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Hand me downs are wonderful things.
2002-08-13 19:42:48
Why did I ever edit divx? DV is so wonderful! The only high-end equipment I needed to work this way was my Dad's (maybe mine now, hence hand me downs are great) DV camera. Connect firewire to the camera and RCA to the TV and there ya go, mini-studio! Nate's monitor in his studio looked like a wonderful buy, but after seeing how poor I currently am (and will be), I figure the camera viewfinder is good enough, even if it does cause immense eye muscle pain. I'd like to think I'm not the only one who squints like a constipated monkey when looking through a camera viewfinder >.<
So... funny development with DDR. Right now I include text as an intro to this video. I showed it to Nate and he didn't approve of it. Rightfully so, if I keep it the way it is now, it would come off so totally arrogant and self-serving (*cough* Hype Williams) that the rest of the video would just be passed off. Dammit, I hate Hype Williams. You have to see how much I'm begging to put text in AMVs, but no matter how many opportunities I try to fit it in, it either gets rejected or really does not look good. Words and AMVs just don't mix, unfortunately, and I will agree that there are limits to what must be put in a video. I just wish I could find a way to get text stylistically placed somehow without it being smarmy.
Speaking of arrogance, I realized most, if not all, of my projects are really self-serving. Every Breath forces you to think past AMVs being all anime and instead letting anime be a supporting factor to an original video. That's bold, but now it seems to place itself way out of touch with the rest of the community. Numb also asks the viewer to bypass watching AMVs as a hobby and instead take it more seriously and be enlightened from it. That's fine, but let's keep in mind the audience just watches AMVs to be entertained. You *can't* force anyone to watch something and think they'll understand what you're trying to say. Most of the time it'll go over their heads.
I guess I find it interesting that I look for praise from peers when I specifically make videos to please my own level of fandom, hence why I also don't look for praise from peers. It's the weirdest thing. That kind of mentality places a stamp on your videos, either you join my bandwagon or you don't even bother going near it. Does that make my audience super appreciative when I make something they like? Yes, but is that what I really want? I'm very lucky that with both videos, actually, the responses I get are interpretive.
So, once again the Requiem for a Dream/Moulin Rouge comparison appears. Enjoy a movie with depth, heart and a huge downfall climax, or a pretty and accessible piece of work that has no soul and no redeeming value, but is garuanteed to make mondo money? That might just be what's killing Hollywood and AMVs, then. So many videos are released, but most are just blah because "new" concepts have already been done so there needs to be some kind of artistic movement that can help progress things because for right now, things are just standing still. Too much thought for one day, brain drained. I think I'll go lie down. -
And now we're in New Jersey!... yay... we're in... Jersey...
2002-08-07 17:36:10
Yeah, back home after a lovely time at Nate's place. ... Man I really don't want to be here. God damn court summons... this is for my speeding ticket from the time around Shoujocon, by the way. Oh well, at the end of this month I get to return to NYC for a year of video classes. Yes, I do plan to act all arrogant and snobby about my editing, but trust me, I know I need help.
My parents are amazing. I piss them off so much by completely neglecting them at Shoujocon, missing their anniversary at Otakon, and missing a cruise with them (and the rest of Dad's company) that following Saturday... so what do they say when I tell them I'm going to AWA? "Use our frequent flyer miles to Atlanta!" Is this called being spoiled? I am totally spoiled or just damn lucky? Oh wait, no, I remember, I'm totally utterly completely broke! So then why are they allowing me to go to another anime con? I am spoiled.
Wow I really do sound like an ass from the wording of that last paragraph... the power of context, folks. Just for some clearance, I DID call them at Otakon twice, called after Shoujocon, called like eight times from Nathan's place, IMed them a couple times. What can I say? Nate and I were making such great progress on NOP's latest AMV that it wouldn't have looked half as good as it does now if I had left.
