Almost that time again.

[Sylum_The_Dragon]

Well not really. Ok sortof. Just wondering how everyone's projects are going and maybe what you're doing.

As for me? I haven't started on anything yet lol.

My plans:
Another Starfox one
.hack//G.U.

and some collaboration with a friend. No clue what we're gonna do though lol

[solidwhitedevil]

I'm just now getting back into my full swing of nerdom, so see if i can whip up something retarded over the xmas break.

[valdrianth raptor]

I have two projects finished currently, one Tales of Symphonia and one .hack//G.U. as well. I might possibly have a TTGL project finished by deadline time, if not I'm quite satisfied with what I duked out this fall with these two videos. They're a vast improvement from my Wolf's Rain and Howl's Moving Castle video from last year.

[Sylum_The_Dragon]

Oh wow valdrianth.....2 of my favorite games XD

[Starsaver]

Ahhh my fellow AMV creators. Are you all ready to do battle once again on the screen?

[kagometwin15]

I know so excited XD. I have 4 cosplayes made and ready for this year! Props included! Very much looking forward to cosplay chess XD

[Sylum_The_Dragon]

ARGGGGH I haven't even started on my AMV's. I got some serious work to do -_-;

[neko]

This will be the first year I've done any AMV's. Finished 2 so far, 1 to Death Note and 1 to Hellsing. Hoping they don't suck too bad.......

[Starsaver]

What do you guys think about the updated rules for the AMV contest? Im not sure if I like the idea of them cutting the categories in half. Also, why on earth is Horror still a category? Didnt that one only have like one entry last year?

[valdrianth raptor]

I agree that they probably should have kept the Character Profile category over the Horror one. It's a bit hard to make a good Horror videos with a PG rating as well, most because most Horror anime isn't PG to begin with. That being said that category is also for "Suspense" videos, so it gives creators a bit more lieutenancy.

I really like the extension to 6 minutes though! Hopefully that'll stay around next year too. One of my current projects is with a song that's over five minutes long and if the rules had gone up sooner, I would have concentrated on finishing it a lot sooner!

I already finished my projects for this year, and it looks like even with the rule changes I managed to fit them in the current categories easily. Including Horror/Suspense!

[Starsaver]

Agreed. Character Profile would have made a much better choice for a category than Horror, it leaves so many more video options. A Character Profile video can be a Horror video if done right, but having just a Horror category kind of hamstrings 90% of video makers. I just hope we dont see a slew of Death Note videos from this.

I dont really mind the 6 minute thing since I have trouble finding what to do for 3-5 minute songs, although I think an extention to 6 minutes is the reason for cutting out half the categories. It kind of bugs me that the AMV Contest has always been kind of overlooked at Mechacon since it is always the last thing shown meaning most participants have already left the building.

I dont really have a Horror video this year so you can have that category Raptor, but you are gonna have to fight me for the others.

[valdrianth raptor]

The six minute extension and probably the fact that there weren't many entries last year. I really hope we get some great competition this year though, so go ahead and bring it! I honestly don't mind loosing to good videos, lol!

I actually don't think that what I have are winners, mostly because they're so experimental, and two of the three videos I entered depending on Bandai DVDs, so the quality is not as great as I would want it to be. But there's always hope! And really, as long as I get to show my videos at a contest and people like them, that's all I need.

[Pandah]

~Ah, This will be the first AMV contest I'm going to try to enter...
If I can get the AMV done in time.
Working on a Romance/Drama category at the moment- almost done.
And then a very short Horror/Suspense.
I can promise that the it isn't gonna be a whopping six minutes long.
OMG... T _ T

[Starsaver]

Welcome to the party Pandah! More competitors is always a good thing especially if they create new and unique videos.

[Pandah]

Thanks! ^w^
I'm a total newb at this so they aren't that awesome.
... considering I'm utilizing WMM, lol.

Just finished my romance one.
Starting my Horror/Suspense one now...
Don't worry, no Death Note here... lol. T _ T I'd shot myself.

[Pandah]

Oh, I have a question. It seems the only none subbed (( raw )) clips and episodes I can find have a watermark icon in the top right of the screen. It is very faint and small. Would you guys know if that would be a problem or not?
Since they don't want the larger Cartoon Network logos in the amvs.

[Starsaver]

Windows Movie Maker is a fine place to start learning how to make AMVs. In fact I competed for two years using that program. Dont worry about feeling like a Newb, we are a pretty accepting bunch around here.

What watermarks are you talking about? Is it from a TV station or something?

[Pandah]

Thanks ^w^
About the watermark...
I didn't notice it at first but it is on all the episodes and clips I have.
I even tried to download from another site and the watermark on those too.
I can't really make out what it is because it is so small and transparent.

I most likely will give up on that one since I'm not sure if it is a logo or some sort of mark placed by the original uploader.
:: sigh ::
Then there is the whole thing about trying to find a censored version of the perfect song! T _ T
You guys make this sound easy.

[Shader-san]

Pandah, don't you worry at all about what program you use.

I used WMM for AGES until I was able to sneak some time on the AVID editing system at mys chool to tweak some AMV's. I had a trial version of a couple of different programs today that I used to mix up some AMVs.

HOLY CRAP THAT WAS A CONFUSING TIME.

Right now I have two totally BITCHIN' AMVs under my belt. A few final touches and their done. The first one is an action on that uses cutscenes form every FF game from 7 - 13, including clips from Dissidia and Advent Children.

The second one I just finished up for the Drama category, using Advent children and a few clips from "Last Order".

I almost thought about going back and redoing my action on to include some "Last Order" clips, but I changed my mine against it. I didn't want to mess with something I was already very, very happy with.

Quick Question: Any other winners from last year's Con have any issues with their certificates?

[Starsaver]

Shader, what kind of problems did you have with you certificate? Mine had my name misspelled and it took awhile to get a replacement. Have you read the new rules yet? How do you weigh in on the changes?

Pandah, you should check with some of the mods about the watermark thing. They would be the one to know although watermarks have snuck past them in past competitions, and im talking really obvious Cartoon Network logos. Since every year is different, I dont know if they will let that slide again.