Happy Christmas Lithy - Part 1
Dear halcyon_shift,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Your main gifty is, unfortunately, not ready on time; however, I couldn't just let the holiday go by without giving you something...
On your Christmas Wishlist you asked for the following:
4. Commentary on any of my fics or vids. I covet this only slightly less than a cover. I'm not sure if it's workable but, you never know. Or, comments? I feel a little weird about asking for comments because I'm usually about the no obligation thing but timestamps and lines and things are always lovely. I may have been lured to the dark side o_0
So... I asked anyone who was around (everyone has been eaten by last minute Christmas shopping) if they would watch/re-watch some of your vids and put together comments for you -- anything that they wanted to say.
Mercy
(Farscape). Music: The Devil Song by Beth Orton
We open with Earth and a shot of the module where John's journey begins. And then we briefly go through his journey of using more and more violence to protect what he wants interspersed with images of his softer side. And that's just the first thirty seconds. The rest of the vid mostly centers around both his regrets and the things that have forced him into the position of asking for mercy (which starts the vid off). It's a lovely look at John fighting both Scorpius and Scorpius's plans, but also trying his best to not become the devil he's fighting. It's an early vid,actually I just sneakily confirmed it was her first, but it really stands out for the strength of storytelling. And considering she only had source from five total episodes to work with, all the more impressive. (sorry, ld.)
Going Under (Farscape). Music by Evanescence
Chiana all the way. The song fits Chiana to a T. Effects are used to a great effect here with screen pulses to black in time to the music on occasion and also screen flashes in time with faster drum effects. And good transitions and overlays on top of each other too. Storytelling wise, the vid examines the various stages of Chiana - from someone considered primarily with her own survival and pleasure into someone who is finally willing to risk her own ability to protect herself (her sight) in order to save her friends. I love the images of Chiana with Jool - they are just so perfect for how good of friends the two ended up given where they started completely loathing each other. I also enjoy watching it with my Chiana/John glasses on since they are my secret OTP for the show. The scene at 2:18 really helps with this :) This is really one of my favorite Chiana vids and holds up very well given LD's growth as a vidder over the past few years (she may disagree).
Let Me Entertain You (Farscape). Music by Robbie Williams.
Okay, anyone who has ever seen LD's Men In Tights vid knows that she has a touch for crackvids of win. Let Me Entertain You falls into that category. It is a well edited collection of Farscape's crackiest clips set to music and it is genius. And beautiful. It's basically the crack of farscape distilled down to four minutes. The effects are great -- I LOVE THE STRIP EFFECT SHE USES AT 0:15-0:22 AND A COUPLE OF OTHER PLACES. These are quite simply the classic scenes of the characters in the strips. 1:43-1:55 -- <3 so much. 2:06-9 Everything that is great about Chiana and D'argo. I dare you to try not to laugh at 2:20. 2:37 strip effect of win is back. AND OVERLAYED WITH JOHN IN PK GARB. How much hotter can you get??? Seriously, this vid just makes me want to ask LD if I can have her vid babies for her.
Until It Sleeps (Farscape). Music by Metallica.
I have to admit, this has never been quite my favorite video. But rewatching it now, I realize that was my failing and not LD's. Ignore what is written on the top of the page as it is summarized by whoever. Rather, watch it as an AU vid in which John has embraced his darker side and become what he always tried to resist. He embraces the PK uniform and the murder and enjoys the pain he causes. And looks way too hot doing it. During the lyrics at 1:12 So tear me open but beware, There's things in side without a care we have john from the Cracker episode embracing his inner crazy. And at 1:24, the pairing of Scorpius dripping his blood in John's mouth with So wash me until I'm clean implies that it's Scorpius that reforms John and gives his psychotic (for want of a better word) tendencies focus and legitimacy. Really, in this light, the entire vid becomes sheer genius. And I can't belive I'm been so dense. Bravo! (or apologies if I completely misinterpreted it).
Happy Holidays, LD!! And remember, your farscape, firefly, and spn vids are always on in the background when I'm writing. So you have to vid if you ever want me to finish Twin Regrets or SPN/Constantine.
jebbypal
Fault Line (Supernatural):
I like the pacing of song to clips in this vid. Very good emotional punch in a short timeframe with points of view including both Sam and Dean and how interconnected they are. It's the first time I heard this song. The lyrics seem to imply a rocky relationship between father and sons and that there's 'fault' somewhere, which could be internal in the family or through external influence (e.g. YED), and that their paths lead them to follow their father's path. I think keeping John out of the vid worked, which is why the ending threw me a little in scene choice. If the song implies a tension between father and sons, it was... unexpected to find a closing scene of John smiling in that manner. Other than the one ending scene, I enjoyed each viewing of this vid.
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
This vid has a mixture of relationships that connect in some manner to Sam and how each individual (John, Mary, Dean, Jessica) believed in Sam... and they made sacrifices. I like the usage of the Pilot wrestling scene as a good POV switch to Dean as a carry through of the motion. Speaking of motion, I liked the timing of visual 'impacts' to audio percussion. This vid also incorporated a variety of visuals not seen often... or at least back when I used to watch more SPN vids. :-) Another well-constructed vid!
Evening on the Ground (Supernatural), imeem Link:
This is the first time I've heard this song. The editing worked well with the driving rhythm of the song. I had referenced your other SPN vid, All That I Am, having... religious aspects and this vid also follows that theme, even though it didn't really have obvious religious visual cues. I think this vid has more depth to me because of Season 3 speculations and revelations where the YED was confirmed/revealed as Azazel and connective speculation to Ruby either being Lilith or her storyline carrying similar parallels. Since the song title explicitly mentions it's "Lilith's Song", I found this an interesting choice for Sam and Dean because of the nature of Lilith being connected to feminism. From the vid's POV, it seems as if Dean is 'Lilith', which... yeah, he also appreciates femininity. {g}
I know the disclaimer states this vid isn't or at least wasn't intended as slash but how I interpreted the vid scenes to song lyrics is that you have Dean representing feminine and Sam representing masculine with John being the 'omnipotent presence', especially the closing scene between a defiant Dean and demon!John and the circular connection to the opening scene of Dean's 'punishment' for disobedience. In initial creation under religious text, Lilith and Adam were created as equals but that didn't work out well when Lilith didn't submit, so she became the scapegoat (lyrics "blame me") and the seductress (sexual metaphors and antagonistic lyrics). Lilith can be symbolically associated with independence, which is intriguing because Dean is often painted as 'needy' of his family.
Since edits flowed with the song, it allowed me to focus on the characters and compare scene choice to lyrics, so I think this vid turned out more of a 'meta' interpretation for me. Thanks for sharing!
redina
Firefly vids :
I had a quick look at of halcyon_shift's Firefly videos and I liked them. I especially liked the Ademius one. Some very nice cuts in there and I liked the music in it. I'll have a look at the others sometime.
glow_boy
Invincible (Burn Notice), imeem link:
Awesome as always. And I mean it actually inspires awe. Maybe I'm just a fangirl, but I regard what you do the same way I look at sculptors, painters, composers. I see the raw materials, I can hear the notes, I have the vision. My hands just can't bring the vision in my head into reality. You do that, and thank heaven for it. Invincible shows your characteristic perspective...just that degree or so off average that makes us really *see* what you're pointing at. Thanks, from someone who can't do what you do.
arliss
We're all gonna die (Firefly), imeem Link :
i wasn't sure i would like the music but it worked very well with the action/vid. i especially like around the 58 sec mark...the sky explosion. the gunplay/action that followed was very smooth and matched the music quite well.
Adiemus (Firefly), imeem Link :
i liked the musical choice here...the way it flowed and scenes chosen made me miss Firefly all over again.
I put you there (Buffy) :
this was a very cute vid. well done and perfectly synced. it def. made me smile as it is really a song for all of us fangirls.
Wings of Steel (Constantine), imeem Link :
i haven't seen this movie yet but your vid made me want to see it. i especially liked the sequence that started at 1:37. the water, the beat of the music and the repeat flashes. awesome vid.
LOST: Rattlesnake Smile - No longer online :
i know this one is not currently on your sites but i have to mention it. it was the first fanvid of yours that i ever watched. i cannot say enough of about this vid b/c it was as perfectly done as they come. i had, at the time it was available, directed several of my friends to it. well, i thought that they should see it. wonderfully done. FYI, after it was no longer available, i did a search and somehow based on the "alter idem" name found it posted somewhere again, which led me to your site. i did watch a few of your other vids but didn't comment. anyway, i had hoped you would do another Sawyer centric vid again but i will live. *g*
I saved my current favorite fandom fanvids for last. i blame DiYa for turning me into a SPN fan. ;)
i aint scared of lightening (Supernatural) :
oh my! Daddy Winchester. *sigh* what a wonderful vid of JDM. the ending? very well done. we all know what happened but you didn't need to show it. *sniffle*
Faint (Supernatural):
oh my! i really like this one. it clearly showed their coming to terms with their role in life and relationship. i liked the sequence that started around 2:04. the mirror imagining fight scenes overlaying another similar scene. very well done.
