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This journal is so long
2007-06-08 21:37:57
S.A.
Pre-edit: 14?
Editing: 25
I think I mentioned something recently about arriving at that "magic" point in AMVing when you've got something looking pretty close to what you've envisioned. Well, I'm getting closer. It's taking some effort, and some tactics I didn't really want to employ, but hey...
I am seriously considering making two versions of this video and asking for opinions about which is better. I like simplicity, I LIKE videos that don't rely on special effects to make them memorable. My favorite videos of all time have almost no special effects, just straight cuts and fades. On the other hand, special effects can successfully fill gaps when there's simply not adequate footage - or the footage isn't capable enough to accomplish the task at hand. I am in the latter position at several points with S.E. - I cannot manipulate the footage to make a 2-second clip a 5-second clip without compromising quality. There simply is not enough footage of what I need, so I have to resort to effects to make it work.
Why did it have to be so damn WINDY when Sephiroth and Cloud were duking it out?? If their hair didn't move around so much, I could get away with SO MUCH MORE. -
Onwards
2007-05-27 19:51:38
S.A.
Pre-edit: 14?
Editing: 17
So I'm finally starting to get to that magic point in AMV creation (been there before, but never past it) when what you've got is definately resembling what you want to see and you're actually interested in watching your own video. This being the case, I continue to vacillate between incredulous delight and horrified guilt that, in at least three instances, the timing of this AMV falls perfectly into place without any tampering on my part ...and in two of these three instances without any THOUGHT on my part because I just randomly dropped some footage onto the timeline while trying to get it out of the way of some other stuff. I feel like such a cheater. Oh well. hehe
Bonus perk: Someone unfamiliar with Advent Children and AMVs in general watched my AMV and liked it a lot. yay!
I still need to find out where the hell the end of AC is on the disc, because it's not in any of the VOB files I ripped, which is bizarre, because the "bonus" AC material is. -
bleh
2007-05-16 17:41:07
None of my logos made it. *sigh* Oh well. I find it interesting how similar the finalists are, though. People just adore that big AMV and something splatted in the background...probably why mine didn't go over well. I'll keep this in mind for next year.
Found out why my external ... woah, just found out I can't create a capital h. Looks like my keyboard is on the fritz again. Must be that cup of coffee I spilled on it six months ago finally starting to percolate. So my external hard drive coughed at backing up my AMV, what the heck? thought I. Looks like my projects - all together - exceed the size of the entire disk. No way I'm backing all ThAT (no cap h) on DVD, either. -
Sephiration Anxiety is here to stay
2007-05-14 20:13:17
Looks like my first (FINISHED) AMV will be something I never saw coming and just played around with for a few weeks. Not saying it's done yet, but I've got more done on this project than I have on all my others combined, so that's pretty sweet. It helps that the pressure is off, I think - it's just coming together around a few key scenes I had in mind and a few others that just walked right onto stage all by themselves.
It's almost freaky how well certain scenes match the music. I went through this phase of forcing myself to touch it, just because I can't in good conscience call it an AMV if the footage just HAPPENS to synch perfectly, and now I'm trying to back off again and reclaim some of what I screwed up with too MUCH tweaking. I think the ending is going to be a sticking point, though...the song doesn't go out with a bang and I need it to. :( Eventually I'm going to have to get some second opinions...educated second opinions.
I will say again that Sephiroth needs to put a lid on it - hasn't he ever heard of an aura of evil? You don't need to bloody TELL everyone how evil you are, just stand there and look the part so I don't have to mask out your babbling!!
Sephiration Anxiety tally time...
Pre-editing: Let's say 14 hours because that includes footage and music work and I haven't been keeping perfect track of this
Editing: Let's say 10 hours because I'm also kind of vague on this right now and that sounds plausible. It's certainly no less.
OMG THERE'S A BUG IN MY HAIR!!!
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Pen Tool Guide, get your PEN TOOL GUIDE
2007-05-08 19:51:46
After many months of work, my nice little (or not so little) "It's Going to Be All Write: An AMVer's Guide to the Pen Tool" has finally landed at amv.org. It's in the Guides section, image that! I will be bumping up one of my old threads on the subject as soon as it's unlocked to officially announce the guide is available.
Many thanks to the folks who helped review/test the tutorial, particularly those individuals *looking at you, M.N. and J.D.* who took the time to give me detailed feedback and keep in touch. (Most reviewers were not AMVers, so there's no point getting long-winded about this, I've already thanked them in person.) :)
I also must not forget to thank dokidoki for his input and patience.
It's funny, just today I was helping one of my coworkers with the pen tool (in InDesign) and she, right on cue, wailed "Oh, do I HAVE to? I HATE the pen tool!" I swear, I've never met someone who's only played around with it and DOESN'T hate it! Never fear, Drift is here! (No, I didn't really say that.)
In AMV news, I am steaming ahead with a new project, whimsically dubbed "Sephiration Anxiety," the results of being roused one morning by Genesis' "That's All" after a bad night of ripping Advent Children footage. Sephiroth talks way too much. Why can't he keep his trap shut and just stand there looking smug and evil??
JOURNAL: DriftRoot (Lauren C.)
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