[Zarxrax]

AMV Minis Challenge #12: Secret Santa
Entry Period: Nov 13 - Dec 10

With Christmas coming up, it's time to get into the holiday spirit! For this challenge, you can make any kind of video you want, with one catch: You have to hide a Santa somewhere in your video! Similar to how many episodes of South Park have an alien hidden in them (http://www.cracktwo.com/2011/01/alien-in-every-episode-of-south-park-72.html), you just need to hide Santa in your clip somewhere.

Before creating your video, please be sure to read over the following page, which details the rules and explains how to submit your video:
http://www.amvhell.com/showthread.php?27304

[mattroks101]

How subtlely does santa need to be hidden?

[Zarxrax]

How subtlely does santa need to be hidden?

It cant be a primary character in the video. It at least needs to be in the background or something.

[mattroks101]

Alright. This should be an interesting one.

[PrinnyCat]

Only real problem for me is deciding what sort of video to make...

[N.P.C.C.]

I really don't want to just shop some image of santa in the video if I can avoid it but that's what I keep coming up with when i think about it.

[Zarxrax]

I really don't want to just shop some image of santa in the video if I can avoid it but that's what I keep coming up with when i think about it.

If you want to make a video based entirely around the concept, that's awesome and highly encouraged.
But this round is also just a chance to let people make whatever they want. So don't feel bad if you can't come up with anything else.

[N.P.C.C.]

Okay, need to sit on this for a couple of days.

[Sir Fluffykins]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLVK4JfUubw

Plus there's 7 Santas in this clip, seeing as ALL the characters are Santa

[SuperLoliSentai]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLVK4JfUubw

Plus there's 7 Santas in this clip, seeing as ALL the characters are Santa

I didn't see a single Santa in it.

[jinzo64]

I know wht type of video i'll make one so awsome no will be able to comprehend it :sweatdrop:

[SirLoinofBeef]

Got a rough idea, but having a hell of a time finding an appropriate music track. :confused:

[Moon Spirit]

****, I have no experience with Photoshop, so I'm a bit hesitant to do this challenge.

[PrinnyCat]

****, I have no experience with Photoshop, so I'm a bit hesitant to do this challenge.
Depending on the studio you use to edit videos with, could use masking or some other effect to add a Santa in

[jinzo64]

he's a secret santa,so in my videos he'sgoing to be invisable :*

[Chewi105]

Well, jinzo found a loophole already to avoid doing work.

[jinzo64]

Well, jinzo found a loophole already to avoid doing work.

oh hell yeah that coz i'm a genius and lazy and I don't think Zarx would approve of invisable santas :sweetdrop:

[FORDboy357]

Can Santa be audible or does he have to be seen?

[Zarxrax]

Can Santa be audible or does he have to be seen?

I think it should be visible.

[FORDboy357]

I think it should be visible.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZCgUV1WZbM

[SirLoinofBeef]

Entry form not yet updated for this one. :(

[Zarxrax]

Entry form not yet updated for this one. :(

Sorry, fixed.

[jinzo64]

Entry form not yet updated for this one. :(

you made an entry for this already?

http://static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/526684-bigthumbnail.jpg

[thedarkmessenger]

you made an entry for this already?

http://static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/526684-bigthumbnail.jpg

Some people aren't as lazy as you. :p

[jinzo64]

Some people aren't as lazy as you. :p

me lazy? never

personaly I don't think it's a good idea to submit somthing you've made in 3 days since the challange is anounced.

I also have that thing called work, house work, food making and I joined the gym.

so it's not lazyness it's being busy.

and goofing of here. :)

[SirLoinofBeef]

you made an entry for this already?

http://static.desktopnexus.com/thumbnails/526684-bigthumbnail.jpg

I've been focusing on clips that run under ten seconds for the past couple challenges, rather than the 45+ second ones that have been finding their way in past videos.

[jinzo64]

I've been focusing on clips that run under ten seconds for the past couple challenges, rather than the 45+ second ones that have been finding their way in past videos.

thats cool, I guess most of my submissions with exception to the fox challange have been in the 20 - 30 seconds group.

