which comes first? the content or the idea?

[vveerrgg]

Anyone write a story board of what sort of images they want to use for a particular track/ audio set, and then work to find the footage they would use. Or do most people just use what content they have.

I'm in the process of starting a new project and seem to be going down the "shoot my own video" road... since I don't feel like logging through TONS of video to find a couple of specific shots....

[many2]

I always begin by defining rules : a theme, a palette, a graphic style, a specific rythm, a list of things I will avoid, etc.

Then I usually draw a storyboard. Things are much faster on paper - it is better to scrap an idea on your storyboard than scrapping it after 2 days of rendering...

Then I design the playback and control system.

Then it is recursive prototyping : test each part of your project that is risky and find solutions to all problems found and move to the next risk until everything has been proven and working.

Only after all that do I begin working on the final content clips.

[nocternal]

all of the content i use in my gigs ive created myself - filmed/edited etc. etc.

no samples or anyone elses raw footage

i do story board, kind of.not your steriotypical story board, but ive got a notebook that i jot down shot ideas/dominant colors/setting/the whole mise en scene type thing....

i dont allwyas think of specific themes for a group of clips,but one specific idea will, generally, generate a whole load of offspring....

I do often get inspired by video i see,but my reaction isnt to try to find it and use it.I think how i can use the princibles from the video that i like in my own creation.how i can recreate an idea with the resourses i have and end up with something that ive created,that i preffer to the origional video i saw....if that makes sence......


...rob

[holly]

Yeah, what everybody said.:D

Start with an concept or design goal. Then I don't exactly storyboard, but I might make some notes or sketches. Sometimes it'll start with some research (google images) to see if there are examples other people have done.

[disassembler]

Idea first.

[oxygen]

Same here...
When I start cooking I always think of what I'd like to eat first, before getting my ingredients...
I use similar herbs and spices for various dishes now and then..
Sometimes I use some leftovers from the day before, but freshly cooked meals are always the best!

[Stuart]

Sometimes the idea comes first. Usually a sketch is made and then laid out in PS. Sometimes a semi-idea comes first. An idea about a 3D technique or a way to composite something or a figure I want to use or some piece of copy I like. Sometimes it is purely improvisational. Flicking through transfer modes until something leaps out at me and go from there.

[vveerrgg]

cool beans! I'm starting to genuinely get excited now. :)

sounds like the right and purposeful way to do it is idea and script it out as best or as much as needed.

[sbn]

I've done both.

I like the projects I've been involved with where there's been some planning ahead. It can be a good idea to go as far as creating some sort of score for your performance: Where does it start, where do you go? What are the key moments / changes in the overall mood or narrative?

A plan like this helps you identify the areas where you need more material, and will guide you as you find or create this material. Works wonders if you're working with a specific band or performance. You can even do scores for each tune the repertoire.

That said, I've made it a habit to pick up as much footage as I can. I'm a design student, and each time I'm doing something visual I try to save my linetests, run drawings through AFX, do a quick render if I'm 3D-modeling etc. Likewise, I try to bring my camera and timelapse-device with me as often as I can. This way, I've built a library of oddball clips that's great for jamming without a master plan.

[Anyone]

Originally posted by oxygen
freshly cooked meals are always the best!

ah yes, but sometimes stews taste so much better re-cooked the third time :)

no seriously, the creative process for me can be quite varied.
if I need to do something complex or costly, then of course I plan it well.

but othertimes, like with this DVD I'm doing now,
I'm producing many variations of my current favourite visual effects
too many actually, about 3 times too much (90 mins)
so then I can boil in down to 30 mins,

only keeping the best bits,
in other words, to stay with the food analogy
keeping the cream.

but before I finish doing the initial 90 mins,
I don't know yet which bits are the best,
I actually force myself not to ask that question too early,
shoot (the video) now, ask questions later...

The result for me this way feels more organic,
also richer and spontaneous...

[labmeta]

I think the varied approach is a fair representation of how work can develop for most artists. They are different processes that are both valid.

Alot of my work builds on an idea thats been researched, however alot of my VJ work is based on the idea of a process that takes the methods of interpretation placed on a library of footage as the base idea. I think theres something quite particular with the VJing process that can make this really interesting.

My favorite analaogy for how this might work is an old collector from New York in the sixties, i forget his name now but he would collect various objects from the street, markets shops etc and the exhibit them according to the story he could make from the objects.

For example, if he was exhibiting a picture of a mouse next to an old whiskey bottle and a mirror - he would title the collection with a short story like, "the mouse sat drinking for his sorry reflection."

Paul

[asterix]

I come from a drawing background so I tend to dive in without any specific ideas. Then see how it all unfolds.

[Nema]

do whatever you like most, in no specific order.

in any case never loose your enthousiasm and always work hard. and don't listen too much (but a little bit) to what others tell you, just follow your path of destiny and creativity.