Thoughts on substance in AMVs

[Koopiskeva]

stuff

Yeah.. its cool... but the current debate isn't really about this. Question is.. does the structure of a video need to be in the form of a 'story' or a 'storyline'? I don't believe this to be true |:

[JudgeHolden]

Well, has anybaody noticed that many of the most popular videos on this site DO NOT have a story or storyline? I think that kinda of answers the question ......

[JudgeHolden]

Well, has anybody noticed that many of the most popular videos on this site DO NOT have a story or storyline? I think that kinda of answers the question ......

Fixed

[EvaFan]

"While it’s true that a story need not be told in ALL amv's, it still needs some kind of a base to work up from."

Even Naruto's Technique Beat had a small storyline. I rather like the way decoy opened it. It was set-up so that the sensei had sent out drones to gather data on their techniques and fighting styles. He didn't just have fighting with no storyline. It's actually kind of hidden but that’s how he did it. An amv doesn't have to follow the animes storyline really; you can create your own story out of it. As for amv's without a storyline, I totally agree, some are very good and don't have one at all. As a matter of fact I've even created a vid without a storyline. All though it had a "base" to work up from as I mentioned. It was an amv with the idea of making it a concert using the "Bad Luck" band from Gravitation. You can go check it out if you want, I don't care. Either way both sides of this argument have its ups and downs. I'm merely trying to point out both.

The only thing that matters is you need something to start from and end at in an amv. As long as those two parts correlate with one another some how then the amv will probably be in good tastes.

My first post was in response to the question started by this thread, I'm just mischievous with disguising my words. I'm done with this thread I made my point clear enough now. Whether or not it helped this thread or not doesn't really matter cause you will still create AMV's in your own unique way in the end regardless. So happy editing.

P.S. -Koop- I rather like the way you implemented the story of it all being a dream to the main character in RahXephon or your Euphoria AMV, which is needless to say why I like your amv so much. It was unique and different from the common amv's of the original apocalyptic ideal created by others. So a story isn’t important then, it just makes amv’s more interesting and diverse.

[Koopiskeva]

P.S. -Koop- I rather like the way you implemented the story of it all being a dream to the main character in RahXephon or your Euphoria AMV, which is needless to say why I like your amv so much. It was unique and different from the common amv's of the original apocalyptic ideal created by others. So a story isn’t important then, it just makes amv’s more interesting and diverse.

While I appreciate that you liked the video... I didn't implement a 'story,' it was a theme... a theme is not the same thing as a story. |:

[OmniStrata]

stuff

Yeah.. its cool... but the current debate isn't really about this. Question is.. does the structure of a video need to be in the form of a 'story' or a 'storyline'? I don't believe this to be true |:

Who needs substance when you've got special fx and a nice dancy song!?



In all honesty though, I agree with what you say for uh, obvious reasons. I sometimes tell a story and nobody sees it, or I don't and people start making up their own shyte... But not everyone will agree with you and me so...

A vid's structure need not have a story or storyline to be good. I'm living example, I hope...

[Deathscythe_Animated]

Ever get an opinion from someone saying things such as:

"I really liked the story that you showed etc..."

or vice versa

"I didn't see a story at all, it was just a bunch of random shots set to blah blah blah.."

?

It made me wonder... does a story even matter an in amv? A lot of people would argue for each side, but does having a story necessarily correlate to having substance? It seems to me that unless people want to see a story in the video or try to see a sort of substance in a video, only then will the video have any sort of meaning. Sure, plenty of videos do have very linear story lines (some so much that its not longer an AMV, but rather simply a video with music in the background), but does that mean that unless the story is clear, then the video is just there simply to sync to some part of the song?

I've had a lot of people give me opinions on my videos in these past few years telling me how such and such is just random and vice versa, with people saying that my videos do have substance and the like... these opinions mean almost nothing sadly.

To me, when I create a video, I create it to capture elements of the anime in context to the song that I'm using all the while using my knowledge of video editing techniques along with whatever emotions both the anime and the song create for me.

