I rip an entire series usually (unless the video is about a charcter who's only in 1 or 2 eps, then just those) and go through each epsiode and cut every scene (and by scene I mean camera angle, everytime a focus changes) out by itself.
More often than not, I know what scenes I would like to use, but going through it the slow and boring way helps me to really really KNOW the source and know what I have available. Also, my personal style of editing is "sit on a suitcase and jam everything you possibly can in it". If I'm making a romance video, you'd better believe that, one way or another, every freakin' scene of those two characters interacting will be in the video. XD Seriously though, I get annoyed when videos don't, IMO have ENOUGH clips, so I like to cram too many into them.
Doing Prep-Work for AMVs
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Zarxrax
- Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2001 6:37 pm
- Contact:
I agree that the toughest part of making a video is finding the right clips. When you have a 24 minute episode, and you need maybe 10 seconds of actual footage from it, but you don't know exactly WHAT part of the footage you want, it's absolutely agonizing.
I agree with Beowulf somewhat in that you can't plan things out too much, because it WILL NOT work out how you plan it. However, I think you need to start with a rough outline of what you want to do, even if its only in your head. You need to really flesh out your idea and know what you want to accomplish with your video, and you need to know what scenes you want to use for certain key parts of your video.
For the rest though, who the hell really knows? I can't stand to have even a single scene in my video that I feel doesn't fit. In some ways, I have adjusted my editing styles around this fact. With the AMV Hell kinda stuff, I don't have to search forever trying to fill in the little bits and pieces--I just do the part where I know exactly what I want, and then I can stop. Effects and compositing entered into my videos for the same reason--I can't find anything that fits like I want, so I'll just MAKE something like I want.
Sometimes though, you just have to make it work. I highly recommend you do an iron-chef style project. I personally learned a great deal from it. Just set aside 2-3 hours and force yourself to make a 2-3 minute complete video in that time, and that time alone. Don't leave the video incomplete and don't go over your allotted time. Pace yourself. Your video will probably suck, but you just may walk away with a valuable experience.
I agree with Beowulf somewhat in that you can't plan things out too much, because it WILL NOT work out how you plan it. However, I think you need to start with a rough outline of what you want to do, even if its only in your head. You need to really flesh out your idea and know what you want to accomplish with your video, and you need to know what scenes you want to use for certain key parts of your video.
For the rest though, who the hell really knows? I can't stand to have even a single scene in my video that I feel doesn't fit. In some ways, I have adjusted my editing styles around this fact. With the AMV Hell kinda stuff, I don't have to search forever trying to fill in the little bits and pieces--I just do the part where I know exactly what I want, and then I can stop. Effects and compositing entered into my videos for the same reason--I can't find anything that fits like I want, so I'll just MAKE something like I want.
Sometimes though, you just have to make it work. I highly recommend you do an iron-chef style project. I personally learned a great deal from it. Just set aside 2-3 hours and force yourself to make a 2-3 minute complete video in that time, and that time alone. Don't leave the video incomplete and don't go over your allotted time. Pace yourself. Your video will probably suck, but you just may walk away with a valuable experience.
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Castor Troy
- Ryan Molina, A.C.E
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2001 8:45 pm
- Status: Retired from AMVs
- Location: California
- Contact:
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sagarajack
- Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 11:34 am
60GB of material average for each project, I used to use RGB32, now I switched to HufUV.
I usually just rip anything that looks good to me, I don't care if I will use it or not. My hard drive right now has 35gb of clips I have collected over time.
I usually just rip anything that looks good to me, I don't care if I will use it or not. My hard drive right now has 35gb of clips I have collected over time.
KonoE Studio, I will not give good ops because you put in effort. Quality in terms of artistic touch is what I look for.
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HorrorPhD
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:25 pm
- Location: Your Imagination
- Contact:
For me it really depends on the project. Some I have a very definite picture in my mind of what I want the final video to be, and know exactly what scenes I want to use. Others, I have a rough idea, and tend to collect a lot of footage and edit until I find what works just right.
When I'm doing a project that I only have a rough idea of, what helps for me is to break the song into sections...and actually plan a schedule. Say work from 1:00-1:45 on a given day. I listen to only that section of the song and get a clear image of what I want to show (maybe even take some notes along the way so I don't forget). Then I run through my footage and find scenes that fit those notes.
