Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Hey I have this cool idea for a video with <insert series here> to <insert song here>!

A: Sorry, but unless I specifically say on the site that I'm looking for ideas, I'm not interested. I don't make my videos from the perspective of "Hey this would be cool because a lot of people would like it." I'm an artist, and when I get a moment of artistic inspiration, I run with it and create a video.

SO PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL ME VIDEO IDEAS. I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD IT IS. Despite the fact that this question has been in the FAQ forever, I still get suggestions. I'm sorry, I do not want them. I have enough ideas already.

Q: I want to make music videos!

A: Don't. Please. You'll regret it for the rest of your life. Sure, making AMVs may sound cool. But unless you're willing to put in LOTS AND LOTS of time, I'm talking weeks of constant work here, and lots of money (I've spent at least $1000 on various upgrades to make AMV producing easier/better) you'll just end up producing crap. Case and point: the multitude of crummy music videos to stuff like Sailor Moon or Dragon Ball Z out there than schmucks do because they CAN. Don't make music videos because you CAN. Do them because you have an artistic vision and want to share that with people. Now I'm not saying all Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z music videos are bad, just about 90% of them (possibly more) that are done with bad source footage/poor editing techniques/bad song choice/etc.
It comes down to this. Lets face it, almost anyone can make a music video. It's not hard. This is like the fact that anyone can pick up a piece of paper and draw something. Of course, not everyone actually has any drawing TALENT. The difference between really great artists on paper and mediocre ones is, for the most part, talent. I'll let you do the math to figure out the problem with the majority of AMV creators out there.
If you really really want to make them, then read my equipment page for recommendations.

Q: Why don't you post all your videos?

A: This is something I've been considering ever since I made my first video. The fact is that if I stick every video out there as soon as I make it, I have no opportunity to wow everyone in an audience with something NEW. When I make videos, I'll debate whether I think I'll enter them in any contests. If I'm not going to, I'll post them here first.

Q: Can I redistribute your videos?

A: Only if you distribute the files exactly as they appear on this website. Don't go playing around with my files please. That means recompressing them, chopping them up, stuff like that. The copies on my website are good enough quality that I don't feel like I'm jipping anyone of the full experience while still being a reasonable filesize (I even provide 2 different formats and sizes, which most places don't do).

Q: I want to show your video at my anime club/a convention. Can I get a better copy?

A: If you want to show my videos somewhere, please get in touch with me and I can provide you with a much higher quality copy than the files on my website. Most of my videos are done in full resolution DV or MPEG2 and look a lot better on my masters than they do on the website files. Note that I'm only going to do this to established clubs/conventions. I don't want a flood of tape requests from clubs created just for the purpose of getting tapes.

Q: Can you send me your files in email/on CD?

A: No. You can either download them from the website here, or visit the Anime Music Video Distribution Center as they have all my currently available AMVs on CD and will distribute them there.

Q: What's your favorite Music Video?

A: Closer to God by Me.

Q: OK, what's your favorite video _NOT_ done by you (smartass)?

A: Probably Engel by Kevin Caldwell. Close seconds include Believe (also by Kevin), Right Now (by Doki Doki Productions), and Trust (by Onegai Studios).

Q: How long do you spend making your Music Videos?

A: Some of them took a few days, others (like Soul of an Angel) took at least 80 hours, if not more. If you're trying to make a technical tour de force kind of video, it takes a lot of time to get it right.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration?

A: Various places. The first time I got inspiration was when I was mixing music after just watching Blue Submarine No. 6. Other times it's been totally on accident. Sometimes it's when I'm doing nothing important at all, others when I'm listening to a certain song, others when I'm watching a certain Anime. But let me tell you - it's a lot easier to find an anime to do a song to than vice versa.