I do not make an AMV to show a story.

I'm gonna say that again, I do not make an AMV to show a story. It may have some semblance of a story, but that is simply becasue I am following the song, or the chronological order of events that unfold within the anime in certain parts of a song.

So, I'm saying that anyone whom has ever said that they 'followed the story' in any of videos did so using their own perception of what I had created. However, does that necessarily make all the videos I've created all just random syncage to whatever I pleased? Maybe. But that necessarily mean that it does not any substance? I'd like to think not. Every video I've created has some kind of feeling or emotion behind it, mostly a mix of what I had taken away from the anime itself in pertaining to the song.

To me, the amvs I create are about expressing those emotions, thoughts, and views, not about creating a story for which any onlooker can just quickly glance and realize what it is they are seeing. I've always said that I created videos for myself and creating non-linear story driven videos are proof of that. I watch my videos from time to time, I don't watch them to rewatch the story, I could just watch the anime again if I wanted to, but that would take too much time, I watch them to relive those emotions that I purposefully embedded in the videos that I created for myself.

This is why criticism on substance in AMVs is such a touchy subject to me in some ways. The term 'substance' has such a broad meaning in general AMV lingo, however, everyone has such a specific idea of what substance means in their mind, that they don't even question as why certain AMVs are created.

Everyone perceives every AMV in a different way, please don't go off stating your opinion as if it were fact.

Does anyone have any thoughts on my crazy ramblings here? |:

P.S.

QFT, On the same video I might have someone say "This is just random death action scenes!" and I'll have another person say "I really love the progression and story your trying to portray here."

I don't want to say it's due to certain viewers IQ level or anything like that, but sometimes I notice people just watch videos and zone out, or they berate your for not matching their vision of what the AMV should be. Maybe I'm being simplistic, but an editor shouldn't have to make the AMV just look really cool with special effects before someone says there is a story behind it. Balancing the effects and meaning behind a video is a delicate process. Add to that delicate balance literal and metaphorical meaning with that song and the video and the process becomes overwhelming. But they are just opinions and should be taken on a case by case basis. For myself, I put all my emotion and feeling into an AMV, and I would hope that those emotions are imprinted into the viewers mind. Because if they are and I edited the video correctly, the viewer would feel the way I did, and see what I was trying to accomplish. My question is can editors understand what I mean? Does anybody else attempt this type of editing?

[delirium_sj]

For myself, I put all my emotion and feeling into an AMV, and I would hope that those emotions are imprinted into the viewers mind. Because if they are and I edited the video correctly, the viewer would feel the way I did, and see what I was trying to accomplish. My question is can editors understand what I mean? Does anybody else attempt this type of editing?

This is exactly what I try and do! Only problem is alot of people just don't seem to share my views on my AMVs Example kinda, my 2 least favorite AMVs that I've made...I like them ok but I didn't put as much of myself into them, one was an experiment, the other something someone asked me to make...those are the ones that I've gotten "LOVED IT!"s for. I dunno...it's just sometimes I wanna knock people over the head and yell "CAN'T YOU FEL IT DAMNIT?!" lol. but then I just think...oh well, I can still feel it when I watch them, even years later...that's what's really important I guess. Sure be nice though to know others shared that experience w/ me.

A little on topic: I think it's great when people tell me a story they saw where there was none, or randomness when to me it had a clear storyline...I think I mentioned this pages ago but everyone has their own opinions and ways of thinking...it's nice to see how others could see things so differently from the editor even though it can get very annoying sometimes. it's just all part of putting yourself out there I guess.

[Otohiko]

And still we are circling over the same old mole hill. Mayhaps I'm starting to get irritated again.

I'll end my input here with a favorite quote of mine...




If it's about self-expression, you know it's gonna suck. -R.F.

[Knowname]

If it's about self-expression, you know it's gonna suck. -R.F.

:giggle: