Systems and techniques for selecting content elements for multimedia. Information relating to contributors to content elements, such as association with previous content elements, roles in relation to content elements, ratings, interest, social friends, and the like, is stored and analyzed as needed to assist in selection of content elements for direct use or for assembly into a compilation. In situations in which a contributor declines to allow use of his or her content or likeness, substitute content may be selected based at least in part on an analysis of information relating to the declining contributor as it relates to a potential replacement contributor. For example, a replacement may be based on similarity of a replacement contributor to a declining contributor.