Evening on the Ground (Supernatural), imeem Link :
very nice. i have noticed that you have a very good sense of rhythm and syncing with the music in your vids. this makes them wonderful to view. i really liked the part with the flashing between the young Winchesters and present day.
Fault Line (Supernatural):
i did like this one. but the ending seemed a bit abrupt. otherwise i liked how it highlighted Sam's journey.
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
the first time i saw it, i think i cried. then i proceeded to tell my SPN FList people about this vid. you took one of my favorite songs and then added SPN to it. *flails* not only that but you took some of my fav scenes. thank you.
keep on making wonderful vids. i think you are very talented. you have seriously spoiled me as i think i subconsciously critique other fanvids by the high standards you have set. it takes a lot to impress me and you seem to do that easily. thanks!
halfrek2
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
LD (c/o DIYA),
There are vids I watch ... a lot. And some that I can't watch too often because they leave me raw and missing shows. Many of them are yours.
I don't even have a vague count how many times I have watched "All That I Am". It makes me love the show, and makes me sad, and makes me happy, and makes me angsty, and makes me bouncy, and makes me chair dance a whole lot more than I would like to publicly admit.
It's honestly the video I have watched the most. Um, ever. Come to my house and I will make you watch two things without fail - the November 30, 2004 Daily Show interview with Brian Williams and your "All That I Am" vid. Um, I might not make you watch both, actually. We could skip straight to the vid, if you were pretty strapped for time. But I do adore that Brian Williams interview too.
Oh! And vids. Yeah, there are these vidders. A few in particular. That LithiumDoll? She's kinda good sometimes. If you are into that sort of thing.
She made a vid to "Adiemus" that makes me miss Firefly so desperately that I hurt. In a good way. "Walk the Walk" had me loving this tough blonde pilot chick before I ever even watched her show. Um, and "Omaha" convinced me to give Heroes a shot. I could say "Big City Life" renewed my unironic love for Dark Angel but, let's face it, never lost that in the first place. Oh! And "Evening on the Ground" with those Winchesters - again.
In conclusion, what are you working on now? ... How about now?
Cass404
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
I have a lot of respect for vidders. It's been forever since I had editing classes and I really loved them, but a lot of work goes into putting a video together. I've always wanted to get into it myself but so far, I just haven't found the time.
Having said that, I want to say that I love your videos. At least the ones that I have seen. My favorite, though, is "All That I Am." I love the song, I love SPN, and everything about it is great.
The editing is seamless and each scene flows well from one clip to the next. The music and scene choices combine to pack an angsty punch. The use of fire is extremely effective, especially when it's superimposed over another scene. One particular part I really love is towards the end when there is a quick flow between scenes, mixing the past and more recent past with the fire there as a constant. It really shows just how much fire is present for the members of this family.
I like how it is divided into three distinctive parts, one for each of the Winchester men. But they all weave in and out of each others parts because that is just how these men are. The clips chosen give a good idea of the relationship between them, even for people who haven't seen the show. Dean is the good son and protector of Sam. Sam and John have many similarities but always have their issues.
My favorite part is when it flows directly from Dean punching Sam to Dean holding onto Sam while he has a vision. Especially how the punch and then later, the gun shots, are timed to the beat.
And speaking of timing, yours is spot on. The title card with the blaze of fire to the beat is cool.
The last clips used are extremely effective. Dean shutting the door and the boys resigning themselves to whatever fate deals them, locking the world out. That's just how they are.
I just love it.
lostt1
It was hard for me to find a vid to write about since I have either reviewed at the_reel or betaed over half the vids on your website (and one that isn't). However, I still owe you comments on my Christmas vid, so here they are! :D
Patterns (Life), imeem Link :
I still have some trouble parsing this vid; my reaction to it is mainly emotional, and because of that I feel that I might be missing certain themes and structure points that you have placed within. So, just consider this a long list of the things that I LOVE about this vid. :DDD
(00:00 - 00:04) I like how the vid begins in black and white with only the blood in the child's drawing in red, and how after the jumpcut to Charlie inside of his cell, we then get the images of the crime scene in more colour. Almost like the memories and pieces of the puzzle are becoming more clear and in focus.
(00:10) Charlie's closing his eyes on the note from the base guitar that sounds like a mistake. Feels almost painful. Wonderful clip choice there. :)
(00:16) I LOVE these credits! Have I mentioned that I am really pleased with the way you are experimenting with credits lately? I love the effect, the font used, the type space, all of it!
