Flashy AMV's are overrated...

[DrngdKreationz]

A freaking duck could fly on screen and start shooting lasers from its ass, and its still a fine video in my book.

Thats frickin Classic!!!

[Flint the Dwarf]

A freaking duck could fly on screen and start shooting lasers from its ass, and its still a fine video in my book, if it was done well, and it fit in well enough.

You ruined the feature effect in my new video. Thank a lot, asshole.

[JMZ]

Bottom Line: Use effects to ehance the video, no BE the video.

I think that says it all. Well put.

[JMZ]

To add to my last post:

this applies if you are even going to add effects at all. I don't use many myself. Having only MovieMaker at my disposal, the effects I use are usually only transitions (mainly fade), double time, and the occasional minor filter. Not all that dramatic, but it's not distracting. I do have some ideas I'd like to try out in future vids, though, to see if I can't force this simple program to do something fancier. But I'll use those ideas ONLY if they fit.

[JMZ]

The trouble I'm running into in the effects department is on the artistic rather then the technical end. I just watched three video's all with nearly perfect use of digital effects artisticly, one flashy, the other two more subdued. I know, technically how to do all of those effects, but placement is really giving some trouble.

Well, you've got the first two steps down. You A)know how to do the effects, and you've B)realized that there's a time and a place for them. The best advice I can offer is what I learned in my graphic design class: the concept of unity and variety.

Variety: Using more than one creative element (ex: different shapes). Adds intrest to the peice.
Unity: Using a common creative element throughout (ex: same typeography). Unites the peice together.

A good peice of graphic art contains enough variety in the elements used to interest the viewer, but keeps the peice united with one or more common elements in it, thus maintaining a balance. Too much variety and not enough unity is chaotic and sloppy-looking. To much unity and not enough variety is dull.

Now, an AMV is quite different than a peice of graphic artwork. I admit I have no formal training in video editing, and therefore have not had the privilage of absorbing knowledge on that subject from others more experienced than myself. I can only do the best I can with what knowledge I have. So here goes:

One strong element that can be used for unity is simply the subject of the AMV. If your AMV is a character profile, for example, then keeping that subject though the vid will help uinite the elements within. Also, what effects are used affect the style and feel of the vid. Use effects (or don't if they don't apply) that enhance the feel you want for the vid. You can change moods as it goes (but avoid too much variety!), or you can keep the same mood throughout.

As for variety, what scenes you choose to use can help. Choose shots from different episodes/locations/situations/angles/etc. and keep them fairly different. This will help break up the monotony of the vid. Effects can be used for variety, too, but be sure they match the mood of the vid and don't try to use to many of them! Keep in mind which effects are more noticable than others; use them wisely. If you don't want the viewer to be jarred, don't use a strong and obvious effect. If you are aiming at an obvioius break, change of thought/topic/scene/etc, or are trying to make or emphasize a strong point, a more flashy effect can be used.

I'd advise deciding ahead of time on a small number of effects (if any) to use and/or reuse in the vid. Unity can be created by the repetition of some of the effects, and variety can be created by the difference in effect styles. Of course, if you even use any.

Well, I hope that helps. I'd like to hear what other people's editing advice is. ^_^

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

Effects can be great (see Olin), but, and this is very important, they should not distract from the video as it is supposed to be. That was my main problem with Euphoria: too many effects, so i couldn't see the main body of what was happening, with Olin yes it was obviously supposed to be an effects vid, but they helped with the idea that Drngd had for the concept.

to sum up: Effects good, distraction bad, too much effects = distraction.

thankyou.

(Also: i have never seen the series rahzephon)

[ANTDrakko]

Ok, me = 2 sleepy to effectivly quote anyone right now so I'll try and make this one short:

Ok, by now I've typed at least 3 huge posts (in this post), and then deleted them strictly to avoid any arguments.

Topic at hand is that "effect" videos are highly overrated. The plot or whatever you want to call the reason the video is made is very, very subtle. Its not a question of intellegence, Zarxrax, and that comment was not needed and unprovoked. I have shown many, many intellegent people Olin, and they all loved it. I don't disagree with them. When I told them it won Best in Show, they said "Great!". When I told them it won "Best Drama", however, they said "Why?" .

Conclusion: Effects videos are awesome at using effects. Complaint = that effects are so popular that they can be used to woo the audience over and almost convince them that, regardless the category, its the better video because it looked the coolest.

Again, DrngdKreationz, congrats on the awards, and congrats on your video, like someone said earlier, regardless of how "hard" or not it may have been, it MUST have been tedious, so, kudos.

One last thing, its sooooo funny to see Euphoria get bashed now-a-days. Eeeeveryone loved it and understood it and praised it for the longest time. But then everyone got tired of it. All of a sudden its become this "video with completly distracting effects" . God I love it. ::waits for the 'I've always hated Euphoria, I swear!' comments::

~Seen

[Wong]

I still love Euphoria....effects are awsome in this vid, and they help it along.
Then again, i understand alot of the footage used in it because i have been a fan of the series since it came out in the states.

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

i joined after euphoria was made, so i can quite honestly say i've never really liked it, i always thought the effects were distracting, but then again maybe i joined too recently to apreciate how ground-breaking the effects were, but now, i think, they're just distracting...

[AMV_4000]

flashy vids? Like... Tainted Angel?
Like Mario?
Or do you mean Flashy Like Pac-Man?