What impresses you the most?

Pyle · Post by **Pyle** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 9:48 am

NPC3000 wrote:
Otohiko wrote:
NPC3000 wrote:One thing that really impresses me is videos that make editing seem like genuine fun and not just a way to get compliments.
But how can you tell that just from seeing a video?

(meant as a serious question, BTW)
I'll admit it's not something you can flat out see in front of your eyes but in truth, a lot of videos that I've seen are clones of hundreds other videos that other editors have done. Or they use tricks and effects that seem more for the purpose of looking impressive instead of actually improving on the video. And it's perfectly well known that we often use the same music and bands and anime. This kind of stuff often gives me the impression that many editors are overly conscious about others. That the videos we make are to fair extent, the product of a common crowds' tastes instead of the editor simply doing what he or she enjoys.

Perhaps they... like doing that kind of editing?

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:32 am

NPC3000 wrote:This kind of stuff often gives me the impression that many editors are overly conscious about others. That the videos we make are to fair extent, the product of a common crowds' tastes instead of the editor simply doing what he or she enjoys.

Great words. Although I don't mind this kind of editing; if it's done in a good, competitive spirit, good things come out sometimes. But if on is just after cheap attention, then that's also something that I find disappointing. It's kind of appropriate to say "get a life" in these sorts of cases.

I'm also a big fan of these kinds of non-audience-oriented videos and editors, though I don't know if it really impresses me by itself. For one, having been born without a competitive bone in my body, I just don't make videos for popularity, period. On the other hand, a great video someone made for themselves is something I often enjoy more than a great video made for the 'crowd'.
As Trey Gunn, a favorite musician of mine, said - "If it doesn't mean anything to you, why should it mean anything to others?"

OmniStrata · Post by **OmniStrata** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:34 am

Nice sig Pyle... I luv you too...

Impresses me?

Vids with tons of special fx that are very impossible to emulate...
Vids with NO special fx that are also very impossible to emulate...

yeah...

NPC3000 · Post by **NPC3000** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 11:59 am

Pyle wrote: Perhaps they... like doing that kind of editing?

Like doing that kind of editing or enjoy it?

Pyle · Post by **Pyle** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:07 pm

explain diffrnce plz

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 2:23 pm

I think NPC means that they "like" doing it because of the results and feedback, but those who "enjoy" it do it because it is entirely fun for them.

NPC3000 wrote:
Pyle wrote:Perhaps they... like doing that kind of editing?
Like doing that kind of editing or enjoy it?

Well, I think it's very possible that someone could enjoy using effects and flashes and cheesy transitions. Some people really do just like pretty videos, and that's all it takes to satisfy them some of the time. I will, however, agree that it seems effects are commonly used to make a video look "cool" to the general populace, rather than enhancing the video.

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:17 pm

Flint the Dwarf wrote:I think NPC means that they "like" doing it because of the results and feedback, but those who "enjoy" it do it because it is entirely fun for them.

NPC3000 wrote:
Pyle wrote:Perhaps they... like doing that kind of editing?
Like doing that kind of editing or enjoy it?
Well, I think it's very possible that someone could enjoy using effects and flashes and cheesy transitions. Some people really do just like pretty videos, and that's all it takes to satisfy them some of the time. I will, however, agree that it seems effects are commonly used to make a video look "cool" to the general populace, rather than enhancing the video.

I enjoy making all kinds of videos, though i do notice the "general populace" seems to trend towards fast moving flashy things (or so my star ratings have told me)

since I am learning, I tend to try to experiment with effects, and try to see how they can enhance a vid, i enjoy both the results AND making them... but its not solely for others to "like it" its so I can learn and practice... and see if i can continue to improve as an editorer...

but i find that the best way to make a vid that the "general populace" will atleast like a little, is to make one you like yourself.

OmniStrata wrote:Nice sig Pyle... I luv you too...

it links to everyone's profile... I click it and it goes to mine...

requiett · Post by **requiett** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:12 pm

NPC3000 wrote:
Otohiko wrote:
NPC3000 wrote:One thing that really impresses me is videos that make editing seem like genuine fun and not just a way to get compliments.
But how can you tell that just from seeing a video?

(meant as a serious question, BTW)
I'll admit it's not something you can flat out see in front of your eyes but in truth, a lot of videos that I've seen are clones of hundreds other videos that other editors have done. Or they use tricks and effects that seem more for the purpose of looking impressive instead of actually improving on the video. And it's perfectly well known that we often use the same music and bands and anime. This kind of stuff often gives me the impression that many editors are overly conscious about others. That the videos we make are to fair extent, the product of a common crowds' tastes instead of the editor simply doing what he or she enjoys.

When I see videos by editors like say, fluxmeister or jbone, they come across to me as very fresh and inspired. I get the impression that these editors were interested in their own ideas and not focusing on what is generally accepted by the crowd as a good video.

I'm not saying that we're all consciously calculating our videos to impress one another so much as that I think we're just unconsciously (in most cases I would surmise) overly concerned with what is accepted by others as good and bad.

FUCK YES. NPC wins this thread.

NPC3000 · Post by **NPC3000** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:23 am

Flint basically explained exactly what I meant. I was going to say something along the lines of: "I like keeping my teeth clean, that doesn't mean I enjoy taking the time to brush them every night."

Also, I have nothing against effects in and of themselves. I use them oftentimes in my own videos. But I do think there's a common consideration that effects are what is necessary to make a video good. After all, how many among us hasn't really dug a video with absolutely gorgeous and inventive effects work? If not made one ourselves...

We may not go around saying that effects = good video and good video = effects. We may not even be thinking that that's the case. But that doesn't mean that as a whole, we're incapable of suggesting that the general consensus is effects are essential to a good video.

So what I'm saying is that I admire video editors who seem to disregard what the apparent general consensus is. Regardless of whether they use tons of effects or none at all. When I feel that an editor is not using consensus as a blueprint for his or her video, I tend to enjoy it more. In such cases I also often feel that the editor enjoyed making his or her video because it seems more the product of excitement and creativity instead of anxiety about what the crowd at large accepts as "good."

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:37 am

But the thing is, I personally don't believe that that is the general consensus, and I don't think I'm alone in that either.

I mean, look at Otakon 2003, where "Glory of Love", "The Need For Speed" (which, significantly for the purpose of this discussion, beat VicBond's AE-fest "Die Another Day"), "Searching", and "Lollipops, Sunshine, and rrrRRRrrr" were winners, and none of them used many effects at all.
At Otakon 2004, we had "Waiting For You", "AMV Hell" (beat my own "AEO:EB", again relevant), and "End of All Hope" as winners; same deal.

I'm just using the Otakon contests as examples, because (1) I attended both of them, (2) it gets huge numbers of submissions, and (3) Otakon caters to the fans so I figured it would be a good contest to mention in a discussion about general consensi.
But I'm sure you-all can think of many more videos that have come out recently, not used many special FX, and gotten deserved wide recognition.

I am certainly no conoisseur of FX videos, but I've dug plenty of videos with gorgeous and inventive effects... but I've also dug, just as much or more, plenty of videos without.
And I've also seen pretty FX videos that just didn't impress me aside from the effects ("Extraordinary World" and "Shounen Bushidou" come to mind; sorry Ermac and Hito, but they just didn't do it for me).

And I'm sure most people here have had similar experiences.

(aside: however, "obviously it's because I didn't use Adobe After Effects" is still a good excuse for when my videos don't win anything... <s>one day I shall finally learn AE and then VICTORY AT OTAKON WILL BE MINE!!!!11!</s>

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