[Gleeman]

How difficult would it be to insert a video into another clip, in other words have a character watching something on a monitor or TV? I don't have much experience with editing, assume that would be advanced stuff?

[Sir Fluffykins]

If you're using Vegas, you go into video editing for a clip you want. Make sure it's just the scene with the object you want to cut out, choose mask, use point to point line tool to cut out the shape, once you complete the shape by joining the final point to the first point you should see the cut out shape in the preview, choose "negative" to reverse it so, for example, the TV screen is cut out.

Now make second video track below the first and line up your clip, of what you want to be in the screen, under the clip with your editing.

You then need to edit the second clip and resize it to fit the cut out shape.

[Haar]

How difficult would it be to insert a video into another clip, in other words have a character watching something on a monitor or TV? I don't have much experience with editing, assume that would be advanced stuff?

Depends on what program you have, but it's really just a matter of using the pen tool in whatever it is you're using, cutting over the tv screen, and making the scene you want to have in the tv fit in there via zooming and rotation.
http://i.imgur.com/Gn1Ezla.png

[jinzo64]

Depends on what program you have, but it's really just a matter of using the pen tool in whatever it is you're using, cutting over the tv screen, and making the scene you want to have in the tv fit in there via zooming and rotation.
http://i.imgur.com/Gn1Ezla.png

thats realy cool Haar, do you think you could do a video?
please

[Haar]

thats realy cool Haar, do you think you could do a video?
please

It definitely won't be pretty, but if you insist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNh-NaXii1g

[mattroks101]

The classical music made it so pretty. Also there are about a billion masking tutorials on youtube so if Haar's wasn't helpful just look them up, one of them is bound to be useful.

[jinzo64]

The classical music made it so pretty. Also there are about a billion masking tutorials on youtube so if Haar's wasn't helpful just look them up, one of them is bound to be useful.

not tutorials on youtube, that can't be true there isn't any useful or educational videos on youtube, it's all stuffs that can only make you mental.

[Sir Fluffykins]

Wow, I answered first and poor Haar still had to make a tutorial video.

[thedarkmessenger]

Wow, I answered first and poor Haar still had to make a tutorial video.

I find that hilarious. xD

[Gleeman]

Thanks! Not sure if I'll have time to get around to it though.

[ThatsNotMyName_studio]

I'm thinking about giving one of the girls from HOTD Santa panties....Wadda ya think? =D

[SilentChaz]

^Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it

I’m hoping at least some of the submissions for this round will be Christmassy in theme, not just a collection of clips with shopped-in Santas.

I’ll certainly try doing my part. Prepare to feel the warm and fuzzies this holiday season.

[Sir Fluffykins]

I have so many Christmas themed anime episodes now, this should be easy, but I've yet to come up with an idea, or where I should hide the santa

[thedarkmessenger]

I’m hoping at least some of the submissions for this round will be Christmassy in theme, not just a collection of clips with shopped-in Santas.


I'm trying to do that, or at least have the shopped-in Santa thing be part of the joke.

[urahara1001]

I have an idea, but I don't know if I'll have time to get it done. I have a convention to sell chainmail at this weekend, but hopefully I'll have some time in the evenings after that. Of course Saturday will be taken up watching the 50th anniversary special for Dr Who.

[PrinnyCat]

I might be able to change mine into something christmassy, just I'd have to find a fitting song. That and I don't have many animes that have christmas episodes

[adzman]

It definitely won't be pretty, but if you insist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNh-NaXii1g

wow....

I think the easy masking in Vegas is offset by the absolutely HORRIBLE transform tool.

[Haar]

wow....

I think the easy masking in Vegas is offset by the absolutely HORRIBLE transform tool.

This is true, but when you're trying to make AMVs on a toaster, Vegas is an easy and halfassed way to get around acquiring all of the things you need to make Premiere viable.

