Help with a School Project!

[qyll]

1) What got you started in making AMVs? How did you hear about them?

In a word: Youtube. I saw one on there are decided that to make some of my own.

2) Why do you think you enjoy making them?

It's just about the only place where a college student majoring in a science can be creative.

3) Do you use any particular Animes frequently in the AMVs you make?

Not really. I have a song or concept in my head first, and then I think about which AMV would fit best with that concept/song.

4) What kind of music?

Whatever's on my playlist.

5) What themes do you like to base your AMVs on?

That's a pretty open ended question. Don't know how to answer that one.

6) Are there any “inside jokes” (or even stories) that only AMV makers would understand?

Quite a few, although I'm not in the loop for some of the more esoteric ones.

7) Do you use any certain word(s) to describe yourself as a person who creates AMVs?

"Editor" will suffice.

8) Do you write Fanfiction or do any other kind of Fanart?

I have, but don't tell anyone.

First Name: Edward
Age: 19
Location: New York

[JaddziaDax]

1) What got you started in making AMVs? How did you hear about them?
A friend showed them to me, and I thought "hey I can do that? maybe?"

2) Why do you think you enjoy making them?
Creative expression, I usually make what I'm feeling or what I would like to see...

3) Do you use any particular Animes frequently in the AMVs you make?
Cardcaptor Sakura seems to be my #1 choice but I know it very well... it's easier to make videos with a series that you know. I try to keep a variety so I don't get too bored of seeing the same scenes over and over...

4) What kind of music?
Mostly pop and rock, though I've been known to dabble here and there...

5) What themes do you like to base your AMVs on?
That depends on my mood.. if I'm in a happy lovey-dovey mood then I make happy lovey-dovey videos. If I'm in a depressed mood then I usually make depressing videos... if I'm in a crackhead mood then I make crack.... etc.

6) Are there any “inside jokes” (or even stories) that only AMV makers would understand?
I think that this is more specific to the social group you hang out with, if you are apart of any circle of friends then you will know specific jokes... "Wabam" comes to mind as a more specific in-joke, but from what I know if you weren't there that year or the year after then you have no clue what that means so I'm sure that there are hundreds of amvers that wouldn't know the joke....

The Lens Flare/Starwipe, Kevin Caldwell and Dad are other common "inside jokes" that are pretty easy to pick up on if you hang around the community.

7) Do you use any certain word(s) to describe yourself as a person who creates AMVs?
Video Editorer... or "I play with Video Editing"... if I'm talking to someone who isn't in the fandom... to someone who is in the fandom - I make amvs (or vids -depending on the fandom).

8) Do you write Fanfiction or do any other kind of Fanart?

I draw a little, but I won't write fic.

First Name: Katie
Age: I can't remember anymore >.>
Location: Texas

[Cyanna]

1) What got you started in making AMVs? How did you hear about them?

I first learned about fan videos in general from a really close friend (at the time) in early 2003. And of course thehe videos he was making were AMVs. Had he been making live-action vids, I probably would have been drawn to those first. He seemed to really enjoy the process and I wanted to give it a shot. So I did and it turned out to be a fun experience.

2) Why do you think you enjoy making them?

Ever since I was little I've had a very visual way of listening to music. My eyes kinda glaze over, I tune out the world, and I start seeing all sorts of imagery...mostly characters, familiar and unfamiliar, interacting with each other. Sometimes I'd "see" whole plots in albums and I'd listen to them over and over to see those stories in my head. I once wrote an original novel inspired by what I saw listening to the soundtracks from "The Lion King" and "Titanic" (Meh movie but I love the soundtrack). Originally I expressed these stories in writing fiction but AMVs take it in a different direction. I don't find it as creating as writing because I feel limited by already existing sources and movements. But it's a great marriage of visual and audio and it creates a "real" experience that's the closest I can get to recreating what goes on in my mind's eye.

So yeah...creative expression.