(00:19) The blank wall flashing to the wall covered in clues as if Charlie is remembering what he had up there. BRILLIANT! And I noticed that you bookended and repeated this effect later after the bridge.
(00:31) The shot of Charlie tapping his fingers in a sequence here. Such a great shot, that fits the music without hitting every beat. It is one of my favorite shots of the series so far, and says a lot about Charlie for me. Thank you for including it!
(00:32 - 00:38) The choice to put Reese over "And the light from the streetlamp paints a pattern on my wall", not only displaying that Reese is a part of his search more-so than just being his partner, but also setting up the use of her later when she plays into the section showing Crews' connection to his knife. Perfect!
(00:40 - 00:44) "Like the Pieces of a puzzle, or a child's uneven scrawl". Could you have found a better song? I think not! And we return to the wall puzzle/diagram and have overlays of the drawings that Rachel made as a little girl of the killer that Charlie is hunting.
(00:53) And we go right back to perfect song choice with "and a narrow little room", because not only does Charlie keep his secrets, and his puzzle in a little room up the stairs and off his bedroom, but Rachel's room, where he realizes that she saw the killer, is a little room upstairs.
(01:11) "The pattern of my LIFE, and the puzzle that is me" . THE most perfect line for this entire show. Charlie believes in patterns and that EVERYTHING is connected, and that if you look hard enough you can find those connections - like how he is trying to find the connections in the puzzle that is his frame up. And you matched the second half of that line with the shot of Charlie telling Lonnie Garth (the 9 fingered crack addict) who is about to die that it was just a bad dream and that he should go back to sleep, which is one of the most compassionate things I have ever seen, though I doubt many of the cops he works with would understand why he did it.
(0:1:18) "From the moment of my birth, to the instant of my death" matched to Charlie discovering The Path to Zen, and using it to save himself in prison, and to Charlie shooting at the gun range set up in a way to look like he is shooting at a picture of himself as a cop before he went away. Who he was before prison was destroyed, and Charlie was then reborn by Zen mysticism. You are a genius, do you realize that? I mean, OMG!!! I LOVE your Brain!!!
(01:26) And the knife comes into play here over the line "And there are patterns I must follow, just like I must breathe each breath". The knife representing who he has become in order to survive, something he learned in prison, the new way of doing things.
(01:40 & 01:44) You have Charlie looking at himself in the mirror coming to terms with this pattern; this method that he employs to handle things now; the person he is now. Also, you are developing a thing for mirrors representing inner reflection after completing Big City Life. :P
(01:47 - 02:02) The Dani/knife montage is a nice tangent that I'm not sure everyone gets the brilliance of. The knife, representing Charlie is passed on to Dani, as a sign that he trusts her to have his back and so that she can protect him; he isn't suppose to have that knife on him, or pull a knife on a suspect, so she takes it to hide it for him. Then we are treated to moments of them helping one another, being partners, talking things out (I really like the timing of him lifting her into the bathtub, and the match to the music there - 01:54), and then Dani returning the knife to him, because she trusts him to be who he is. If I have that wrong, don't tell me, because I love the way I see it. :D
"And the pattern still remains, on the wall where darkness fell"
Once Charlie trusts Dani and she is no longer suspected of knowing more about his frame up, he returns to the pattern/puzzle/diagram wall to try to find the connections. The patterns. I HAVE SUCH LOVE!
The darkness representing the killer's picture and the discovery of him, and when the following line "And it's fitting that it should, for in darkness I must dwell" is played we see Charlie turning away from his Zen teachings as the anger, hate, and the violent patterns take over. This man is the reason he went to prison and why part of him will never leave.
(02:25) And the knife returns again, right on the word patterns in the line "And my life is made of patterns that can scarcely be controlled", because the violent side of him wants to come out, it wants to do harm to the man responsible for his friends' death.
(02:30 - end) But then Charlie walks out of prison, he wants to leave that part of him behind, that former life. And then he returns after the credits for the Zen tape, to break the violent patterns and begin anew.
I can't even tell you how much I appreciate how beautifully you structured this vid. I don't even know if you realize what you are doing when you are doing it, or if it is all intuitive, but it is just AMAZING!
I am so thankful for this gift, and that you made it at all, because my love of this show has actually increased due to this vid, and I am noticing more of the aesthetic of the show due to it as well. (ex. the chain link fence and even brick work in the prison are all repeating patterns. Yes, this vid might have driven me insane, but I like it!)