[jinzo64]

It definitely won't be pretty, but if you insist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNh-NaXii1g

thankyou, Now I'm wondering if the editing software can do that.
I'll have to check.

[humnut]

which editing software do you use?

[jinzo64]

which editing software do you use?

movie studio platinum 12.0

[Haar]

movie studio platinum 12.0

So why were you asking for Sony Vegas-related instructions?

[jinzo64]

So why were you asking for Sony Vegas-related instructions?

they looked very simaler, and they're both made by sony.
so I thought it might be the same interface.

sorry. :sweatdrop:

[PrinnyCat]

Just wondering how many challenges will there be? Is this the last one or are there more to come?

[Zarxrax]

Just wondering how many challenges will there be? Is this the last one or are there more to come?
There will be more. I'm not sure how long it will keep running right now. But I'm thinking probably until around the time amv hell 7 starts accepting entries.

[SuperLoliSentai]

There will be more. I'm not sure how long it will keep running right now. But I'm thinking probably until around the time amv hell 7 starts accepting entries.

So 3 more years or so?

[urahara1001]

There will be more. I'm not sure how long it will keep running right now. But I'm thinking probably until around the time amv hell 7 starts accepting entries.

Well, if you ever need more ideas for challenges, I came up with a bunch setting up for the Buddy System.

[jinzo64]

So 3 more years or so?

damn you beat me to it.

but on a more serious note zarx if you do need ideas,I'm sure the community can think of somthing.

[SuperLoliSentai]

damn you beat me to it.

but on a more serious note zarx if you do need ideas,I'm sure the community can think of somthing.

A better joke, now that I am thinking back on it, would have been "original or the .77 version?"

[jinzo64]

A better joke, now that I am thinking back on it, would have been "original or the .77 version?"

I see what your getting at but it doesn't work quite as well as 6.66 as 666 is meant to be the number of the beast.

[SuperLoliSentai]

I see what your getting at but it doesn't work quite as well as 6.66 as 666 is meant to be the number of the beast.

777 also has religious significance and is the "Number of God", or some **** like that. Or you can go with the slot machine logic where 777 is the winning combination.

[urahara1001]

777 also has religious significance and is the "Number of God", or some **** like that. Or you can go with the slot machine logic where 777 is the winning combination.

So we're gonna need an opening sequence with either the theme from Seventh Heaven or a slot machine motiff?

[SuperLoliSentai]

So we're gonna need an opening sequence with either the theme from Seventh Heaven or a slot machine motiff?

Well if it is a .77 version then it would probably be Zarx praising the clip submissions instead of talking smack about them like in 6.66.

[jinzo64]

you could use the footage of bandit keiths slot machine from the first season of yugioh I think that comes up with triple 7's also 6.66 was only made due to the poor qualaty of the origional 6 amvhell 7 when it comes out might be amazing :rolleyes:

[ThatsNotMyName_studio]

@ Haar & Jinzo
I have an earlier version of Movie Studio and
I use Vegas Pro 11 and they are very very similar.
The workspace layout is virtually identical and most things
are named and work in the same way.

[jinzo64]

@ Haar & Jinzo
I have an earlier version of Movie Studio and
I use Vegas Pro 11 and they are very very similar.
The workspace layout is virtually identical and most things
are named and work in the same way.

I see I thought that might be the case but I wasn't sure.

[kapparomeo]

There will be more. I'm not sure how long it will keep running right now. But I'm thinking probably until around the time amv hell 7 starts accepting entries.

I'd like a release to be fairly substantial, something that you could get your teeth into, a real feature presentation that makes its release an event. AMV Hell: Tournament Edition ran for half-an-hour, it would be good if the AMV Minis Challenge compilation could have a similar running-time.

[humnut]

@ Haar & Jinzo
I have an earlier version of Movie Studio and
I use Vegas Pro 11 and they are very very similar.
The workspace layout is virtually identical and most things
are named and work in the same way.

Main difference between Movie Studio and Pro is that Movie Studio doesn't let you mask.

