AMV Review 2007-03-19 Bryan Pardue's "Kei"

[shumira_chan]

its one thing to do it on an individual basis, its a complete other thing to come at a video as a group..

I didn't see anything particularly mean-spirited... mostly honest
critique. People should be able to accept that if they're willing
to upload their work.

That said, I'd advise future reviewees that these opinions mean
very little (aside from the odd good tip here and there), and are
certainly nothing to get worked up about. For example, Kionon's
comment about how "This person has shown no capacity to grow
or to learn..."; I was just thinking that about an AMV which
was recently released to huge fanfare. It was a very good vid, no
doubt, but the comment would have applied equally well. If
anything, it'd be more interesting to see established editors
defend their work, since few seem to do things with any
justification other than "it took me a month to rotoscope those
20 seconds".

[Kionon]

For example, Kionon's
comment about how "This person has shown no capacity to grow
or to learn...";

I actually retracted that statement later, although I stand by what I felt during the initial viewing, knowing that it was the fifteenth video instead of the first. My opinion does depend on context, and I said so. Fifteen videos seems like any awful lot of practice time for improvement to not be beyond what I felt I saw in the video. Retracted or not, it is still valuable to the creator to know what my initial reaction was, no matter how biased or trivial you may think it. I did feel that way, and I had a right to feel that way. Denying that I felt it would be ridiculous. Not to mention a lie.

It was brought to my attention that the creator reacted well to our commentary, and I'm glad. That DOES show a capacity to grow and to learn. More importantly, it shows that the creator cares. That's someone I want to help. That's someone I want to see get better. That's someone I will be there for in the future should he require help from me.

This was never a case of "dogpile on the newb." Quadir picked a video with potential, a potential that was readily apparent to all of us. To suggest otherwise is simply a misrepresentation of the facts.

[ssj4lonewolf]

I like the idea accually. I always look for construtive critisism on my videos, I want to get better. When I finsh my new video I'll participate in this

[quadir]

I couldnt tell if it was supposed to be comedy sentimental or drama...

I was thinking it was a relationship profile in an Alternate Universe. I mean in the anime it's his teacher (then wife), but in the video I'm not so sure. A lot of people mentioned the 'comedy' factor and I think they are referring to the lyric match to "Daddy, don't you love me?" with the scene of the guy hanging out the window covered in kisses. The next line is "Momma don't you love me" with an indirect match most people didn't seem to get, because it was Kei strapped to a bed looking terrified, to "Then why do you hurt me?"

It's true that the song is really about Jesus but if you don't take it as seriously it can easily apply to a simple story about the main character Kei in a AU. He's all emo and depressed and he considers his life already over (that connection at the beginning with him lying on the grass to "Don't try to reach me,if I'm already dead")... then we get into aspects of his life about how people are using him, "Don't take my heart away from me", and how his parents don't love him anymore, are beating him but he keeps trying to please them anyways (which explains the 'love' scenes). I'm not sure if this could really be a proper interpretation, given one of the choruses, but taken on just a bit more of a superficial level I think the concept might just work to match with the video. Which is why I think the mood of the footage matches the song. It also makes some of the later half of the video seem less lack-luster, but it does go more downhill.

Does anyone else make this kind of connection?

[quadir]

I hope this is the last post about permissions...

do what godix suggested and maybe choose from a group of submissions

We take submissions from anyone, but keep in mind it is perfectly OK to submit someone else's videos for consideration, nor am I the only one picking what video, but for practical sake it's a lot better to have a video picked beforehand. I notice nobody says, "how come my video wasn't in the amv newsletter?" Someone bothered to write an an article about it, so they got to pick. Some of us are organizing a discussion, so we get to pick. I always like discovering new videos so I know other people do to and have fun participating.

I just dont like the idea of blindsiding an unsuspecting newb who might not even want to be on the "chop block" or wasting my thoughts on someone who might not even want them...

I think this is being a bit harsh. Nobody is on the "chop block". Nor are we as shumira_chan said "trash an amv". As Kionon pointed out, we're submitting ops, and discussing several elements in the video in constructive way.

This is a website for amv's, and the discussion forums are for, discussing amv's. I asked several mods/admins and members before and after starting this, and the consensus was that this was a good idea. Editors find it easy to cry wolf when someone says something they might not completely like, but in the end they'll have to live with it, or ignore it. This is legit, it's completely OK to talk about amv's without "explicit permission" on a video they already posted so people could do so. Even if they "don't appreciate it", the people participating in the conversation come away with something, and that's worth it right there.

As you've mentioned before in pm's, I keep stressing that it's a constructive discussion. A lot of people who like watching amv's like talking about them. It's a (mildly) moderated discussion so people don't start flaming. It's not even about the editor, but about the video. We leave ops so that the editor has direct feedback, but the discussion is for the members who like discussing videos. If the editor reads the log later, great, there's nothing to hide, nor are people "trashing" anything behind anyone's back. We get a venue to discuss videos, they get ops and get to hear people seriously talking about their video they put so many hours into past "omg rocks" or "omg sucks".

If people are uncomfortable, they won't show up, if you get featured and you didn't appreciate it, you'll ignore it. But people will keep talking about your videos, even if you snub them, just because they like to.

[shumira_chan]

Nor are we as shumira_chan said "trash an amv".

Just to clarify, I did not say you trashed the AMV. Your grammar
is a bit wonky but I'll assume you meant to agree with me in
that regard :)

[shumira_chan]

For example, Kionon's
comment about how "This person has shown no capacity to grow
or to learn...";

I actually retracted that statement later, although I stand by what I felt during the initial viewing

I'm not sure why you feel you need to retract or defend that
statement. It's your prerogative to change your mind, of course,
but it's an exceedingly common trait amongst AMV editors to
remain in their comfort zone (understandably so, it's a just a
hobby after all). My highlighting your comment was not directed
towards that particular AMV, but to the fact that an editor's potential
to grow has very little bearing on the perceived quality of any
given AMV (in other words, if an editor has found a successful
"formula" it will be re-used for years, and while the resulting
AMVs might be really good there is no real "growth").

[Knowname]

I just wouldn't want to participate oping a video on say Proxy. I mean you put thoughts into your op, its nothing more than a waste of time if the creator doesn't even know about it. I agree with Godix simpy because of the waste of my time part. I could care less if the editor takes offence..

[quadir]

I just wouldn't want to participate oping a video on say Proxy.

Video suggestions have to have a video profile, be downloadable, recent (read: 2007) and not already be flooding in submitted ops. Additionally a video has to be interesting enough to be discussed at length on multiple levels. So:

1) The ops go to someone who is active and still making videos today and could make use of the feedback
2) The discussion is between like minded people who like to watch and talk about amv's. Come out and try it one week and see if that's worth your time. #2 is not so much for the editor, that's #1.

If you like to write really really long ops, then I suggest that you write a short op at first and note you'll edit it, that way you can op, participate in the discussion, and edit it to be more detailed later.

[Fall_Child42]

21:33 <Fall_Child42> hue cycling is NEVER a nice effect

21:33 <Fall_Child42> well TWICE it was
21:33 <Fall_Child42> but no more

Never fear Scintilla, you are one of those Two times hue cycling was a nice effect. :O