In short, I love your work, I love being your beta, and HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!
deathisyourart
HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Your main gifty is, unfortunately, not ready on time; however, I couldn't just let the holiday go by without giving you something...
On your Christmas Wishlist you asked for the following:
4. Commentary on any of my fics or vids. I covet this only slightly less than a cover. I'm not sure if it's workable but, you never know. Or, comments? I feel a little weird about asking for comments because I'm usually about the no obligation thing but timestamps and lines and things are always lovely. I may have been lured to the dark side o_0
So... I asked anyone who was around (everyone has been eaten by last minute Christmas shopping) if they would watch/re-watch some of your vids and put together comments for you -- anything that they wanted to say.
Mercy
(Farscape). Music: The Devil Song by Beth Orton
We open with Earth and a shot of the module where John's journey begins. And then we briefly go through his journey of using more and more violence to protect what he wants interspersed with images of his softer side. And that's just the first thirty seconds. The rest of the vid mostly centers around both his regrets and the things that have forced him into the position of asking for mercy (which starts the vid off). It's a lovely look at John fighting both Scorpius and Scorpius's plans, but also trying his best to not become the devil he's fighting. It's an early vid,actually I just sneakily confirmed it was her first, but it really stands out for the strength of storytelling. And considering she only had source from five total episodes to work with, all the more impressive. (sorry, ld.)
Going Under (Farscape). Music by Evanescence
Chiana all the way. The song fits Chiana to a T. Effects are used to a great effect here with screen pulses to black in time to the music on occasion and also screen flashes in time with faster drum effects. And good transitions and overlays on top of each other too. Storytelling wise, the vid examines the various stages of Chiana - from someone considered primarily with her own survival and pleasure into someone who is finally willing to risk her own ability to protect herself (her sight) in order to save her friends. I love the images of Chiana with Jool - they are just so perfect for how good of friends the two ended up given where they started completely loathing each other. I also enjoy watching it with my Chiana/John glasses on since they are my secret OTP for the show. The scene at 2:18 really helps with this :) This is really one of my favorite Chiana vids and holds up very well given LD's growth as a vidder over the past few years (she may disagree).
Let Me Entertain You (Farscape). Music by Robbie Williams.
Okay, anyone who has ever seen LD's Men In Tights vid knows that she has a touch for crackvids of win. Let Me Entertain You falls into that category. It is a well edited collection of Farscape's crackiest clips set to music and it is genius. And beautiful. It's basically the crack of farscape distilled down to four minutes. The effects are great -- I LOVE THE STRIP EFFECT SHE USES AT 0:15-0:22 AND A COUPLE OF OTHER PLACES. These are quite simply the classic scenes of the characters in the strips. 1:43-1:55 -- <3 so much. 2:06-9 Everything that is great about Chiana and D'argo. I dare you to try not to laugh at 2:20. 2:37 strip effect of win is back. AND OVERLAYED WITH JOHN IN PK GARB. How much hotter can you get??? Seriously, this vid just makes me want to ask LD if I can have her vid babies for her.
Until It Sleeps (Farscape). Music by Metallica.
I have to admit, this has never been quite my favorite video. But rewatching it now, I realize that was my failing and not LD's. Ignore what is written on the top of the page as it is summarized by whoever. Rather, watch it as an AU vid in which John has embraced his darker side and become what he always tried to resist. He embraces the PK uniform and the murder and enjoys the pain he causes. And looks way too hot doing it. During the lyrics at 1:12 So tear me open but beware, There's things in side without a care we have john from the Cracker episode embracing his inner crazy. And at 1:24, the pairing of Scorpius dripping his blood in John's mouth with So wash me until I'm clean implies that it's Scorpius that reforms John and gives his psychotic (for want of a better word) tendencies focus and legitimacy. Really, in this light, the entire vid becomes sheer genius. And I can't belive I'm been so dense. Bravo! (or apologies if I completely misinterpreted it).
Happy Holidays, LD!! And remember, your farscape, firefly, and spn vids are always on in the background when I'm writing. So you have to vid if you ever want me to finish Twin Regrets or SPN/Constantine.
jebbypal
Fault Line (Supernatural):
I like the pacing of song to clips in this vid. Very good emotional punch in a short timeframe with points of view including both Sam and Dean and how interconnected they are. It's the first time I heard this song. The lyrics seem to imply a rocky relationship between father and sons and that there's 'fault' somewhere, which could be internal in the family or through external influence (e.g. YED), and that their paths lead them to follow their father's path. I think keeping John out of the vid worked, which is why the ending threw me a little in scene choice. If the song implies a tension between father and sons, it was... unexpected to find a closing scene of John smiling in that manner. Other than the one ending scene, I enjoyed each viewing of this vid.
