Pre-planning in AMV Creation

[Isenfolme]

Ok, so I've been a fan of AMVs for about a year or so, and after that time spent watching and lurking and (hopefully) learning, I'm starting to think about creating one of my own. I know which anime, I've bought the DVDs, I know which song, and the CD is in the post, but I'm wondering about the actual creative process of putting an amv together.

I would be very interested to hear how much pre-planning you guys do before actually getting to grips with the technical stuff. Do you storyboard? Before you actually capture the clips do you know exactly which ones you want and how they'll fit together? Do you have all the transitions and timing worked out, or is that something that you do once you have the editing program open in front of you?

Thus far I've got a rough storyboard in that I know which kind of clips I want with each line of the song. I know enough about what I'd like to see to be frustrated that I only have WMM and can't run two video streams at the same time. My question is, is it worth honing my storyboard/ideas before I ever rip any footage, or should I just hang on and see how things come together when I've got everything on the table?

[Kadaj]

i can't speak for everyone, but this is at least how i go about creating:

my usual ideas spur from listening to music, and i'll absent mindedly try and picture anime synched to it. If i start to think of scenes or riffs i can synch perfectly, i'll look at a song and anime as a whole, and in my mind try and mesh them together. if it seems to work, i'll ask a few other people what they think, or sometimes just keep it to myself.

getting dvd footage is nasty when you're working with WMM, and i can't help you much there (i've always been terrible with visual quality XD). perhaps some of the org guides can help.

as for the actual editing process, i dont' plan that much myself, other than doing things in my head. i find that if i write something down or compile a storyboard, i will try and restrict myself to it. i change my mind so many times during the editing process, and re-edit so many different scenes that most of my plans change drastically.

Also my editing style drastically changes from video to video. depending on what i want to create, or which amvs i have seen that impress me recently, i will try to do different things and achieve different goals.

lol, probably not very helpful, but if you want to have some variation in the answers you get then this should do ^^;;

[XenoDrake]

You will best answer that question when you edit for yourself. some people, the ideas flow from them as they edit, others, like myself, freez up when they look at Premiere. I like to take time and listen to the song, watch the anime, wright out some clips and times in the songs i think work well, then try them. also there is that random factor when you just happen to drop something on the timeline that worked out better then you had orignaly planed. Follow the steps in the guids to get the mechanical feel of the editing process, and add your own personal flair to them as you learn.


~XenoDrake

[Infinity Squared]

My experiences have always told me that those videos which I planned the most for probably entertained the best out of all my videos. I believe that this is true for Talk To Me and Anime Academy Heroes, both of which not only did I have a clear picture in my mind of how they were to turn out, but also written notes on the progression of the video.

In terms of transitions and effects though, I've never actually planned these ahead. I guess it can come with experience when the best transitions and effects are to be used and certainly via getting very good feedback on some of my earlier works, I got to remember which stuff people like and which to avoid (eg. venetian blind transitions in Talk To Me was a no no, as well as the screen multiply in Stand My Ground, and then there's the small screen in Look To The Stars). You get enough people to comment on your work, you'll be better prepared to be better next time.

I think perhaps that this is the most logical way for you to go about the creative process in AMVing. I know there are some prodigies out there who can hit a winner in their first try, but that certainly isn't true for me, nor is it for many others, and may not be true for you either. The creative process behind AMV creation is a learning process and is totally dependant on what you're comfortable with. If you end up being comfortable with WMM, and find that it suits the ideas you want to create, then so be it. Tools are great, but the creator should be even better

[genestarwind21122]

Do you storyboard? Before you actually capture the clips do you know exactly which ones you want and how they'll fit together? Do you have all the transitions and timing worked out, or is that something that you do once you have the editing program open in front of you?

My question is, is it worth honing my storyboard/ideas before I ever rip any footage, or should I just hang on and see how things come together when I've got everything on the table?

I always have a storyboard when I plan out my amv's. I look at the lyrics and write them down on paper. Then I listen to the song over and over and over again. Then the sceens for the amv's roughly form in my head. Then I write down the sceens I'm looking for and go out and find them. Sometimes while searching you may come across a better sceen that you may not have thought of.

For me the idea is to have the sceens in my mind and have them work with each other. Sometimes when you put it down on the timeline it may not work out so you may have to find another sceen or change something in that sceen.

The most I do before I start editing with timing is I look at the lyrics and look at the timer on the radio and time out each section. This will give me a rough idea of how long the clips need to be. As for the beat sync I usually wait until I start editing to do stuff with it.

To answer your last question Yes it is worth having a storyboard and to plan out your amv. This is very important so your amv is likely to be random clips just put to the music. This will show that you put thought into it and it makes it easier on you when you have an idea of what you are doing.

I hope this helps.

Gene Starwind 21122

[-GfN-]

I have to apply to genestarwind:

A storyboard is required not to loose your aim and make the amv a variation of clips not happening by chance.

my general procedure goes like this...
first, I have to deepen the understanding of the series and try to think of aspects that are original and not that widely-covered. then, I'm searching for a song either in my memory or in the future being suitable for my ideas.
right after that, I sepereate the song in rough parts like chorus, solo, etc.
I will proceed in dedicating ONE PAPER EACH for such a part and start to write down the timings, the layers and the goals I try to achieve.
You may also write down the type of effects or transitions used if they have a conceptual meaning.

then, the actual editing process begins, where I choose scenes according to my storyboard and put them together.
However, you have to note that changes will be made on both concept and editing since nothing remains the same.

Jannis Nätke alias -Good for Nothing-

[mikestrife]

I think preplaning is a very important step, and I think that enough has been said in terms of process and tips on how to do it.

I think another good thing to mention here is that no matter how much preplanning you do theres always a good chance you'll stray abit when you begin editing, when you're finished you're amv, rewatch it several times looking for an incosistancies with your theme/planning that might have come about.

[Tsunami Jones]

I've never seen any point in storyboarding/writing stuff down for just a video. I just visulize certain parts of the video in my mind and fly by the seat of my pants the rest of the way.

[JaddziaDax]

I've never seen any point in storyboarding/writing stuff down for just a video. I just visulize certain parts of the video in my mind and fly by the seat of my pants the rest of the way.

yup... though some times i do plan stuff out...

[JudgeHolden]

Planning ... hmmmm I knew I missed a step .. Oh well .... live and learn ...

JH