How to make a bad vid...
Aug. 31st, 2011 09:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Vidding is easy. I mean, anyone can lay down a song and throw together come clips. Match them (literally) to the lyrics, add a few (hundred) fancy edits, put on a (huge) vidder watermark and voilĂ ! You have a vid.
Expanding the Verse has been holding the "Worst Video Ever Challenge" and the results have been interesting.
I think, more than anything, viewing a vid that exploits all the things that essentially make up a bad vid might actually highlight what it is that makes a good vid.
starrylizard has created a fabulously awful vid called 2 Strong Hearts. I love how well observed this vid is in containing all those things that contribute to making a "bad" vid. Read the "warnings" to get an idea of what those things are. :D (I think the "over and over and over" has to be my favourite..)
You also have to check out
greyowl88's Fuel. She claims this as the "Worst Wincest Vid Ever". I'd say it's the funniest ever. ;D It's hilarious in it's "badness". (fav might just be the gratuitous crotch shots *g*)
There is actually a thing called a Lord King Bad Vid. I learned of this a few years ago when I voiced the idea of making a Dean/Cas vid to the song "Wind Beneath My Wings" (I'd still love to do this one day...) It's described as: ...the vid your inner twelve-year-old thinks is the best thing ever!" It's about creating a vid that's "bad" but pursued with utter sincerity. The above vids are not quite so subtle in their "badness" so they may not be consider LKB vids. But you get the idea.
I know that fandom sometimes has badfic memes etc. - fic that encapsulates all that is bad in fic writing (such fun!) No reason why vidders can't play with the same.
These vids are also good examples of things to avoid if you are starting out. It's all been done in fun. All vidders have started somewhere and the reason I find these so amusing is because I recognise my own mistakes in these./o\
Enjoy! Or.... err... not. :DD
Expanding the Verse has been holding the "Worst Video Ever Challenge" and the results have been interesting.
I think, more than anything, viewing a vid that exploits all the things that essentially make up a bad vid might actually highlight what it is that makes a good vid.
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You also have to check out
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There is actually a thing called a Lord King Bad Vid. I learned of this a few years ago when I voiced the idea of making a Dean/Cas vid to the song "Wind Beneath My Wings" (I'd still love to do this one day...) It's described as: ...the vid your inner twelve-year-old thinks is the best thing ever!" It's about creating a vid that's "bad" but pursued with utter sincerity. The above vids are not quite so subtle in their "badness" so they may not be consider LKB vids. But you get the idea.
I know that fandom sometimes has badfic memes etc. - fic that encapsulates all that is bad in fic writing (such fun!) No reason why vidders can't play with the same.
These vids are also good examples of things to avoid if you are starting out. It's all been done in fun. All vidders have started somewhere and the reason I find these so amusing is because I recognise my own mistakes in these./o\
Enjoy! Or.... err... not. :DD
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Date: 2011-08-31 03:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-31 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-31 06:07 pm (UTC)(The official being you of course. *g*)
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Date: 2011-08-31 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-31 06:18 pm (UTC)Um, not anyone. Just saying. It all feels like magic to me. Also, there are those awesome vidders who actually seem to know how to transform tone and colour and make really cool animated transitions and... yeah. Magic.
I don't even know how to make a clip. Hell, I can't even manage the bare bones of Photoshop. /o\
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Date: 2011-08-31 11:07 pm (UTC)Though with the vidding software available and places like YT some of the vids that are produced (seem) to be thrown together without much thought behind them. And some of the above vids give examples of the major pitfalls of some vids.
Argh! It's hard to explain. See... words. Now they are hard for me.
(and I can't manage the bare bones of Photoshop either..)
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Date: 2011-09-01 11:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-01 12:19 pm (UTC)Basically. (hee... vidding 101 coming up): You either rip an episode (software needed to do that) or grab a download of episodes.
From there you can get software to help you make clips. Some people import entire episodes into their editing software but I cut up clips before I import them.
Then there's the editing software. I use Final Cut Express (because I am on a mac) but there's also iMovie (which comes with all macs). It's Window Movie Maker for PC's. Though a lot of PC vidders use a program called Vegas. Most computers some with editing software already on it.
In these programs you place the music on the audio track and then you start to build the vid by placing all the clips you've cut up on to the time line. It takes time to learn how the editing program works but if you're keen it's not that hard to work out.
See? Not so hard? :) The hard part come when trying to work out how to save the vid into a format that works...
