If you have nothing to show, then don't show it?

inthesto · Post by **inthesto** » Sat May 21, 2005 5:43 pm

Slightly modified from a famous line often thrown around, I was pondering the following thought while editing:

We basically take for granted that while we're watching an AMV, there's going to be something on the screen. Whether it's the jaw-cracking punch, the comical lip-synch, the dramatic pensive pose, or the thirty-second unedited clip, we basically assume there's going to be something firing away at our eyes. However, is it possible that there's just nothing on the screen during an AMV for dramatic effect? I'm not talking about the blank space between a fade-out and a fade-in when a phrase is done in the music, but just a straight black (or white) screen while the instruments keep going. Could something like this be done well, or is it the shield of a lazy editor trying to appear "minimalist"?

Man, I'm sleepy.

Sephiroth · Post by **Sephiroth** » Sat May 21, 2005 6:24 pm

I think it has to be taken on a case by case bases after all if the purpose is say satire then having one long 30 second clip makes scence. Execution still plays a big part. After all how hard of an editing job was a complete waiste of 6min 35 seconds, and that won best comedy at AX.

NPC3000 · Post by **NPC3000** » Sat May 21, 2005 6:24 pm

I think if it were done with extreme cleverness and a good sense of timing it could work. But in most cases I think it would be preferable that editors edit through an entire video. It seems to me that there're usually better things to do with instrumental passages than to show a blank screen.

Orwell · Post by **Orwell** » Sat May 21, 2005 6:30 pm

It would really have to depend on the music, and even then, it sounds more like something you would see from a regular music video. As i've heard voiced here before, well, typed, many of the things that might work for a music video don't work for a AMV. The viewer expects something to be happening on the screen, whether action, a slowed scene maybe, or just a still frame/image. When unable to do a more modern edit to match what the music is doing, just find a scene that has a mood that generally matches what you hear. a bit off topic, but i've been watching older, two vhs amvs to figure out why some of them can be so good, and yet simple. People still do just basic cuts, but they don't seem to fit quite as well with the music as the older ones. then again, you'd probably have to be very dedicated to do it like that. If your trying for dramatic effect, you MIGHT be able to stretch it to work, but for it go on for more than a few seconds would probably turn the viewer off.

Pwolf · Post by **Pwolf** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:23 pm

i think RutKiskasca put it best with my Omoidaite Ima video (shameless plug? maybe >.>)...

"I loved the use of dark space throughout. It was a very effective visual effect. Lots of people don't appreciate an effect unless it involves a severe distortion of the pixels or lots of rectangles flying at your face. Black video is a very powerful tool."

i think it is best used for a drama video. especially with a dark concept. the black video adds to the mood and is kinda depressing. an effective tool if used right.

Pwolf

jasper-isis · Post by **jasper-isis** » Sat May 21, 2005 7:56 pm

In the song for ProjeKct: Life there are some instances when the music stops and you hear the cry of an infant. It's been suggested (by pen-pen2002, I think) to drop all video at those points and let the cries come out of the darkness. I like that idea a lot because baby cries are difficult to pair with video. Show an actual infant, and you run the risk of blatant music-synching. Fail to show an infant, and you run the risk of blatant negligence of the music. Black video is an elegant way to achieve middle ground.

However, I don't know if having black video that's over a length of five seconds (without a significant change in the music) is a good idea...

jbone · Post by **jbone** » Sat May 21, 2005 8:49 pm

Sephiroth wrote:if the purpose is, say, satire then having one long 30 second clip makes sence

Or, as the case may be, one long 5-minute clip.

<_< >_> <_<

TaranT · Post by **TaranT** » Sat May 21, 2005 10:01 pm

Re-view score = 1.83

godix · Post by **godix** » Sat May 21, 2005 10:07 pm

A 5 second black screen worked rather well for comedy I think but maybe that's just me.

bum · Post by **bum** » Sat May 21, 2005 10:33 pm

This thread's reminded me of 2001: A space odysee. Anyone know what the purpose of the movie's intermitions were?