[Chewi105]

Mines in :3

[ThatsNotMyName_studio]

Ready to start on this one =)

[jinzo64]

Main difference between Movie Studio and Pro is that Movie Studio doesn't let you mask.


that would ewxplain my inability to find the masking function, thankyou.

[Marbil]

Sooo... 4 days left, maybe it's time to start editing. :sweatdrop:

[Sir Fluffykins]

Still no ideas :/

[Moon Spirit]

Still in the process of mine, and luckily it's a really short clip. Though I don't know if my Santa has to be shown in a subtle way.

[Zarxrax]

Only 8 entries so far. Come on people! This should be one of the easiest challenges! You can make any kind of video you want!

[jinzo64]

Only 8 entries so far. Come on people! This should be one of the easiest challenges! You can make any kind of video you want!

that is true but it has to have santa hidden in it somewhere which might be the part people are struggling with.

the best option would probably be masking but not all editing software has this function.

[Moon Spirit]

I don't have if my premiere elements has masking, but I'm using opacity effects to try to blend in Santa. Don't know if that will work that well.

[Zarxrax]

If your editing software supports overlaying an image over a video (which 90% of software does im sure), then that part shouldn't be too hard unless you are trying to do something really complicated with it.

[jinzo64]

If your editing software supports overlaying an image over a video (which 90% of software does im sure), then that part shouldn't be too hard unless you are trying to do something really complicated with it.

overlaying is a good solution but it sadly has it's limitations,even if what you want to do isn't all that complex overlaying can fall a little short of the desired goal.

[The Real Inferno]

I'm done with my video I'm just being lazy about putting a santa in it

[DH1900]

overlaying is a good solution but it sadly has it's limitations,even if what you want to do isn't all that complex overlaying can fall a little short of the desired goal.

Try using the secondary color correction function to do a much more flexible chroma key. Select the background you want to add your character to as the effective range, set the alpha to 0, duplicate the track, slip your inserted character between the tracks and match move the track. As long as you've got a nice smooth edge on your foreground characters (as this shot shows, it's better to have compression artefact free sources) you can get away with a really dirty key in the parts of the background you're not inserting your character into because behind the character is the same track. Sadly, Vegas doesn't do match moves automatically so it's up to your own jiggery pokery to get a nice result motion-wise, but this process should help with creating a travelling matte (bear in mind that most animation is half frame so cut the frame rate of your project to half if the inserted picture jumps around on the animation, you can find out whether it's half frame by moving forwards frame-wise and seeing if the background moves every frame or every other frame).

The line on his (her?) hat is missing from my chibi-Santa because it was a quick and dirty PS job but the key quality is consistent from the beginning to the end of the shot as chibi-Sanata passes behind Eiko and Ika (this isn't my entry, just a proof of concept, my entry was a very simple frame substitution, it sounds like everyone else is doing a much more complex job).
http://i41.tinypic.com/a2f2hg.jpg

[FrustratedRocka]

Submitted something.

[humnut]

My suggestion, get a vector of an image. something with a transparent bg. If you cant find one, make one with Gimp.

[adzman]

**** GIMP, it sucks.

As for why I won't be entering a clip, such a vague challenge doesn't give me any inspiration.

[N.P.C.C.]

**** GIMP, it sucks.

As for why I won't be entering a clip, such a vague challenge doesn't give me any inspiration.

Dude, you can basically do whatever the hell you want.

[adzman]

Dude, you can basically do whatever the hell you want.


vague.

no inspiration.

[Haar]

I have plenty of stockpiled clips I can modify for this, but I've spent two weeks deciding which completely unrelated video I should shoehorn into this project.


**** GIMP, it sucks.
Gimp is fine if you're poor and don't know how (or want) to "find" Photoshop.

[N.P.C.C.]

vague.

no inspiration.

OUTRAGEOUS!

Let me rephrase that. Why the hell don't you have something in your back log to use? Am I the only one who has un used AMVs lying around?

[adzman]

I don't see the point in just randomly adding a santa to any old clip

[Haar]

The license to be lazy is Zarx's Christmas present to us.