But there's also a social aspect. I don't usually make videos for the heck of it. I'm more selective with the ideas I chose to run with and I just don't have enough to crank out a new AMV every few months. But every year I have to make my "summer con video" and send it to my usual stomping grounds. I don't edit to win. Mentally I'm at the point where I don't care about "being good". But I do edit "to share". I've just been to cons where I have an AMV in the contest and cons where I don't...and having an AMV in the contest makes the con a lot more fun for me. I'm part of the experience.

I like editing very much. The "problem" is that this isn't my only hobby. If I'm not editing, rest assured I'm doing something else I enjoy doing.

3) Do you use any particular Animes frequently in the AMVs you make?

I was using used Neon Genesis Evangelion a fair bit at first. It was one of the first anime series I had seen and it was available to me as source footage. I use whatever pops into my head so I find I'm using more humorous lighthearted anime because I like making feel-good videos.

4) What kind of music?

Mostly pop from the 80's and early 90's because that's what's on my playlist. But now I'm working on something new (for me) and branching out into orchestral. I'm really excited about this project.

5) What themes do you like to base your AMVs on?

It's a little difficult for me to say right now because my current set of ideas indicate a new trend for me. I seem to be set on taking a more "storytelling" approach. All three of my current WIPs have plot.

"Fun" and "Happily Endings" I guess. I edit what I like and I like my AMVs to feel good. I've collaborated on a vid that had gratuitous violence but even that was "fun". I've only thought up of one AMV idea that ends tragically and I got the shivers when I started it. It's not what I'm used to doing.

I don't make effects-laden videos. I don't usually "see" anything more complex than overlays and color changes. I'm currently mucking around with using color (or lack of it) to tell the story.

6) Are there any “inside jokes” (or even stories) that only AMV makers would understand?

There are but I'm not in on a lot of them. I probably could not even being to be able to explain them. So all I can do is confirm that they exist.

7) Do you use any certain word(s) to describe yourself as a person who creates AMVs?

I think of myself as a social editor. I'm not artistic. I'm somewhat competitive. But I'm in it for the people. I've made some new friends that I would have never met if it weren't for this hobby. I like to share and see what everyone else is doing.

8) Do you write Fanfiction or do any other kind of Fanart?

I occasionally write fanfic but not as much as I used to. I might have made fanart once.

Katie
New Jersey
Age 25

[Krisqo]

1) What got you started in making AMVs? How did you hear about them?
I found a few DBZ videos on various P2P servers back in 2000 I think. A friend took me to the Org a few years later since they had good Final Fantasy videos and whatnot. I wanted to do this stuff but was a total noob and had no idea where to begin. Luckily my dad got Windows XP which had Windows movie Maker on it back in the fall of 2002 and I started making videos with that. Since then I got my own programs (Premiere, Vegas, After Effects, ect.)

2) Why do you think you enjoy making them?
When I really enjoyed doing this, it was because it was the only way I could "make" something. I'm not artistically inclined with my hands though I had ideas. AMVs were a way to get my feelings or a point across. And to see what I could fiddle up with.

3) Do you use any particular Animes frequently in the AMVs you make?
When I started I did nothing but Dragon Ball Z since that was the big thing and I knew it very well. Recently I've been using more cutsy magical girl type anime like Cardcaptor Sakura (my guilty pleasure) and Shakugan no Shana.

4) What kind of music?
Soft rock or pop. I hate that heavy crap and I cannot edit fast paces videos to save my life.

5) What themes do you like to base your AMVs on?
Typically drama and romance. I'm a sucker for love stories.

6) Are there any “inside jokes” (or even stories) that only AMV makers would understand?
I know of a few, but I'm in my own little world in the community.

7) Do you use any certain word(s) to describe yourself as a person who creates AMVs?
"I edit videos" or "I make anime music videos." Though I don't proclaim that too often.

8) Do you write Fanfiction or do any other kind of Fanart?
Oh boy. Yes a few years ago. I had a nice 150k word Neon Genesis Evangelion fan fic on ff.net which was pretty popular. Though I used script format for the first 20 or so chapters so they took it down and I've been too lazy to re-write that massive story again.

