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sisabetFirst of all - I used to get at least one email every week that was simply:
I have a great idea for a vid about Spike, and it is ____. If you won't make it, can you get the clips to me so I can and will you also tell me how you assemble the scenes over the music?
Lately, I have to admit - that has slacked off considerably. Of course - all site directed email goes to Dawn and she made some noise recently about how much she shelters me from a lot of the correspondence (she does forward any and all feedback - at least I think she does). My blood pressure has dropped as a result.
And I hope and pray that that kind of request is just from someone who is new to fandom in general, or possibly is only used to a very isolated segment of fandom. Much as Kirk explored strange new worlds and sought out new life and civilizations - there are a ton of fannish enclaves I have never heard of. Some I have. In the case of Haven and the Mulder and Scully Beanie Baby Porn dolls? Some I wish to never speak of again.
Perhaps where she hails from fannishly, it is fine and dandy to demand that someone basically give you clips and software and do all of the grunt work so that your "vision" of the perfect video can be achieved. Anything is possible. She could also be completely new to fandom as a social sphere so she does not realize that the same rules of conduct apply.
Or she could just be an ass. Yeah, maybe she didn't have any idea how much work would be involved to fulfill her request - but where I come from asking someone to do something and not having any idea what that something actually is - well that is the sign of an ass. JMO, YMMV.
Since I am positive she does not think that she is an ass - well now a simple email has created a conflict in both party's perception of the other. So let's discuss how this could have been prevented, shall we?
So You Want to Be a Vidder?
You have the perfect Idea with a capital "I" for a vid. It must be made. Great. I am thrilled to hear it - this is what you need to do:
Step 1: Initiative
You want to make a vid? Be prepared to learn. Be prepared to research. Be prepared for a lot of frustration. You don't want any of this - you just want a vid? Well, then buy a vidder at auction. Seriously, either accept that you will have to actually do some work or sweet-talk/cajole/threaten a vidder into making if for you or get over it.
There is no Entitlement in Being A Vidder. Say this with me now and say it slowly: No Entitlement in being a vidder. It is okay. I'm here for you. I know this is hard. I struggle with it everyday.
We are not owed a fandom. We are not owed source. We are not owed free software. We are not owed webspace. We are not owed feedback and accolades. We are not owed inspiration.
We operate on the fringes (more on that later) and we have to stay that way. We have to be creative in means of getting the source we need. We have to be creative in how we share the product of our work. We have to be creative in how we learn our craft. There is no entitlement in being a vidder - but there is a ton of creativity.
But no one owes you this. We all learned - some had a better roads than others, but dude - that is just life.
So - show initiative - be ready to work and learn and figure things out by yourself.
Step 2: Research
First of all - vidding is not new. You did not just now invent it. Vidding has been around for at least thirty years and there have been many different methods of distribution. There are still many other ways to get videos other than the internet. Some of the best vids you have never seen have never been online. Learn Your History.
Yeah -and also? Learn how to vid. Learn how to aquire source. Figure it out - but how?
Well, use your resources. The yahoo vidder group. The LJ communities focused on vidding - look and see who is a member of these communities -- find vidder live journals and blogs. Email vidders whose work you admire and ask them what software they use.
DO NOT GO ONLIST AND SAY "Hi all. I want to vid. How do I get started?" If you want to do this - go back and reread "Step 1 Initiative" because you missed something there.
DO READ the archives. They are your friend. They also seem like Greek to you - what are these people talking about?
It can be difficult - I know.
The archives will have links to tutorials that vidders have created. This is great stuff. The archives will also have discussions about software and problems and comparisons. The archives are a resource.
LJ is also - albeit a bit more difficult to navigate - a resource. There are these crazy insane people on LJ who sometimes act as either an information portal or just an organizer of data. Their memories are a thing of beauty. Off the top of my head I can list![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
permetaform's memory category as one of the best all inclusive collections of technical and discussion and Deep thoughts on vidding places to go.
