Thoughts on substance in AMVs

[madbunny]

I listen to it and perceive it in my own way, pertaining to my life and the events that have shaped me, not the artist that created it. So, whatever storyline, unless direct, is usually lost in the twisted way many artists portray them through the song. Basically, the song takes shape in my mind probably as something else that the artist had intended, the story then changes from person to person... so I usually do not focus on the story, but rather the emotions invoked by the presentation of the song.

So er... what you're saying is that while your videos might incidentally have a story, it's only used as a method for evoking the emotions that the song/idea or whatever it was that got you started in the first place?

I'll accept that, even if I don't quite believe it to be true.

Basically, in my mind not all videos have to have a story, they just have to have some kind of focus. It doesn't seem like we disagree, except on the semantics of it.

What started all this?

[Koopiskeva]

Just something that's been on my mind |:

[Koopiskeva]

it's too late to read, but I'm not beleiveing what I think I'm seeing. all of my amvs has a story. and yes, my AMVS has a story, not the anime, not the song, the AMV itself. I wouldn't enjoy making AMVs if I had to follow somebody else' junk.

You should believe it... you need to realize that not everyone thinks the way that you do, and not every video needs to have a story |: .. Sure you personally may not enjoy it, but that doesn't mean that what other people make is junk, its just how they like to create and edit. If you really insist on thinking that videos that don't have stories are junk, then you need to re-evaluate what an amv is... it is an anime music video... not a book or a feature length film that was created to have a solid story. What we do is manipulate the video and/or audio source to our liking, and though some may try to create a story or recreate the story shown in the anime, its merely shows a progression in the video, not usually a clear cut linear story that everyone can follow all the way through or at least not in the same way.

Don't fall into the category of people who think that creating some sort of narrative is the only way to present a video, it'll only hinder you from realizing that there's much much more you can create but not limiting yourself to a linear story.

[Keeper of Hellfire]

If that's true:

...I've always said that I created videos for myself...

then what is this thread about? You shouldn't care about other peoples opinions on your AMVs.

If you look at music videos on mtv most of them have a centra idea that the video focuses around.

They all have one common idea they focus around: Without presence at MTV you can't sell large numbers of CDs. Beside this I see very often a lack of ideas.

The term story is a bit vague, I'll replace it with a term with one that I think is more accurate: Concept. An AMV should have a concept that is more than: "That are cool fighting scenes. That's a cool song. I'll synch that scenes to that song."

What kind of concept doesn't matter much. Though if you try to express emotions only, don't wonder if the people say "random clips to music" or "no story". Because if one doesn't catch that emotion it probably is.

[Keeper of Hellfire]

I I'll replace it with a term that I think is more accurate:

fixed.

[Infinity Squared]

That's most likely true, but when one listens to a song, or at least when I do, I listen to it and perceive it in my own way, pertaining to my life and the events that have shaped me, not the artist that created it.

indeed... i hadn't thought of it before but i do get a lot of comments for as the world crashes down and i really hate it when people say the video is about 9/11 and they say i've done something horrible by making a video about it...

i wouldn't care if they didn't like the video because <i>they</i> see it as a video about 9/11, but to say i did something wrong or i am using real life events to persue some hidden agenda is ghey.

Pwolf

I faced a similar thing previously with Dedication in that the original song was intended by Ben Folds Five as a story centred on abortion. My interpretation of it though (even though I knew about Ben Folds Five's version) was just simply that of someone who was not well. I tagged into that idea then the emotions I have been feeling at the time which were largely influenced by the passing of my grandmother whom I very sorely loved.

I was told I was misrepresenting the song somewhat. I think this is a prime example of a video having some sort of narrative on a face value, which ultimately can be misinterpreted or be seen only for that face value, when in fact my idea from the start was just to create a dedication of sorts.

[Koopiskeva]

If that's true:

...I've always said that I created videos for myself...

then what is this thread about? You shouldn't care about other peoples opinions on your AMVs

Why shouldn't I care about these opinions .. especially when they attack something that I've edited? Yes, there is a certain amount of pride I take in making AMVs... so, of course I would care if another person just bashes it with a view that they try to get across like its fact.

|:

[Prodigi]

If people wanted storyline's in videos then no one would like any of my videos

...


oh wait...

[Koopiskeva]

The term story is a bit vague, I'll replace it with a term with one that I think is more accurate: Concept. An AMV should have a concept that is more than: "That are cool fighting scenes. That's a cool song. I'll synch that scenes to that song."

Why exactly should an AMV have a concept more than that example that you stated? That's more of a preference of concept, rather than an actual fact. It may not be a high concept in any degree, but that doesn't mean that it should not be allowed. People have different agendas and values that pertain to AMVs and just because this example doesn't meet your standards, that doesn't mean any concept you think of is superior to theirs.

What kind of concept doesn't matter much. Though if you try to express emotions only, don't wonder if the people say "random clips to music" or "no story". Because if one doesn't catch that emotion it probably is.

So, if you make a video that is commemorating something that has happened in your life and nobody else gets it, then its meaningless? That's not true, and you know it. Just because others don't follow your concept does not mean that it doesn't exist and neither does it mean that its just "random clips to music" or "no story," because neither of those reasons can even begin to grasp the intention of the editor. Now, you could say that the editor failed in the aspect of expressing their intention to viewers, but that doesn't mean that the editor failed in any other aspect. The video itself may make much more sense to them than any linear story video that others could ever come up with... and in that regard, their video is everything they could ever hope it would be.

[Kisanzi]

What we do is manipulate the video and/or audio source to our liking, and though some may try to create a story or recreate the story shown in the anime, its merely shows a progression in the video, not usually a clear cut linear story that everyone can follow all the way through or at least not in the same way.

I agree. That is the REAL definition of what we do.

I've been having some of the same criticism pop up here and there lately. It makes me irritated when someone comments that they couldn't find a story in a vid, especially when its a dance or action vid. Sometimes we as editors choose to produce something that captures the intensity of the music, the lyrics of the song or the portrayal of feelings. There doesn't have to be a clear cut storyline for the viewer to follow. It's hard to believe that people watch every video expecting a storyline and generally when this happens they come away with the idea that the videos without storys are just random clips set to music. I guess it's the viewers loss but it's hard for the creator to take criticism from someone who was looking at the video in the completely wrong light.

I guess I'm just restating what has been said already, but I'm in agreement that AMVs, by no means, have to have a story. In fact it's those that create their own atmospheres and portrayal of emotions that turn out being the best in my opinion.