The Basis of Originality: What You Think Originality Means

[TwilightChrono]

I made this topic, to get other AMVer's opinions on what they thought originality means. I know the line of originality has been drawn extremely thin in the past couple of years, due to ideas being repeated, and people just putting AMV's together to to show that they could do it. In your opinion, what makes an AMV original to you? When you watch an AMV, what is it you normally look for in originality?

Tis a hard topic I know, but, I thought I would get this out there in the hopes that this topic could help produce more original AMV's by offering advice and such, or just by giving opinions that other people could learn from. This is just a basic conversation topic, but the opinions, if this topic gets any, should be quite helpful. This could help bring out more original concepts instead of the old dried out dribble-drabble that is out there now. High hopes for this topic, I know, but, it doesn't hurt to hear from other AMVer's from time time.

Well, let's get this thing rolling.

[Kionon]

Originality?

I wouldn't know. I only do romance videos the likes of which I've been doing for ten years.

[requiett]

When you watch an AMV, what is it you normally look for in originality?

When you can pretty much tell who made something without looking at the credits.

[Sukunai]

The basis of originality?

errr ummm hmm doing something "original"?

Yes if you know literature, there are only 11 distinct possible plots.

But I occasionally seem amvs that look like they were all done by a common pool of clips. It's not the end of the world if everyone is featuring the same popular anime series, but it would be nice if they didn't look like they had the same original footage.

And it would be nice if the song used wasn't the same song recently used by everyone else. I realize though sometimes everyone is obsessed with a song.

But original is about doing something that no one has yet even done at all poorly or great or otherwise.

A total waste of 6 min 35 seconds is one of my fav examples of a great amv, because really, it was only meant as a clever joke. It wasn't the same ole anime, or the same ole tired over used music group.

To be original, you need to actually do something new.

Here's a sample. Make a GTA IV amv. It has to mirror the game.

[BasharOfTheAges]

It boils down to 3 things - Concept. Technique. Execution.

However, we're on the 'org, where people seem to think it means anime used and music used.

[TwilightChrono]

That's a common misconception about AMV's. People ordinarily think it's a collection of Anime clips put to a song, when there is actually so much work put into it.

All, I am saying is, that I think there needs to be more diversity among the AMV's instead of the before mentioned popular song and anime at the time.

Take the song:

The Devil Went Down To Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band.

I have yet to see an AMV to this, if there are some to it, there are very few and in my eyes would be somewhat original, but it would have to be done to an anime that hasn't been used much or done in a style no one sees too often.

There are a lot of songs out there with great potential and people fail to see this. And it's more than just editing skill. There is a lot of thought that you have to put into the AMV. Like what scenes would be right to use at what time in the song, and what beats you want to sync too. It all comes down to patience in my opinion.

[JaddziaDax]

song and anime choice =/= originality...

[8bit_samurai]

song x anime = originality
.....editor

fix'd

[Castor Troy]

Originality means you're trying too hard.

[hasteroth]

There is no such thing as "original". there is always influence from other projects and such. Everything has a model, even if it's not intentional. You can make an AMV different and of unique things about it but it cannot be completely original.

Original = The first of it's kind.