First Name: Chris
Age: 22
Location: Pennsylvania

[rubyeye]

A study on new forms of creative expression and communication using digital technologies and an Anthropological study are two different things entirely. Anthropology is the study of human culture, therefore an Anthropological study of AMVs would involve studying the culture of AMV creators (our sub-culture). The above survey is a tool for a sociologist collecting raw data. An anthropological approach would involve studying how we interact, how our culture works. Honestly, reading these forums, doing in-depth case studies of individual editors, attending AMV creator gatherings (Cons), would be far more effective. A survey, or sampling , is an ineffective way of studying a culture. It's like handing a survey to a bunch of Lolita's in Tokyo, and thinking that said survey would tell you about Lolita culture. The only way to understand Japanese Lolita culture is to follow the group, or as many Anthropologists would do, become part of Lolita culture for the duration of the study (which is far more complex it may sound). The only reason I am making an issue out of this is the simple fact that she wants it published. If it where just a simple paper for a class, then it wouldn't matter so much; however, once you talk about publishing the bar / standards on your research are raised.

Just my 2 cents on the matter.
JH

In addition to what JH is saying here, I would like to recommend watching the 2005 documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey by Sam Dunn (metal fan & Anthropologist). His approach and reseach into this particular sub-culture of music fans would be not unlike your interest in the sub-culture of Anime fans. Whether you are into metal or not, this is a good film to watch to give you an idea of how to approach studying a particular "culture" of people.

[Radical_Yue]

1) What got you started in making AMVs? How did you hear about them?

I was a Dragon Ball Z junkie when I was in middle school and I was given a disk filled with Linkin Ball Z AMVs. At the time I didn't know what AMVs were, just that these DBZ videos were awesome. While on the Neopets board one day, I saw someone post a link to his Anime Music Vidoes and I took a look. After watching a couple videos, I asked the guy how he made them, he explained to me the window movie maker method in very VERY simple terms, and I set to work on trying it for myself.

2) Why do you think you enjoy making them?

Music and anime are two of my favorite things, so why wouldn't I enjoy combining them? While I've never been satisfied with the final product of my editing, I enjoy the process of playing with my editing program, applying effects, timing, etc... It's a nerdy rush.

3) Do you use any particular Animes frequently in the AMVs you make?

It depends. If I just saw a series or movie that I've fallen head over heels for, I'll definitely want to try to make a video to it. And of course, there are always my favorite older series that I just can't get enough of...so it really depends on my mood and what I'm watching/into at the moment.

4) What kind of music?

I like MANY different kinds of music, from classical to rap. But once again, this aspect depends on my mood and what I'm doing at that moment in time.

5) What themes do you like to base your AMVs on?

I prefer to make fun, action and occasionally drama/romance.

6) Are there any “inside jokes” (or even stories) that only AMV makers would understand?

Countless...And I love it all :3

7) Do you use any certain word(s) to describe yourself as a person who creates AMVs?

I'm just a fan making fan art. That's all it really is.

8) Do you write Fanfiction or do any other kind of Fanart?

I consider my AMVs fanart =p


OPTIONAL
First Name: Younique
Age: 18
Location: California

[Fall_Child42]

I'm going to try and answer as many as questions I can by linking related AMVs

1) What got you started in making AMVs? How did you hear about them?
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... .php?v=230

2) Why do you think you enjoy making them?
It allows me a creative outlet I don't otherwise have access to.

3) Do you use any particular Animes frequently in the AMVs you make?
I use many MANY different anime ... but I tend to use chobits alot for some reason ...
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... p?v=142241

4) What kind of music?
"unique"

5) What themes do you like to base your AMVs on?
I like irony and absurdism.

6) Are there any “inside jokes” (or even stories) that only AMV makers would understand?
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... p?v=129674

7) Do you use any certain word(s) to describe yourself as a person who creates AMVs?
Funny, Weird, Original. (my AMVs speak for themselves...)

8) Do you write Fanfiction or do any other kind of Fanart?
Not really.

First Name:Todd
Age:
Location:Ontario Canada