I think it also has to do with the type of editor you are...some people thrive on schedules and scripting...others might make brilliant videos just by winging it with nothing more than a general idea. It's all in what'll fit you best and what resources you have available to you (i.e. programs, HD space, etc.).
Best of luck to you!
When I'm doing a project that I only have a rough idea of, what helps for me is to break the song into sections...and actually plan a schedule. Say work from 1:00-1:45 on a given day. I listen to only that section of the song and get a clear image of what I want to show (maybe even take some notes along the way so I don't forget). Then I run through my footage and find scenes that fit those notes.
I think it also has to do with the type of editor you are...some people thrive on schedules and scripting...others might make brilliant videos just by winging it with nothing more than a general idea. It's all in what'll fit you best and what resources you have available to you (i.e. programs, HD space, etc.).
Best of luck to you!
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starseekergem
- Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:25 pm
My strategy is usually to first think of an idea, then mentally plan at least the first 2 verses, chorus or 2 and maybe the instrumental bits. After that I put the rest in as I go along. If I'm just making an AMV for the hell of it then I tend to only have an idea and the rest is done on the fly. Those vids get consigned to Youtube.
I provide unattributable press briefings, You leak, He is being prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act.
I am an original thinker, You are eccentric, He is loony.
I am an original thinker, You are eccentric, He is loony.
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JaddziaDax
- Crazy Cat Lady!
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:25 am
- Status: I live?
- Location: Somewhere I think O.o
- Contact:
i pick and choose mood bits when i go to rip scenes...
this scene might not fit the story im telling but it will add to the mood: snag it
this scene might not fit the story im telling but it will add to the mood: snag it
Stalk me?
https://linktr.ee/jaddziadax
https://linktr.ee/jaddziadax
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Douggie
- CHEESECAKE!
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 5:14 am
- Contact:
MY strategy is to have a concept first then find a good song to work with. After the song is chosen, I'll try to pick an anime I have NOT watched yet (I kinda hate rewatching stuff) and try to take notes on the scenes I want to use. Most of the time, these are only the key scenes, the ones I REALLY want to have in it.
Just before I start ripping I'll play some of the scenes I like, turning the sound off, but playinf the song I'll use (I'll do this after a few eps if it's a serie) - that way I know whether it fits or not. If not, I'll try another anime or sometimes the song.
After ripping and when starting editing I'll create a new timeline/sequence called "sorted scenes" where I'll put scenes in which I find useful. I sort them in what I need, like putting clips where there's vertical motion together, or of a certain character - whatever I need. I find this way better than making clips - I have no idea why people do that. When doing that you have to name your clips which is quite tedious to do so and it's way so hard to go through your chosen segments.
Also, I'm the type of person who like to go as fast to the part where my AMV/movie gets a "shape" fast, so I globally put stuff around and then fill it in and go into detail. I hate starting in detail for some part, put in some heavy work in that and think it's cool in the beginning of the editing proces, while in the middle or end I figure out that it doesn't work so well.
Just before I start ripping I'll play some of the scenes I like, turning the sound off, but playinf the song I'll use (I'll do this after a few eps if it's a serie) - that way I know whether it fits or not. If not, I'll try another anime or sometimes the song.
After ripping and when starting editing I'll create a new timeline/sequence called "sorted scenes" where I'll put scenes in which I find useful. I sort them in what I need, like putting clips where there's vertical motion together, or of a certain character - whatever I need. I find this way better than making clips - I have no idea why people do that. When doing that you have to name your clips which is quite tedious to do so and it's way so hard to go through your chosen segments.
Also, I'm the type of person who like to go as fast to the part where my AMV/movie gets a "shape" fast, so I globally put stuff around and then fill it in and go into detail. I hate starting in detail for some part, put in some heavy work in that and think it's cool in the beginning of the editing proces, while in the middle or end I figure out that it doesn't work so well.
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Streicher
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2003 11:48 am
You know, that most Gundam-Fans will go totally nuts if you mix up different Series or even worse: mixing different universes together.
I personally do a mishmash of stuff where I hope the scenes exist wich I imagined in the idea/planning stage and coming upon random scenes wich look nice and I throw on the timeline for joy.
I personally do a mishmash of stuff where I hope the scenes exist wich I imagined in the idea/planning stage and coming upon random scenes wich look nice and I throw on the timeline for joy.