Hmmm... you probably didn't want to know all that. /o\ But that's the bare bones of vidding. All the other stuff - making the clips work with the lyrics, using effects that don't swamp the vid, cutting to a beat etc. etc. take time to learn. But that's the fun part. :)
<3
Oh and making a gifs is different again. I wish I could make gifs. They ain't that easy either. A good working knowledge of Photoshop helps. Though there are programs available for that also.
But you can write sweetie! Now there's a skill I'd love to have. (I actually tried to write fiction the other day and didn't get past 2 sentences. Writing's hard!)
xx
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Date: 2011-09-01 12:22 pm (UTC)I've never even been able to get iMovie to work. It's all kind of a mystery. :P
Does it work the same for avi files? How do people use clips from otherwise unreleased episodes? Inquiring minds want to know! ;)
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Date: 2011-09-01 12:49 pm (UTC)It's been a while since I've used iMovie but I think you can bring in whole episodes into iMovie. The you can select scenes you want to use from there. I prefer to cut up my clips before importing because whole episodes are usually too big and I never need all that footage. (If you reeaaally want to know more about that program
When you say unreleased I take it you mean one that are not yet on DVD? If that's the case then we rely on downloads. Episodes are available to download about 2 hours after the episode airs in the US. There are a number of places to grab dl's (LJ is a great source).
You'd be surprised how easy it actually is once you get playing. If you dl an episode, import it to iMovie you can start playing around. (but it's ridiculously addictive and time consuming I have to warn you...)
xx
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Date: 2011-09-01 01:13 pm (UTC)One of these days, if you're willing, I would love to pick your brain properly about this. I may not have any skills, but I have ideas and I figure what I make up for in talent I can make up for in enthusiasm. Maybe I'll just always enter the "worst vid" competitions, if I ever figure it out. ;)
I can offer fic in exchange! What say? :)
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Date: 2011-09-01 01:22 pm (UTC)If the episode didn't play it would just mean that there was something weird with the file. I would have to refresh my memory re iMovie but I am more than happy to give some tips.
Having the idea is often the hardest part. Once you work out the technicals of vidding (which usually means coming to grips with the files and importing etc) you'll be away. Really. If I can do it I know anyone can. I am not a technical person at all. It's been trial and error mostly. (umm... plus I have a mac guru hubby... which has helped at times).
But. Yep. Pick away! :) (ooh and no need to offer fic sweets. If you end up making a vid that will be reward enough *g*)
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Date: 2011-09-01 01:26 pm (UTC)(I have an idea for a Dean/Cas vid which won't leave me alone)
I think once I get the vidding software to obey my whims that it'll be okay. I mean, it won't be great, but at least it'll be out there, right?
I'll send a PM. Or would you mind an email? That way I can always send a screencap, which PMs don't allow for. :)
You rock!
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Date: 2011-09-01 01:32 pm (UTC)Pm me. I'm on ash48@aapt.net.au
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Date: 2011-08-31 06:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-31 11:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-01 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-01 01:13 am (UTC)Fixing now... *blushes*
(Now I'm thinking I could have written "Worsest Video Ever" *g*)
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Date: 2011-09-01 06:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-31 09:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-31 11:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-01 07:42 am (UTC)I'm far too lazy to ever put my thinky-ness into words!
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Date: 2011-08-31 11:19 pm (UTC)And now you've got me curious. These are some of the subjects I'd like to touch upon in my blog. Might get some ideas and also a few great examples.
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Date: 2011-08-31 11:50 pm (UTC)And I can say I've seen some that most definitely would fit into that category.
Before I totally condemn a vidder and their work I look at a few things first.
I look at their channel to see how old this vid is. Have they improved over the years or is the one I watched as horrible as the newest one they did. I want to see if they're learned anything over the years.
I also check out the age of the vidder if it's visible. I will normally just turn my head and walk away if they are young and wet behind the ears. No sense stirring up muck where you don't have to. But older vidders who have been around the block should know a little better, shouldn't they?
And I have made the occasional comment on a vid about those overly ginormous and colourful watermarks!
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Date: 2011-09-01 01:25 am (UTC)Yeah - it's a tricky one. I posted about "bad vids" for 2 reasons. One - it's a bit of fun and two I thought it might be interesting to see what vidders see as "bad vids"... if that makes sense.
It's not intented to make fun of vidders who are either starting out, or young etc. It's just an acknowledgement that there are things that stand out as being annoying (like the huge watermark) when watching a vid.