The AMV (http://www.animemusicvideos.org) - while, yeah, an anime vid place, has excellent technical guides. These guys know their stuff and explain it well. Seriously, they take you by the hand and say: "This is your computer. Here is what we are going to do." It quite rocks. Also - watch some vids. This leads me directly into Step 3.
Step 3: Watch Some Vids and find a Mentor
You need to watch vids. Vidding is its own fandom now. I am not making this up. Vidding is its own fandom. You want to vid? Great. You only want to vid in your fandom? Fine and dandy. You only want to watch vids from your fandom? Huh.
Well, I'd have to follow that up with a question: Do you want to be good? Because see - vidding is its own fandom and vidding is also art. You can make art. The representation of video footage set over music in such a way as to communicate or elicit a response from an audience - that is Art. It is also a craft and you have to learn it and if you never watch a video that does not feature Clark and Lex or John and Aeryn or Buffy and Spike -- then you won't learn your craft.
Seriously - if I only watched Buffy vids from the time I started vidding, then I would be convinced that all vids had to feature Buffy jumping off the tower.
If I only watched Methos-featured vids - I would think the same thing - just with the painted nose.
You have to watch good vids (not hard to find) across fandoms you don't know to understand things like structure and pacing and to just see what it freaking possible in this medium. Find a vidder you like and find her rec list. Or ask her for some recs - ask her for her most influential vids that she has seen. This is not entitlement - this is discussion about a shared passion. Big difference.
So you've seen some vids and buy now you probably have a vid that you have seen that blows you away. This is wonderful. You are amazed a human being made this vid. Well - tell the vidder this and study her work. How does she do it? What are her thought processes when she gets ready to do this. Find her LJ and read it. If she doesn't have an LJ send her an email. If she doesn't have email - send her a letter.
If you have no idea who she is - ask around. People will know her. You can even ask this onlist. Someone will email you with who she is and how to get in touch with her.
Study what she does. Study it a lot. Write to her and ask her why she made some of the choices she did. Ask her what her ultimate goal was with this vid. Be respectful and thoughtful and again - this will be discussion - not entitlement. Most vidders love to talk about their own work. Trust me. Ask about complicated POV vids (For example there are dual POV vids like "Kryptonite" or ones where the POV shifts or moves or is actually that of an object "Jig of Life", or where the POV is completely internal to a specific character and explore the Unreliable Narrator concept "Mr. Brightside") - there is a ton of stuff to discuss and you need to talk about it. It will also mean you are talking to an experienced vidder about vidding. This is something wonderful.
DO NOT send the first email to this woman and say "Hi, I loved your vid _____ and I am making my own __/__ vid and was wondering if you will help me with it?" I mean - you could and I know many vidders that actually would help you if you approached it this way - but dude. We are busy. I don't have time to beta the vids from people I know, much less strangers.
But if I am in an actual dialogue with someone who is interested in vidding and wants to discuss process and what-not with me... well that is impressive. Someone who actually cares about learning the craft. Well all of a sudden this person has moved from being a stranger to being this cool person that I just met and she has some interesting ideas and damn we need more vidders like this that actually care about the process and I can't wait until I see what she comes up with.
See the difference?
Step 4: Stay Out of Trouble
Pay attention to the fandom rules - they are the same rules you grew up with and they still apply and will always apply. If it applies in fanfic - it applies in vidding.
Also - educate yourself about copyright violation and remember - it is not just footage from a movie or tv show you are appropriating. It is also a song. Learn about the music industry and make informed choices about how you distribute your videos.
Step 5: Welcome Critique
You are not perfect. You have things you need to learn and constructive criticism is the best way for you to learn.
Actually - just go and readtaraljc's essay If you can't say anything nice... come sit over here by me. It is about fanfiction, but you will come to realize that many many things people say about fanfiction, will just as aptly apply to vidding.
Now I am tired. I am finished. Add what you want to this in comments and I am outta here. Or - if you have any questions - ask em.