Ok so that's a rather bold statement, too. Sheesh, I really am an ass to you people. Why am I even clearing myself up? Oh yeah, because there's two types of assholes. Playful assholes who are just sarcastic and real assholes who want to ruin your life. Playful asshole here, really! Anyway, the After Effects work was very simple compared to other things I've done so what might have taken Nate an hour took me ten minutes (just for clearance, I can't edit anywhere nearly as good as him so win some lose some). Doesn't mean none of it was a pain in the ass... the matte work almost killed me. Hope you all enjoy it at AWA! :P
So what else... umm... I need to cut my nails and BAD. That is all. -
Hehe...
2002-08-06 15:22:05
Spoilers in that last post? No way! All I said was something like "IN THE END..." Hey wait, didn't I yell at one guy for that exact thing before? Heh, I lose track of myself.
dji: You are one of the smart ones, my friend. Interestingly, enough, I had heard the ending to that show a thousand times before I ever had any idea what it even looked like, and even then the ending shocked me. Then again, I do that with novels all the time. I read the ending first to see if it's any good. I mean, hell, why should I waste my time reading 500+ pages if the ending completely sucks?
iserlohn: if I could scrounge up money, time, and willpower (already have AWA booked, I think more than three cons in one year is overkill) I would totally like that. As for now, though, gotta be choosy on where I go (did I mention money's an issue?) One Piece, eh? I've questioned it, I may give it a shot. As for Nathan, ahh... just like me, a bastard on e-mail replies *grin*.
turboneko: You're right! I CAN appreciate the Berserk videos now! Damn, give me a few to recouperate my giant skills of being an asshole and I may just do another review for ya. You'll be at AWA!? Joy! Make sure I catch you guys on Friday so I can introduce you to Nate. I stress Friday because that will probably be the only day, eh, you'll see him. Anyway, we gotta go dealer room shopping together, I won't be wearing an annoying pink sash this time! Yay! As for the manga, read through chapters 1-4 already (thanks Direct Connect and the continued support of fansubbers like you.) and yes, it does indeed kick ass, though the elf is something I'll need time to get used to. Ever play the Dreamcast video game? Nightowl's got it. Pretty sweet figuring it's written by the manga author, music by the anime soundtrack artist, and you fight with a giant friggin sword.
Speaking of Nate, this is the last day I stay here. Absolutely. I said I was gonna leave last Wednesday but the thought of staying an extra week was too good to pass up. It completely screwed me over and now I have to do a 13 hr Amtrak to NY, but I don't care! Dammit I helped make an NOP release in three day's time to get us out of our one-year slump, so I can't say nothing good came out of this. Oh yeah, folks, if you like NOP keep an eye on AWA. Nate and I'll be there and we both want to update the CDs we handed out at Otakon, if not make them crush-proof, right Tim? ;) I wonder if anybody actually looked at what's on the CD... I know people looked AT the CD... :P
Dammit I write too much. WAKE UP NATHAN! -
2002-08-06 11:37:05
Damn... I watch three episodes of Berserk one day, the next I watch six... next thing I know I finish the whole series. Only took three days. I don't think I've ever gone marathon like this since Kare Kano... and before that, Eva.
I will kind-of agree that the ending sucked, but in a way, it was perfect. Do realize this series stops just when it turns from brilliant political strategy and drama to generic demon-fight fodder like the manga (just not as sick), it also helps that the series met up with the manga (what a familiar scenario...) so a sucky ending is inevitable. Just look at Kare Kano. What was perfect about it, though, was its intrigue. You knew there was more going on. What happened to Zodd? And how come, when all this bad stuff happens, in episode one Gatts is alive, heavily damaged, maybe, but still kicking serious ass?
I'm just very glad the last episode didn't go hentai. I knew that girl was going to get raped, but any trace of La Blue Girl and I would have totally rejected it all. Needless to say, I was hugely impressed, and of course shocked.
Oh was I supposed to post something about spoilers being in this post? Yeah, spoilers in this post. -
You must be this tall to ride Michael.
2002-08-02 16:29:01
dji: "it was like you never heard a compliment before."
That's rather true, I'd never gotten a compliment from someone I didn't really know yet (in person) until then, so I didn't know how to react. Not to mention I was still dazed about being at my first Otakon ^_^.
JOURNAL: gambitt (Jeff Heller)
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