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Feeling my away around while still trying to focus on this new world.......
2004-03-09 10:09:51
I relate my dive into AMV to a baby being born. Fitting, since my wife's and my first child will be born in about two months. My mind is so focused on these two things that hardly anything else seems to exist anymore. Everything that's not AMV or baby-related seems to have a haze around it - it all seems surreal. I guess it's kind of like an AMV. Work has no meaning, food is tasteless, TV is boring (actually that's not different from normal) and computer games are uninteresting. I even found myself upgrading my computer for something other than a computer game - that's a big first, really big.
Anyway, For a newbie like me in the AMV world, it's great to find a place to get my feet wet. This is a place where I learn from those that came before me. I can begin to see into the creative mind of editors and artists from all over the place. All with different backgrounds, different ideas and different beliefs, but one common thread - anime, and more specifically, Anime Music Videos. I start to focus on this new world set before mine eyes and I try to figure out what I'm here for - to make and watch AMV of course.
I got hooked when I saw a rather choppy, funny AMV online while looking for a wav clip to a song from the early 1980's. I needed the sound clip for a video I was making from a recent vacation and I stumbled upon something interesting. I found a movie clip of the song I was looking for set to and lip-synced with anime footage. Now there's something I thought. I showed my wife what I had found that night and she said exactly what I thought she'd say, "Could we do that with Rurouni Kenshin?" I told her that I knew she would say that and I told her I already had a couple ideas.
My wife and I are fans of Rurouni Kenshin (TV). Having watched the entire series on borrowed DVDs, it was something that both of us could enjoy. We now own the first 4 DVDs and are beginning to build our own library of that series. When we get a change we are going to watch the Samurai-X portions as well - we just haven't gotten an opportunity to yet (before you ask why, re-read the first paragraph). I wish I had taken the opportunity to rip the video from those DVDs while I had them, but I agree with something someone else asserted too, so I'm glad I didn't. If you like an anime and/or want to use the footage for an AMV, buy the DVD/VHS (and not the pirated version). You'll help the creators to possibly be able to make more great anime.
We just finished the Cowboy Bebop series over the weekend (also on borrowed DVDs). I had seen a few episodes before, but not the whole series. This was a good opportunity to watch more anime and again we both enjoyed it. I've long been a fan of anime and I've really watched it blossom in the US over the years. It's gone from the college dorm and shops in Chinatown to Cartoon Network and Wal-Mart. My wife has gotten into it more recently, but likes it as well. I remember when anything dubbed was crap and you always bought the sub-titled version. I remember when anything Manga put out was awesome. I remember VHS and Laserdisc being the only options - if you knew someone that had a LD player that is - weren't those the days.
Now, I've left the comfortable womb of watching anime occasionally in order to enter the world of Anime Music Videos and grow. I more or less completed my first AMV and I'm polishing it off now. I hate to say it's an over-done concept, but I didn't know that until after I had roughed it out. I don't want to submit my second work and call it my first - that just wouldn't be right. I also have about 5 other works started (so I won't forget the ideas I had) and hope to have at least two more completed by Memorial Day. I know that's a ways off, but I'm a little methodical and I refer you back to the first paragraph again.
Thank you to all those creators out there from whom I'm learning so much - good and bad. Anyone who takes the time to work on an AMV, I applaud you. I'm enjoying this new world so far and if I leave feedback on your AMV don't be offended by any part of it. I try to be as honest as possible and I don't think I'll ever give a 10 across the board - not even to my own work. Remember too that some of judging AMVs is personal preferences. If you view one of my future submissions, please be honest with me too. I want to grow and I need good critical feedback in order to do so.
Well, that's about all I have for today. I'll try to keep up my journal about once a week for anyone interested. Here's a list of anime I'm currently using for projects: Rurouni Kenshin, Macross Plus and The Hakkenden. I also own Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie and Ghost in the Shell, but I'm not sure whether I'll be using them or not yet. I don't think I need to start anymore ideas until I at least finish one or two of the ones I've already started. I need a good smack on the bottom to get myself going. Until next time, see you later space cowboy... (sorry, couldn't resist - I did just watch the whole series). Later.
wil
JOURNAL: wilpower (wil )
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