I have a great idea for a vid about Spike, and it is ____. If you won't make it, can you get the clips to me so I can and will you also tell me how you assemble the scenes over the music?
Lately, I have to admit - that has slacked off considerably. Of course - all site directed email goes to Dawn and she made some noise recently about how much she shelters me from a lot of the correspondence (she does forward any and all feedback - at least I think she does). My blood pressure has dropped as a result.
And I hope and pray that that kind of request is just from someone who is new to fandom in general, or possibly is only used to a very isolated segment of fandom. Much as Kirk explored strange new worlds and sought out new life and civilizations - there are a ton of fannish enclaves I have never heard of. Some I have. In the case of Haven and the Mulder and Scully Beanie Baby Porn dolls? Some I wish to never speak of again.
Perhaps where she hails from fannishly, it is fine and dandy to demand that someone basically give you clips and software and do all of the grunt work so that your "vision" of the perfect video can be achieved. Anything is possible. She could also be completely new to fandom as a social sphere so she does not realize that the same rules of conduct apply.
Or she could just be an ass. Yeah, maybe she didn't have any idea how much work would be involved to fulfill her request - but where I come from asking someone to do something and not having any idea what that something actually is - well that is the sign of an ass. JMO, YMMV.
Since I am positive she does not think that she is an ass - well now a simple email has created a conflict in both party's perception of the other. So let's discuss how this could have been prevented, shall we?
So You Want to Be a Vidder?
You have the perfect Idea with a capital "I" for a vid. It must be made. Great. I am thrilled to hear it - this is what you need to do:
Step 1: Initiative
You want to make a vid? Be prepared to learn. Be prepared to research. Be prepared for a lot of frustration. You don't want any of this - you just want a vid? Well, then buy a vidder at auction. Seriously, either accept that you will have to actually do some work or sweet-talk/cajole/threaten a vidder into making if for you or get over it.
There is no Entitlement in Being A Vidder. Say this with me now and say it slowly: No Entitlement in being a vidder. It is okay. I'm here for you. I know this is hard. I struggle with it everyday.
We are not owed a fandom. We are not owed source. We are not owed free software. We are not owed webspace. We are not owed feedback and accolades. We are not owed inspiration.
We operate on the fringes (more on that later) and we have to stay that way. We have to be creative in means of getting the source we need. We have to be creative in how we share the product of our work. We have to be creative in how we learn our craft. There is no entitlement in being a vidder - but there is a ton of creativity.
But no one owes you this. We all learned - some had a better roads than others, but dude - that is just life.
So - show initiative - be ready to work and learn and figure things out by yourself.
Step 2: Research
First of all - vidding is not new. You did not just now invent it. Vidding has been around for at least thirty years and there have been many different methods of distribution. There are still many other ways to get videos other than the internet. Some of the best vids you have never seen have never been online. Learn Your History.
Yeah -and also? Learn how to vid. Learn how to aquire source. Figure it out - but how?
Well, use your resources. The yahoo vidder group. The LJ communities focused on vidding - look and see who is a member of these communities -- find vidder live journals and blogs. Email vidders whose work you admire and ask them what software they use.
DO NOT GO ONLIST AND SAY "Hi all. I want to vid. How do I get started?" If you want to do this - go back and reread "Step 1 Initiative" because you missed something there.
DO READ the archives. They are your friend. They also seem like Greek to you - what are these people talking about?
It can be difficult - I know.
The archives will have links to tutorials that vidders have created. This is great stuff. The archives will also have discussions about software and problems and comparisons. The archives are a resource.
LJ is also - albeit a bit more difficult to navigate - a resource. There are these crazy insane people on LJ who sometimes act as either an information portal or just an organizer of data. Their memories are a thing of beauty. Off the top of my head I can list
permetaform's memory category as one of the best all inclusive collections of technical and discussion and Deep thoughts on vidding places to go. The AMV (http://www.animemusicvideos.org) - while, yeah, an anime vid place, has excellent technical guides. These guys know their stuff and explain it well. Seriously, they take you by the hand and say: "This is your computer. Here is what we are going to do." It quite rocks. Also - watch some vids. This leads me directly into Step 3.