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
This vid has a mixture of relationships that connect in some manner to Sam and how each individual (John, Mary, Dean, Jessica) believed in Sam... and they made sacrifices. I like the usage of the Pilot wrestling scene as a good POV switch to Dean as a carry through of the motion. Speaking of motion, I liked the timing of visual 'impacts' to audio percussion. This vid also incorporated a variety of visuals not seen often... or at least back when I used to watch more SPN vids. :-) Another well-constructed vid!
Evening on the Ground (Supernatural), imeem Link:
This is the first time I've heard this song. The editing worked well with the driving rhythm of the song. I had referenced your other SPN vid, All That I Am, having... religious aspects and this vid also follows that theme, even though it didn't really have obvious religious visual cues. I think this vid has more depth to me because of Season 3 speculations and revelations where the YED was confirmed/revealed as Azazel and connective speculation to Ruby either being Lilith or her storyline carrying similar parallels. Since the song title explicitly mentions it's "Lilith's Song", I found this an interesting choice for Sam and Dean because of the nature of Lilith being connected to feminism. From the vid's POV, it seems as if Dean is 'Lilith', which... yeah, he also appreciates femininity. {g}
I know the disclaimer states this vid isn't or at least wasn't intended as slash but how I interpreted the vid scenes to song lyrics is that you have Dean representing feminine and Sam representing masculine with John being the 'omnipotent presence', especially the closing scene between a defiant Dean and demon!John and the circular connection to the opening scene of Dean's 'punishment' for disobedience. In initial creation under religious text, Lilith and Adam were created as equals but that didn't work out well when Lilith didn't submit, so she became the scapegoat (lyrics "blame me") and the seductress (sexual metaphors and antagonistic lyrics). Lilith can be symbolically associated with independence, which is intriguing because Dean is often painted as 'needy' of his family.
Since edits flowed with the song, it allowed me to focus on the characters and compare scene choice to lyrics, so I think this vid turned out more of a 'meta' interpretation for me. Thanks for sharing!
redina
Firefly vids :
I had a quick look at of halcyon_shift's Firefly videos and I liked them. I especially liked the Ademius one. Some very nice cuts in there and I liked the music in it. I'll have a look at the others sometime.
glow_boy
Invincible (Burn Notice), imeem link:
Awesome as always. And I mean it actually inspires awe. Maybe I'm just a fangirl, but I regard what you do the same way I look at sculptors, painters, composers. I see the raw materials, I can hear the notes, I have the vision. My hands just can't bring the vision in my head into reality. You do that, and thank heaven for it. Invincible shows your characteristic perspective...just that degree or so off average that makes us really *see* what you're pointing at. Thanks, from someone who can't do what you do.
arliss
We're all gonna die (Firefly), imeem Link :
i wasn't sure i would like the music but it worked very well with the action/vid. i especially like around the 58 sec mark...the sky explosion. the gunplay/action that followed was very smooth and matched the music quite well.
Adiemus (Firefly), imeem Link :
i liked the musical choice here...the way it flowed and scenes chosen made me miss Firefly all over again.
I put you there (Buffy) :
this was a very cute vid. well done and perfectly synced. it def. made me smile as it is really a song for all of us fangirls.
Wings of Steel (Constantine), imeem Link :
i haven't seen this movie yet but your vid made me want to see it. i especially liked the sequence that started at 1:37. the water, the beat of the music and the repeat flashes. awesome vid.
LOST: Rattlesnake Smile - No longer online :
i know this one is not currently on your sites but i have to mention it. it was the first fanvid of yours that i ever watched. i cannot say enough of about this vid b/c it was as perfectly done as they come. i had, at the time it was available, directed several of my friends to it. well, i thought that they should see it. wonderfully done. FYI, after it was no longer available, i did a search and somehow based on the "alter idem" name found it posted somewhere again, which led me to your site. i did watch a few of your other vids but didn't comment. anyway, i had hoped you would do another Sawyer centric vid again but i will live. *g*
I saved my current favorite fandom fanvids for last. i blame DiYa for turning me into a SPN fan. ;)
i aint scared of lightening (Supernatural) :
oh my! Daddy Winchester. *sigh* what a wonderful vid of JDM. the ending? very well done. we all know what happened but you didn't need to show it. *sniffle*
Faint (Supernatural):
oh my! i really like this one. it clearly showed their coming to terms with their role in life and relationship. i liked the sequence that started around 2:04. the mirror imagining fight scenes overlaying another similar scene. very well done.
