AMV Editing Ethics

Krisqo · Post by **Krisqo** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:03 pm

This is something that has been fluttering in the back of my mind for a few years. Is it unethical to download a music video released back in the day (circa 2001-2004) and then take the same song, anime, and theme and create a video like it yourself but with much improved editing, video quality, and scene selection?

I do not see it as stealing, per se, but is this something that is frowned upon? I have not seen this discussed as long as I have been hanging out on the forums and I have run into the above scenario.

Orwell · Post by **Orwell** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:10 pm

kusoyaro wrote:We don't need a leader. We need to SHUT UP. Make what you want to make, don't make you what you don't want to make. If neither of those applies to you, then you need to SHUT UP MORE.

So far it seems frowned upon, however that doesn't stop you. It may be a good idea to get permission first, but otherwise go for it if you want. And if it's popular sources, who knows if your even remaking a video, or just adding yours to the mix.

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:19 pm

I think i seen some other editors do that. It sounds like a neat ideal
Ofcourse you should do what Orwell said and ask permission.

Someday i shall make a remake of Rhythm Animation and Euphoria ^_^
Bwahahahaha!

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:20 pm

Well, there's this one guy who took the same song, anime, theme, AND editing and scene selection, only improving the video quality, for "Engel" (Kevin Caldwell's) and "Evangelion Opus", and he never got in trouble for it, so...

madbunny · Post by **madbunny** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:27 pm

Assuming that you have some reason WHY you'd want to do that, the only acceptable thing that I can think of follows Scintillas example, in remastering an existing 'classic' so to speak.

Otherwise, if you're just doing it for the heck of it, or to see how a particular editor might have done some things sure, as long as you don't upload it, I can't see why it would matter. Reminds me of that movie 'finding forester'. (good movie)

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:37 pm

i had one girl not only take the video concept i had made, but took some of her clips from the video i had made to make her vid... O.o of course thats not exactly the same thing, and her video quality was alot lower than mine was... :/

as said, ive seen the engel ones and stuff... and ive seen a few people do that sort of stuff... most of them never got "in trouble" for it... but its probably better to ask the original editor before you do it :/

i donno im too busiy trying to come up with my own ideas rather than rehashing someone elses idea

godix · Post by **godix** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:51 pm

AMVers have ethics? When the hell did that happen? I thought we were a bunch of worthless thieves who take the hard work of musicians and animators then turn them into crap.

Castor Troy · Post by **Castor Troy** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:56 pm

It's more fun to come up with your own ideas.

Warpwind · Post by **Warpwind** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:58 pm

yeah I thought of the guy that did the engel remake as well. He didn't seem to get too flamed for it or anything.

Still I don't know why you'd want to go and do something that's already been done.

The majority of vids that would be picked for this sort of thing would be popular ones too so... well they are popular engough without the remake.

I may do something similar or get inspired by videos but that's about it. In fact I find I don't want to make a video using the same music if I've already seen a video to it. Even if I use a different anime and even if I didn't like it the original or have a totally different idea to it. I suppose I associate the music with that video in my head too strongly for me to want to use it.

For example I want to use an O Fortuna remix for my mecha MEP segment but I've seen a video using another remix already so my brain just kinda sticks at that point.

SarahtheBoring · Post by **SarahtheBoring** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:52 pm

"Ethics" is really not the right word for this question, IMO.

Will people yell at you for it? Maybe.
Will people think you're unoriginal? Probably.
Should you not do it because of what people think? See the quote in Orwell's post.

"Frowned upon" != "unethical." Sometimes they overlap, but they aren't synonymous. I mean, LBZ videos are frowned upon, but it's because they're (often) tacky, not unethical.

And 2004 is "back in the day"? Oh, my oh my.