Step 3: Watch Some Vids and find a Mentor
You need to watch vids. Vidding is its own fandom now. I am not making this up. Vidding is its own fandom. You want to vid? Great. You only want to vid in your fandom? Fine and dandy. You only want to watch vids from your fandom? Huh.
Well, I'd have to follow that up with a question: Do you want to be good? Because see - vidding is its own fandom and vidding is also art. You can make art. The representation of video footage set over music in such a way as to communicate or elicit a response from an audience - that is Art. It is also a craft and you have to learn it and if you never watch a video that does not feature Clark and Lex or John and Aeryn or Buffy and Spike -- then you won't learn your craft.
Seriously - if I only watched Buffy vids from the time I started vidding, then I would be convinced that all vids had to feature Buffy jumping off the tower.
If I only watched Methos-featured vids - I would think the same thing - just with the painted nose.
You have to watch good vids (not hard to find) across fandoms you don't know to understand things like structure and pacing and to just see what it freaking possible in this medium. Find a vidder you like and find her rec list. Or ask her for some recs - ask her for her most influential vids that she has seen. This is not entitlement - this is discussion about a shared passion. Big difference.
So you've seen some vids and buy now you probably have a vid that you have seen that blows you away. This is wonderful. You are amazed a human being made this vid. Well - tell the vidder this and study her work. How does she do it? What are her thought processes when she gets ready to do this. Find her LJ and read it. If she doesn't have an LJ send her an email. If she doesn't have email - send her a letter.
If you have no idea who she is - ask around. People will know her. You can even ask this onlist. Someone will email you with who she is and how to get in touch with her.
Study what she does. Study it a lot. Write to her and ask her why she made some of the choices she did. Ask her what her ultimate goal was with this vid. Be respectful and thoughtful and again - this will be discussion - not entitlement. Most vidders love to talk about their own work. Trust me. Ask about complicated POV vids (For example there are dual POV vids like "Kryptonite" or ones where the POV shifts or moves or is actually that of an object "Jig of Life", or where the POV is completely internal to a specific character and explore the Unreliable Narrator concept "Mr. Brightside") - there is a ton of stuff to discuss and you need to talk about it. It will also mean you are talking to an experienced vidder about vidding. This is something wonderful.
DO NOT send the first email to this woman and say "Hi, I loved your vid _____ and I am making my own __/__ vid and was wondering if you will help me with it?" I mean - you could and I know many vidders that actually would help you if you approached it this way - but dude. We are busy. I don't have time to beta the vids from people I know, much less strangers.
But if I am in an actual dialogue with someone who is interested in vidding and wants to discuss process and what-not with me... well that is impressive. Someone who actually cares about learning the craft. Well all of a sudden this person has moved from being a stranger to being this cool person that I just met and she has some interesting ideas and damn we need more vidders like this that actually care about the process and I can't wait until I see what she comes up with.
See the difference?
Step 4: Stay Out of Trouble
Pay attention to the fandom rules - they are the same rules you grew up with and they still apply and will always apply. If it applies in fanfic - it applies in vidding.
Also - educate yourself about copyright violation and remember - it is not just footage from a movie or tv show you are appropriating. It is also a song. Learn about the music industry and make informed choices about how you distribute your videos.
Step 5: Welcome Critique
You are not perfect. You have things you need to learn and constructive criticism is the best way for you to learn.
Actually - just go and read
taraljc's essay If you can't say anything nice... come sit over here by me. It is about fanfiction, but you will come to realize that many many things people say about fanfiction, will just as aptly apply to vidding. Now I am tired. I am finished. Add what you want to this in comments and I am outta here. Or - if you have any questions - ask em.