Evening on the Ground (Supernatural), imeem Link :
very nice. i have noticed that you have a very good sense of rhythm and syncing with the music in your vids. this makes them wonderful to view. i really liked the part with the flashing between the young Winchesters and present day.
Fault Line (Supernatural):
i did like this one. but the ending seemed a bit abrupt. otherwise i liked how it highlighted Sam's journey.
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
the first time i saw it, i think i cried. then i proceeded to tell my SPN FList people about this vid. you took one of my favorite songs and then added SPN to it. *flails* not only that but you took some of my fav scenes. thank you.
keep on making wonderful vids. i think you are very talented. you have seriously spoiled me as i think i subconsciously critique other fanvids by the high standards you have set. it takes a lot to impress me and you seem to do that easily. thanks!
halfrek2
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
LD (c/o DIYA),
There are vids I watch ... a lot. And some that I can't watch too often because they leave me raw and missing shows. Many of them are yours.
I don't even have a vague count how many times I have watched "All That I Am". It makes me love the show, and makes me sad, and makes me happy, and makes me angsty, and makes me bouncy, and makes me chair dance a whole lot more than I would like to publicly admit.
It's honestly the video I have watched the most. Um, ever. Come to my house and I will make you watch two things without fail - the November 30, 2004 Daily Show interview with Brian Williams and your "All That I Am" vid. Um, I might not make you watch both, actually. We could skip straight to the vid, if you were pretty strapped for time. But I do adore that Brian Williams interview too.
Oh! And vids. Yeah, there are these vidders. A few in particular. That LithiumDoll? She's kinda good sometimes. If you are into that sort of thing.
She made a vid to "Adiemus" that makes me miss Firefly so desperately that I hurt. In a good way. "Walk the Walk" had me loving this tough blonde pilot chick before I ever even watched her show. Um, and "Omaha" convinced me to give Heroes a shot. I could say "Big City Life" renewed my unironic love for Dark Angel but, let's face it, never lost that in the first place. Oh! And "Evening on the Ground" with those Winchesters - again.
In conclusion, what are you working on now? ... How about now?
Cass404
All That I Am (Supernatural), imeem Link :
I have a lot of respect for vidders. It's been forever since I had editing classes and I really loved them, but a lot of work goes into putting a video together. I've always wanted to get into it myself but so far, I just haven't found the time.
Having said that, I want to say that I love your videos. At least the ones that I have seen. My favorite, though, is "All That I Am." I love the song, I love SPN, and everything about it is great.
The editing is seamless and each scene flows well from one clip to the next. The music and scene choices combine to pack an angsty punch. The use of fire is extremely effective, especially when it's superimposed over another scene. One particular part I really love is towards the end when there is a quick flow between scenes, mixing the past and more recent past with the fire there as a constant. It really shows just how much fire is present for the members of this family.
I like how it is divided into three distinctive parts, one for each of the Winchester men. But they all weave in and out of each others parts because that is just how these men are. The clips chosen give a good idea of the relationship between them, even for people who haven't seen the show. Dean is the good son and protector of Sam. Sam and John have many similarities but always have their issues.
My favorite part is when it flows directly from Dean punching Sam to Dean holding onto Sam while he has a vision. Especially how the punch and then later, the gun shots, are timed to the beat.
And speaking of timing, yours is spot on. The title card with the blaze of fire to the beat is cool.
The last clips used are extremely effective. Dean shutting the door and the boys resigning themselves to whatever fate deals them, locking the world out. That's just how they are.
I just love it.
lostt1
It was hard for me to find a vid to write about since I have either reviewed at the_reel or betaed over half the vids on your website (and one that isn't). However, I still owe you comments on my Christmas vid, so here they are! :D
Patterns (Life), imeem Link :
I still have some trouble parsing this vid; my reaction to it is mainly emotional, and because of that I feel that I might be missing certain themes and structure points that you have placed within. So, just consider this a long list of the things that I LOVE about this vid. :DDD
(00:00 - 00:04) I like how the vid begins in black and white with only the blood in the child's drawing in red, and how after the jumpcut to Charlie inside of his cell, we then get the images of the crime scene in more colour. Almost like the memories and pieces of the puzzle are becoming more clear and in focus.
(00:10) Charlie's closing his eyes on the note from the base guitar that sounds like a mistake. Feels almost painful. Wonderful clip choice there. :)
(00:16) I LOVE these credits! Have I mentioned that I am really pleased with the way you are experimenting with credits lately? I love the effect, the font used, the type space, all of it!
