What EXACTLY is no-effects?

[trythil]

If we had some bullet-proof way of generally applying that absolute judgment to a contest that is otherwise entirely determined by what reality is perceived by the masses, I don't think this topic would exist.

Well. Technically, we have one binary decision that works pretty damn well here, but I have no idea if it's being implemented since I don't follow the VCAs.

Just mark all videos that have the "digital effects" checkbox checked as ineligible for the "best no-effects" award.

Obviously that has a huge number of problems, but hey, at least it's clear for the purposes of the VCAs. I suppose one of the biggest questions with that approach is "what does the creator define an effect as", which I guess is what some people were trying to bring up.

[[Mike of the Desert]]

What is an effect?

This is been always a live discussion here at the org, but answering to your exactly question.. I think that the site itself, talking about rules and not "ethic", for "NO-EFFECTS" means anything that is not more complex than cuts and fades. A good example of a truly good no-effects video, is this one:

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=23890

As you can see, near to the ending, the editor used the "old paint" effect that IS in the serie, to create something that seems an effect, but that's not, since that clip is made by the original serie.

[Scintilla]

If we had some bullet-proof way of generally applying that absolute judgment to a contest that is otherwise entirely determined by what reality is perceived by the masses, I don't think this topic would exist.

Well. Technically, we have one binary decision that works pretty damn well here, but I have no idea if it's being implemented since I don't follow the VCAs.

Just mark all videos that have the "digital effects" checkbox checked as ineligible for the "best no-effects" award.

I'm pretty sure that's how it's done, yes.

[Tormentor]

Well I would declare no effects the following.

A video may contain: -time changes
- masks (since it is just effort)
- transitions (laughter)
- flashes (to a certain bit)

I would draw the line at matters of colour-changes or motion. These are effects, although a fade-to-black is something really common and ought not to be declared an effect.

[slackergirl]

I get the feeling that this is about to slide into the "what is reality" discussion.

I certainly have no desire to enter that discussion! (I had enough of Kant in college to last a lifetime )

But I guess since we are considering all vids marked as no-effect by the creator as eligible, I'll just have to trust them on that. The difficulty only arises when you call the category no-effects and I can see a few in there; hence confusion ensues. I will maintain my stance of considering it a matter of simplicity instead of banning effects (in the Aristotelean sense) entirely.

And Corran, I entirely agree that minimal use of subtle digital effects does not warrant checking the "effects" box (like Infinity's "Dedication"). I have no problem with the fact that the creators of the nominated vids didn't check that box. I guess my real issue is with the wording of the category. The description states:

It seems that more and more people are conviced that effects make the video. This video goes out and proves them wrong with no video effects.

I wish it either
a)stated what is considered an effect, or
b) was worded to allow minimal use of effects, or at least stated that all vids were chosen as not effects based by the creators.
I suppose b) would open a huge can of ginormous man-eating worms similar to the current conversation...

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

Well, while we could each sit in front of our respective screens and debate this...probably for a lifetime and still not have an answer, i think the est thing to do is first take the name of the contest into consideration

Viewer's Choice Awards.

Therefore, the best way to decide whay to vote for is not what you think everyone else would decide to be a no effects video, judge for yourself, if you don't think a video has no effects, then don't vote for it not because it isn't a good video, but because you don't feel that it fits into the stated category, i know i did that several times in this years VCA semi's, it doesn't make the video any worse, it just mean that you don't feel it deserves that particular award...maybe another one, just not the no-effects award in this case.

[Bane of Mist]

Lacking any kind of decent editing software, I think the name should be changed to "Best Movie Maker Style Video award". Since 90% of the effects in that are crap, then no one would use them and the problem will be solved. Personally, I generally define an effect as anything that is in a video that is not footage. If that was the criteria, then the award would be a lot simpler and would be able to reflect more purely the genius (or non genius) of the creator.

[celibi87]

If the video itself has had some alteration besides what was int he anime then i consider it a digital effect. The fact still remains the creator of the amv put more effort into the the video to make it look better than it would have if they had just cut scenes and put them together. Ive been arguing with myself over this exact thing since one of my videos that is in production has reverse footagein some parts, does that count for a check in the effects box. I still havent decided.

[Bakadeshi]

Well I would declare no effects the following.

A video may contain: -time changes
- masks (since it is just effort)
- transitions (laughter)
- flashes (to a certain bit)

I would draw the line at matters of colour-changes or motion. These are effects, although a fade-to-black is something really common and ought not to be declared an effect.

To answer slackergirls reply to my post, tormenter said it better;p I also think masks are more effort than an effect. I consider an effect creating an image or altering the visual of an image using software or other means an effect, whereas masking could be the same category as cutting out a scene and putting it in the timeline. your basically just moving around footage when it comes to masking. now if you alter that mask by adding a glow around it or somehting, then your adding something that did not originally exist in the footage, so then its an effect.

[-GfN-]

specific question:

my new amv contains things that could be recognised as decent effects.
(blendings for drums, greyscale)
however, there is one scene using three segments that I cropped so each fills 1/3 of the space and then they are blended in first yellow, green and finally red according to the drums.

but after all, these are just 2 secs. just give me a recommendation wether to hit 'effects' in the vid information or not.

Jannis Nätke alias -Good for Nothing-