[N.P.C.C.]

I don't see the point in just randomly adding a santa to any old clip

...That sounded rather divaish boy.

[Gleeman]

So if you insert Santa into a video already containing a Santa we can achieve Santaception?

[The Real Inferno]

So if you insert Santa into a video already containing a Santa we can achieve Santaception?

That's not how that word works. Shut up.

[ThatsNotMyName_studio]

Per the debate above:
I didn't think I was going to be able to make it for this...buuuuuttt.
I have an unpublished clip that I was going to use for Sugar Overdose.
Just insert Santa.

By the way, If I were to put Santa as a reflection in someone's eye for
1 frame, does that count?

[Sir Fluffykins]

I guess as long as it's possible for someone to see it and Zarx knows where it is, it should qualify.

May have an idea, but trying to merge santa into a scene without him sticking out is harder than I thought.

[Zarxrax]

Per the debate above:
I didn't think I was going to be able to make it for this...buuuuuttt.
I have an unpublished clip that I was going to use for Sugar Overdose.
Just insert Santa.

By the way, If I were to put Santa as a reflection in someone's eye for
1 frame, does that count?

Making it really hard to find would be good. But don't make it IMPOSSIBLY hard to find :)

[Moon Spirit]

If that's the case, then I think I'm set. I'm already done with it, though I need to recheck it to make sure it works nicely.

[Zarxrax]

13 entries so far. Keep them coming! Time's almost up!

[ThatsNotMyName_studio]

In b4 the bell =)

[SilentChaz]

A sugar overdose reject? Oh Deity...

[PrinnyCat]

A sugar overdose reject? Oh Deity... He said an unpublished sugar overdose clip, not a rejected one.
I lost inspiration for my entry so decided to just leave it and focus on the 2013 challenge.

[SilentChaz]

I read his post, Cat. It’s a clip he deemed not good enough and or unsuitable for that round. It’s a reject.

Regardless- if it fills us with the christmas jollies, everything will be dandy.

[SuperLoliSentai]

I read his post, Cat. It’s a clip he deemed not good enough and or unsuitable for that round. It’s a reject.

Regardless- if it fills us with the christmas jollies, everything will be dandy.

Christmas jollies are cheap... I am going for GASPS!

[GreghTheLion]

Well I did have a good idea for this one, but I guess it's too late for it now.

[SuperLoliSentai]

Well I did have a good idea for this one, but I guess it's too late for it now.

You got time still! Don't give up!

[urahara1001]

Well I did have a good idea for this one, but I guess it's too late for it now.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJYGZ1PuP_SsRZt-j82Bjem-N_HkRBPVFdZk_0CCIr0zLLvToobuvhsS8

[N.P.C.C.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4o8gKnUJ0I

[Moon Spirit]

Turned in my entry. The clip is the shortest one I've made. As for inserting Santa, I couldn't mask his way in so I used the next best thing: opacity effects. Like I said, I'm still learning the ropes of Premiere Elements so I don't know effects worth a hell.

[Sir Fluffykins]

Clip accepted! How we dance!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzdT7IAcdBQ/URipaSozDzI/AAAAAAAAB5k/-vIfwJ1xEd0/s1600/BMDP.gif

[SuperLoliSentai]

Clip accepted! How we dance!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NzdT7IAcdBQ/URipaSozDzI/AAAAAAAAB5k/-vIfwJ1xEd0/s1600/BMDP.gif

Still don't get why you had doubts about it getting accepted but congrats

[ThatsNotMyName_studio]

The clip that I used for Secret Santa got bumped out of Sugar Overdose
because I (thought I) had a better idea with the "Let the Sunshine In" clip.

Clearly, it's actually much more appropriate to use this clip here since
it was Christmas themed. That is, if any of this makes sense...=p

In Soviet Russia, Santa hides you.

[urahara1001]

I actually managed to get one done, fueled by KFC and Mountain Dew. And now I think I'm gonna get me some pie.

[Zarxrax]

Alright, round closed. Got about 19 entries.

*18