(00:19) The blank wall flashing to the wall covered in clues as if Charlie is remembering what he had up there. BRILLIANT! And I noticed that you bookended and repeated this effect later after the bridge.
(00:31) The shot of Charlie tapping his fingers in a sequence here. Such a great shot, that fits the music without hitting every beat. It is one of my favorite shots of the series so far, and says a lot about Charlie for me. Thank you for including it!
(00:32 - 00:38) The choice to put Reese over "And the light from the streetlamp paints a pattern on my wall", not only displaying that Reese is a part of his search more-so than just being his partner, but also setting up the use of her later when she plays into the section showing Crews' connection to his knife. Perfect!
(00:40 - 00:44) "Like the Pieces of a puzzle, or a child's uneven scrawl". Could you have found a better song? I think not! And we return to the wall puzzle/diagram and have overlays of the drawings that Rachel made as a little girl of the killer that Charlie is hunting.
(00:53) And we go right back to perfect song choice with "and a narrow little room", because not only does Charlie keep his secrets, and his puzzle in a little room up the stairs and off his bedroom, but Rachel's room, where he realizes that she saw the killer, is a little room upstairs.
(01:11) "The pattern of my LIFE, and the puzzle that is me" . THE most perfect line for this entire show. Charlie believes in patterns and that EVERYTHING is connected, and that if you look hard enough you can find those connections - like how he is trying to find the connections in the puzzle that is his frame up. And you matched the second half of that line with the shot of Charlie telling Lonnie Garth (the 9 fingered crack addict) who is about to die that it was just a bad dream and that he should go back to sleep, which is one of the most compassionate things I have ever seen, though I doubt many of the cops he works with would understand why he did it.
(0:1:18) "From the moment of my birth, to the instant of my death" matched to Charlie discovering The Path to Zen, and using it to save himself in prison, and to Charlie shooting at the gun range set up in a way to look like he is shooting at a picture of himself as a cop before he went away. Who he was before prison was destroyed, and Charlie was then reborn by Zen mysticism. You are a genius, do you realize that? I mean, OMG!!! I LOVE your Brain!!!
(01:26) And the knife comes into play here over the line "And there are patterns I must follow, just like I must breathe each breath". The knife representing who he has become in order to survive, something he learned in prison, the new way of doing things.
(01:40 & 01:44) You have Charlie looking at himself in the mirror coming to terms with this pattern; this method that he employs to handle things now; the person he is now. Also, you are developing a thing for mirrors representing inner reflection after completing Big City Life. :P
(01:47 - 02:02) The Dani/knife montage is a nice tangent that I'm not sure everyone gets the brilliance of. The knife, representing Charlie is passed on to Dani, as a sign that he trusts her to have his back and so that she can protect him; he isn't suppose to have that knife on him, or pull a knife on a suspect, so she takes it to hide it for him. Then we are treated to moments of them helping one another, being partners, talking things out (I really like the timing of him lifting her into the bathtub, and the match to the music there - 01:54), and then Dani returning the knife to him, because she trusts him to be who he is. If I have that wrong, don't tell me, because I love the way I see it. :D
"And the pattern still remains, on the wall where darkness fell"
Once Charlie trusts Dani and she is no longer suspected of knowing more about his frame up, he returns to the pattern/puzzle/diagram wall to try to find the connections. The patterns. I HAVE SUCH LOVE!
The darkness representing the killer's picture and the discovery of him, and when the following line "And it's fitting that it should, for in darkness I must dwell" is played we see Charlie turning away from his Zen teachings as the anger, hate, and the violent patterns take over. This man is the reason he went to prison and why part of him will never leave.
(02:25) And the knife returns again, right on the word patterns in the line "And my life is made of patterns that can scarcely be controlled", because the violent side of him wants to come out, it wants to do harm to the man responsible for his friends' death.
(02:30 - end) But then Charlie walks out of prison, he wants to leave that part of him behind, that former life. And then he returns after the credits for the Zen tape, to break the violent patterns and begin anew.
I can't even tell you how much I appreciate how beautifully you structured this vid. I don't even know if you realize what you are doing when you are doing it, or if it is all intuitive, but it is just AMAZING!
I am so thankful for this gift, and that you made it at all, because my love of this show has actually increased due to this vid, and I am noticing more of the aesthetic of the show due to it as well. (ex. the chain link fence and even brick work in the prison are all repeating patterns. Yes, this vid might have driven me insane, but I like it!)
In short, I love your work, I love being your beta, and HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!
deathisyourart