenging I mean that the song and anime shouldn't fit like bread and butter but still make sense as a valid interpretation of the anime.
Rule 2) Try to draw from musical sources that aren't overly popular.
Rule 3) Try to avoid the using the hot anime of the year because the screen will likely be full of videos using it and likely the same scenes.
Rule 4) Analyse the various components of the song and segment your video themes to transition when the song changes
Rule 5) Pick a fairly consistant timing patter for similar parts of the song to give the video additional continuity.
Rule 6) Ignore any feedback your friends give you. They won't be honest.
Rule 7) After completing the video, sit on it for 3 weeks and watch it again. If anything stands out as wrong to you, you need to change it.
Rule 8) Going against the grain is good. A style that is different from the norm will get attention.
Rule 9) Use as few effects and layers as possible when first making the video. The video should be able to stand on it's own without being a collage of effects. Add effects that are tasteful and appropriate with moderation. Effects should be enhancements, not the focus.
Rule 2) Try to draw from musical sources that aren't overly popular.
Rule 3) Try to avoid the using the hot anime of the year because the screen will likely be full of videos using it and likely the same scenes.
Rule 4) Analyse the various components of the song and segment your video themes to transition when the song changes
Rule 5) Pick a fairly consistant timing patter for similar parts of the song to give the video additional continuity.
Rule 6) Ignore any feedback your friends give you. They won't be honest.
Rule 7) After completing the video, sit on it for 3 weeks and watch it again. If anything stands out as wrong to you, you need to change it.
Rule 8) Going against the grain is good. A style that is different from the norm will get attention.
Rule 9) Use as few effects and layers as possible when first making the video. The video should be able to stand on it's own without being a collage of effects. Add effects that are tasteful and appropriate with moderation. Effects should be enhancements, not the focus.
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- Cyanna
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- DrngdKreationz
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one of the few things I do is try to push myself up a notch as far as skill or technique go.
a few other side focuses are
high emotional intensity,
make it so that people can actually feel it (if its possible)
Create something that is MY OWN
and the huge bonus is.
if more than 5 people ask me "How did you do that?"
a few other side focuses are
high emotional intensity,
make it so that people can actually feel it (if its possible)
Create something that is MY OWN
and the huge bonus is.
if more than 5 people ask me "How did you do that?"