Lost Video Island

[eloramoon]

littleton_pace wrote:

I don't think I've seen that many vids that don't have a concept of sorts. Even just-Jate videos with no story still have a concept, to me at least, of showing the connection between the characters.

I really hope everyone understands that I am not talking about the vids here at LVI. I mean, I won't say it never happens here, but what got me thinking about it was specifically a slew of vids I've been seeing on YT lately, mostly Twilight and Anime (because that's what my niece is into, so she sends me links all the time).

Also, I really REALLY am afraid I may have hurt some feelings with the "six page dissertation" comment, and I just want everyone to know that I am not knocking explanations... not in the slightest.

What I'm knocking is when people string obviously random clips together with no rhyme or reason, and then write out a long story that the video is supposed to embody but obviously doesn't. Again, I am not talking about any video I've seen here at LVI. Honest! I never would have brought it up here if I was talking about anyone here.

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I'm with Debbie on her point, when you have a vidder who can tell a fantastic story, that is where the talent is. To me; if they can do that and kick ass with effects, like with Jo's latest vid, that's just epic vidding at its core.

Anyway, Jo's contest vid is a great example of what I consider to be the *perfect* balance of effects and concept/story. She has an awesome concept/story, and the effects are totally complimentary. Not just thrown in to make it pretty.

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But I also highly appreciate crazy effects and beat because I know how tough it is to get right

I agree with that, too. Especially coming from the standpoint of wanting to learn and understand how to use them properly and not just gratuitously. Some people have a natural talent, but for those of us who don't it's a tough learning process. It has been for me, at least, and I've got a long way to go (which is why I ask so many questions). LOL!


That said, however, some of my favorite vids are ones that aren't necessarily about beat use, effects, etc. I love Nikki and Stacey's AU vids, for example. The stories told are so creative and interesting, and the stories are told almost entirely through out-of-context clips, footage from other sources, and video/audio manips. To me, that is vidding at its very finest. I love it!

[Jen]

I know I'm a bit late to this, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents because I once had a full-on rant over this before, so I know exactly how you feel Julia.

For me, personally -- and I'm glad to see so many other people agree -- an effect should really only be used if there's a reason for it to be used in the first place. Whacking in a gazillion effects to show off what a program (like Vegas, for instance) can do is, well, a bit pointless IMO.

Textures... eh, I can't say I'm a fan. But aesthetically I'm extremely picky, and usually I only ever mess about with colouring nowadays. I think this whole effects business comes down to experience -- newer vidders, who have just made the switch from WMM to Vegas (or whichever) will tend to go a bit more "out there" with the effects; but that's just because they're new to it all and experimenting (And let's be honest, we've all been there!)

Then with experience we tend to find a little niche -- mine, like I said before, is in my colouring. I also like overlays, and am currently in love with blur effects. And then we develop further by coming up with crazy AU plots, etc. You get the drift

However, I think my problem is seeing the same sort of thing over and over and over again. I for one am sick of additive dissolve, and I used to be addicted to that effect. However, I have the most enormous respect for those who can use effects in an effective (pardon the pun) and most importantly original way. I think that's why effects are so intriguing -- we want to see how other people use them. (Unfortunately half the time they just get replicated over and over in other videos, which is a shame.)

In the end, a video should really be made up of several different elements -- effects are only one aspect and if I'm watching a video that's overly reliant on effects, after about thirty seconds, I'll get bored and stop watching anyway. Therefore, concept, even if it's a video about how much X loves Y, or how awesome Z is, will always far outweigh the effects. Effects are just there for an extra "oomph," but they're never the entire video.

And thus concludes my essay.