Hey all,
In the midst (still) of my first full-length AMV and I am having trouble getting my story across strictly using video clips. The other day as I was pondering how to get myself out of the corner I edited myself into (didn’t know where I was going nor how to get there once I figured it out), I had a good idea that involved reworking the current video work I’ve done (mostly just clips timed to the source audio, not much story-wise), into more of a drama-type story.
However, the only way I can figure out how to tell this story is by adding subtitles to key parts of the video. I’ve done some initial tests, and it looks okay, but then wondered if I was ‘cheating’ as the story should be transmitted via the image selection / editing.
Right now, I think that the most intensive section (well, not really intensive, just a few lines here and there within the first 15 seconds and all) of subtitles would be in the very beginning of the vid to set up the rest of it, with a sprinkling of it here and there to reinforce (and remind) the audience what the hell was going on.
I know that subs can be distracting, so I just wondered what you all thought in general terms on this subject? I know that this is sort of out of context and pretty hard to answer, but in your own personal view, is this a shortcut to bad editing, or is it a justifiable means of communicating your plot to the audience?
Subtitle use to relate AMV story – good use or cheat?
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Otohiko
- Joined: Mon May 05, 2003 8:32 pm
I tend to use just titles instead of subtitles...
But they're no problem, as long as you realize this:
Text in a video is like vocals in a song. Since these carry literal meanings, they immideately draw the viewer's attention. So if you're prepared to have the viewer focus on these for the time that they're on screen, you're fine. But if you want to focus the viewer on the abstract visuals for that moment, text is just not a good idea. So you move it elsewhere or not use it at all.
But they're no problem, as long as you realize this:
Text in a video is like vocals in a song. Since these carry literal meanings, they immideately draw the viewer's attention. So if you're prepared to have the viewer focus on these for the time that they're on screen, you're fine. But if you want to focus the viewer on the abstract visuals for that moment, text is just not a good idea. So you move it elsewhere or not use it at all.
The Birds are using humanity in order to throw something terrifying at this green pig. And then what happens to us all later, that’s simply not important to them…
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Scintilla
- (for EXTREME)
- Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 8:47 pm
- Status: Quo
- Location: New Jersey
- Contact:
They worked well at the beginning of "Tainted Donuts", and they worked well in Orange Kitten's <a href="http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... 993">"Dark Journey"</a>, so there's two examples of how to do them right.
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Keeper of Hellfire
- Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 6:13 am
- Location: Germany
I agree with Otohiko. For one of my future projects I plan to use subtitles too. The song I want to use has some spoken parts - in Japanese. The understanding of that parts is essential for the understanding of the AMV. So I will put the translation as subtitles in the vid. I know that it will distract from the onscreen action, but I hope not too much. That distraction has a little advantage - it distracts from flaws too. 
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bum
- 17747114553
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2003 9:56 pm
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AquaSky
- Master of Science
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2003 8:06 am
If clarity's your problem, then a revamp of scene selection and/or narrowing of the concept are your solutions. If you need subtitles in a video for such a purpose, it says that the video is not effective enough to stand on its own. I can see an intro, perhaps, but continuing on into the video would be distracting.
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godix
- a disturbed member
- Joined: Sat Aug 03, 2002 12:13 am
Go watch <a href="http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... 4">Angel's Redemption 2</a> for a great example of using text to help tell a story without being annoying about it.
Some things to note in particular
1) All the phrase are short. Really short. Like usually less than five words short. That allows the viewer to catch the text at a glance then go back to watching the video rather than being distracted for several seconds to read a subtiles.
2) The text is easily readable. It's a pretty simple font. It's fairly large. It's white with think black borders so no matter what the background is it'll stand out. Nothing makes text more distracting than trying to figure out what a word is because someone used tiny yellow letters in a hard to read script on a white background.
3) The text is not subtitles, it's popped up over the video. To read it the viewer doesn't have shift his eyes off the video and focus on the bottom of the window.
4) The scenes with text are, mostly, simple. They aren't full of lots of motion, effects, or other complex elements. You can take in the picture at a glance then read the text without getting the feeling you missed something in the action. At least once when he had quite a bit of text up the background was pure black, can't get simpler than that.
5) AR2 does provide one 'don't do this' example. Notice how the text jiggles around, fades in and out, has moving shadows, etc. That draws attention to the text and away from the video. Don't do it. Just show static text, it's much less distracting.
Some things to note in particular
1) All the phrase are short. Really short. Like usually less than five words short. That allows the viewer to catch the text at a glance then go back to watching the video rather than being distracted for several seconds to read a subtiles.
2) The text is easily readable. It's a pretty simple font. It's fairly large. It's white with think black borders so no matter what the background is it'll stand out. Nothing makes text more distracting than trying to figure out what a word is because someone used tiny yellow letters in a hard to read script on a white background.
3) The text is not subtitles, it's popped up over the video. To read it the viewer doesn't have shift his eyes off the video and focus on the bottom of the window.
4) The scenes with text are, mostly, simple. They aren't full of lots of motion, effects, or other complex elements. You can take in the picture at a glance then read the text without getting the feeling you missed something in the action. At least once when he had quite a bit of text up the background was pure black, can't get simpler than that.
5) AR2 does provide one 'don't do this' example. Notice how the text jiggles around, fades in and out, has moving shadows, etc. That draws attention to the text and away from the video. Don't do it. Just show static text, it's much less distracting.
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Undertow
- Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2004 10:23 am
- Location: Holland
I have to agree with IcyCloud here, If you need subtitles to explain the video, then there is something wrong with the video.
I find subtitles in the videos very distracting, and very annoying. I would never use it, and when i would create a video that doesn't work, except by inserting subtitles, then i would try to find another way around it, or rebuild the video so it works
I find subtitles in the videos very distracting, and very annoying. I would never use it, and when i would create a video that doesn't work, except by inserting subtitles, then i would try to find another way around it, or rebuild the video so it works
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FoxJones
- The foxiest!
- Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2003 9:22 am
- Location: Lieto, Finland
- Contact:
Most of the important points are already mentioned by Otohiko, Cloudy and Godix. I agree with them and say that with a drama AMV.. don't use subtitles. Reason being in my point of view that if you can't tell the story with music and pictures alone.. you fail as an editor and storyteller 
If you still want to go through with subtitles another good example where this is done right is Storytelling - a Gothic Fairytale.
I have used added subtitles, but these are comedy AMVs where I added blown up text, that one can't miss, to bring out the comedy value. Best example of this (as me using subtitles) is my Shingetsutan Chocolate.
If you still want to go through with subtitles another good example where this is done right is Storytelling - a Gothic Fairytale.I have used added subtitles, but these are comedy AMVs where I added blown up text, that one can't miss, to bring out the comedy value. Best example of this (as me using subtitles) is my Shingetsutan Chocolate.
