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Now I'm getting frantic
2007-08-03 12:09:24
S.A.
Pre-edit: 14?
Editing: 48
I'm blitzing this AMV, trying to get it done, because my computer really needs reformatting and after the disaster this caused the LAST time I did this in the middle of an AMV...not going to push my luck this time. If I can't get the last few trouble spots right I'm going to have to seek some educated outside opinions. The main problem is that I've stretched my footage to the limit and it's starting to show (oh wooo, three frames of footage is"starting to show," big deal!). No, it's more like I can't create transitions and synch to the music because I don't have enough footage to pull it off.
I'm also fretting about my next project...still haven't decided where to take the plunge: Saiyuki Deep End? Advent Children Shallows? MOHS Kiddie Pool? I may try Saiyuki again, just because I've got a little different handle on how I want to deal with it...and I've chilled out about it for a few months now. -
EEAAARRRGGHHH!!
2007-08-01 13:08:38
S.A.
Pre-edit: 14?
Editing: 45
When I was interviewed for my current job, I was asked what's one of my weaknesses. I replied that I tend to overwork things (things being graphic design pieces) and ruin them.
In just five short hours I've nearly managed to do this to my AMV. Everything was going all right (har har, this phrase is in the lyrics) and I went in and tried to fix some trouble spots that had been plaguing me...and in the process I screwed other stuff up. Or maybe it's just that, now that those areas are patched up, other places now look bad. Yeah, that's more like it. *sigh* What's worse is that some of my patches are inferior to the troubling stuff they were intended to resolve.
There are definite drawbacks to attempting to confine one's AMV to a relatively small pool of footage - I've run out, pretty much. -
Finish line is in sight
2007-07-30 12:20:59
S.A.
Pre-edit: 14?
Editing: 42
Certain troubling things finally started to stop troubling me this weekend. I got the intro and ending pretty much down, fixed a few other places that I'd been ignoring and made the decision to avoid special effects (at least the ones that smack you in the face) altogether for this AMV. Why? They distract from what's going on. I want people to WATCH the AMV, not be thrown into glazed stupor while their brain tries to process it all. Besides, the lyrics actually reflect what's going on (now there's a novel idea, I'd like to see more AMVs that do this...) and MAKE SENSE.
In fact the only part I'm stuck on right now is the part where the lyrics don't make sense: "Runnin' around stayin' out all night." Sephiroth is not a party animal and I am not using his flaming exit footage as a "flashback" trick. I can't really break from the action, either, and I don't want to lipsync it because that would be ridiculous. The worst part is that the footage on either sides works really well (IMO) so if I screw up the middle, it all goes down the drain.
I keep having to remind myself that even if I think this AMV is coming together well, most other people will not and, a few years from now, I'll be horrified by how bad it is. Hey, at least I'm not using fansubs, at least my aspect ratios are good, at least I'm not using cheesy effects! Right there I should have earned myself at least three stars. I don't give fansub AMVs more than two stars, ever, and most wind up with one.
It also occurred to me, as I near completion of this - technically my first AMV (first finished, uploaded AMV, at least) - that you can look at it and say "Wow, look at how well it synched, she did a good job," "Wow, look at how well it synched, she was lucky," "Wow, look at how well it synched, why didn't she break up the scenes - it's all long clips (by long I mean over a second in length sometimes)" or "Wow, look at how well it synched, but effects would have made it better."
LISTEN people, I tried it with effects, they looked cool, but they also hid most of the internal synching (and external) that I took such great pains to arrange. If I was going to be sloppy then I WOULD just cover up my messiness with effects, but I'm not sloppy - this is one reason it takes me so long to edit things - and it has to be exactly right before I'll call it done.
Speaking of which, one of the few instances of fanciness (for me) that I am pursuing refuses to export. Something about that white matte that Premiere doesn't like. Any other color is fine, just not a pure white matte. @_@ -
AB here I come...this will make my third time saying that.
2007-07-25 13:00:05
Found out today that the deadline for Anime Boston's AMV competition is March 1. I SERIOUSLY need to decide what to push for as an entry sooner rather than later. Unless some calamity befalls me, I swear to god I'm getting a video done for the contest this year.
You do realize you just condemned yourself to hard drive failure, right, Lauren? Yep. -_-
My best bet seems to be to go for one of my comedy AMVs. The entry field is usually sparse, so I won't be competing against hordes of the best and brightest editors on the entire East Coast. Ok, so do I jump for "Jenova's Brat," knowing it's not roll-in-the-aisle hilarious, or my unnamed Haruhi video for which I have yet to rip any footage and, in all truth, am concerned about its sheer viability since my last run through of the serious was depressingly depressing, in regards to footage being available for what I need. Also, this video might be more appropriate for the "fun" category. -
Today's Date...
2007-07-24 10:38:36
Add two hours to S.A.'s editing tally.
Add unknown hours to my Blood+ costume tally. I realized today I almost forgot the name of the character whom I've already spent much time attempting to emulate via a sliced up trenchcoat-type pantsuit that I wore only once to someone's baptism (and was told for my trouble that I looked like a model. This is the biggest reason why I never wore THAT outfit again!! I didn't mean to be that pretentious!)
Hagi. The name is Hagi. If I can't get the wig right, I'm going to have to decide whether I want to venture out with my real hair (red) and use the excuse that I wasn't "devoted enough" to dye it black for ...what, a three-day convention? I'm NOT ruining my hair for who knows how long just for a convention. Besides, a hairdresser told me she wasn't sure my hair would take black very well - something about redheads having weird hair. @_@ Maybe I could say my dog destroyed the wig...hmm...
I still fret about creating Hagi's signature coffin. I have the materials, but it's a pain in the ass to make, I don't have access to the tools I need anymore and I never did figure out how to transport the thing. I mean, it's over six feet tall and about 2.5 feet wide! It wouldn't even fit in the back of my car and I don't think I want to deal with trying to put assembling it at the hotel. It's still six feet long at that point, albeit flattened. I'd also rather not attract a lot of attention, which is what a coffin that size would do...maybe if I had a props handler along I'd attempt it, but can you imagine trying to use the restroom with a six foot coffin in tow? Get into panel room? I'd have to leave it somewhere nearby and then I'd be paranoid someone would steal it...or damage it.
I guess if I can manage to create his claw I'll be happy enough. Need to find my sculpt stuff...where the heck did my sister put it?
JOURNAL: DriftRoot (Lauren C.)
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