Doesn't mean we're not all capable of making a bad vid (appreciation is in the eye of the beholder after all) but I thought that this might also prove to be helpful to anyone starting out. Thats there are things that should be avoided if possible.
Like bad grammar for fic writers.
Wow... I blabbed! I posted this and then worried that it might be seen as vidding snobbery. *shrugs* I hope not. Bad grammar, structure, cliche etc exists in bad fic so why not "bad use of lyrics, over use of effects and annoying water marks" to signal a bad vid.
:)
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Date: 2011-09-01 03:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-01 03:48 am (UTC)They have some awesome challenges. This one would have been great fun.
xx
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Date: 2011-09-01 07:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-01 01:00 pm (UTC)It would have been THE WORSTEST! *another tiny sob*
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Date: 2011-09-01 01:29 pm (UTC)Oh hun! You still could have posted it!!! Wow.. I would have been really interested to see that... You could post it as a "this is how it SHOULD have gone down...".
Also. This is kinda weird. But I might have to pick you brain (to refresh mine) on how to use iMovie. It's been such a long time for me and I have forgotten the basics. Like. Do you clip the footage you need before you import it to iMovie (and save it as what?) or do you import entire episode and clip in the program?
If I remember correctly, iMovie converts the footage to .mov? Ack. I also find the new iMovie impossible to understand.
xx
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Date: 2011-09-01 05:08 pm (UTC)As for iMovie, I have a terrible, shameful secret. I'm actually still using the old iMovie HD 6, have not updated since the switch in '08. Just last weekend, I was helping middle child make a vid for school on the new iMovie 11 (on the family computer where he does his schoolwork) and I was completely befuddled! /o\
But, if you're asking about the old version, yes. I clip and then import to save time/space. If you're looking for help on the newer applications, I am at a loss. OMG, ASH, I'm such a Luddite, I might as well be inscribing my vids onto stone tablets. :P
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Date: 2011-09-01 11:01 pm (UTC)But that helps. I figure clipping before importing is a better way to go. And if I remember correctly I did it in Quicktime (also older version because the newer one sucks).
Cheers.
xx
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Date: 2011-09-01 02:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-01 11:02 pm (UTC)xx
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Date: 2011-09-02 08:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-02 12:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-02 02:31 pm (UTC);D
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Date: 2011-09-06 06:15 pm (UTC)But yea, I'm not sure I'd say Lord King Bad Vids are the same. Or at least they've BECOME something else entirely over time. Those two above are like, meta for what not to do execution-wise. Whereas LKBVs are done with complete sincerity and love plus the knowledge that wow this idea is horrific but it's so true I have to do it anyway and I'm gonna believe it's the most awesome concept ever. So the execution is quite good. And the bad vid is turned good, basically because "you can't look away". A couple vidders hashed out the definition pretty well here when
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Date: 2011-09-07 07:12 am (UTC)Hee... yes. I was laughing so hard when I watched it. And you're right. There's a fine line and I don't like to be criticial of other vidders. Sometimes a vid has so much heart that some of the technical aspects aren't so important.
Yeah, my understanding of the LKBV is that it works on a different level. Not so overtly obvious. Just like that amazing Merlin vid. GOD!! That's a perfect example. And damnit! I am now itching to give something like that a go. I would be fun to try at least. (hee.. I have plenty of songs that would be awesome to try. Total Eclipse of the Heart springs to mind *g*)
Thank you so much for those links. :D I haven't seen the catbaby vid. There were SO many VVC vids coming out I didn't even know where to start. But I shall hunt it down and take a look.
Thanks so much for popping by hun. <33
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Date: 2011-09-09 12:41 am (UTC)I know the itch, I have marked a bunch, but I've always been afraid I wouldn't have the patience for it, haha. (For the longest time I had this 'Hold On' idea for one, then Bridemaids went and montage a whole LKBV at the end there and I can't unerase that from my mind now!)
OH. OH. YOU MUST WATCH. HOLD ON...
CATBABY
I've been DROWNING in VVC vids, I have so many tabs, I don't know which way is up! *facepalm* But this was the first one I watched. I might have had a hernia howling of laughter and have not been able to entertain the idea of rewatching for fear of injuring myself, but everyone's gotta watch it at least once!
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Date: 2011-09-10 12:49 am (UTC)I didn't read the blurb before hand, just launched straight in so when the kitten appeared I just DIED!!
I just.... no words.
Thanks so much for the link. Vidders continue to blow me away..
*smish*