Making 'Paranoid Android'

[bop_radar]

Paranoid Android feels like a milestone in my history as a vidder. I learnt so much in making it, both about vidding and about the show (Smallville) and the character (Lex). Originally I was going to post notes about the vid with the vid, but I decided against this for two reasons

Comments

[bofoddity]

Wow, this was fantastic to read! Whether it's fic, vid or another project in question, I'm always aching to know about what's happening behind the scenes, so it was really interesting to find out how your vid came to be.

The vid felt exhausting to watch at times because there was just so much going on in it, so many layers of Lex brought to the surface. And like you said, it's seven-year development of a character we're talking about here, so telling Lex's story needed room. I admit to being slightly scared by the six-minute length, but I can't imagine it as shorter now.

Also, though this wasn't intended to be a meta vid, it became partially that for the reasons you mentioned. Visuals play such a big role in Smallville (I remember being jarred out during an episode where Luthor-blues showed up in wrong context without a reason), so it makes sense that visuals connected with Lex would play a huge part in a vid about him, so it worked well. I definitely have to re-watch the vid after reading this, so thank you for sharing this. :)

[bop_radar]

Thanks! I'm glad you found it interesting. I definitely felt the need to write about the process this time--I never have before.

The vid felt exhausting to watch at times because there was just so much going on in it,
*nods* I realised that--it was pretty much inevitable. I think even tonally it's an exhausting piece of music with its several 'acts'. That fits Lex's journey though.

I admit to being slightly scared by the six-minute length, but I can't imagine it as shorter now.
Hee! That's very cool. And yes, obviously another of my worries was 'who the hell is going to watch a SIX MINUTE vid?!' :) Thanks for taking the risk!

I remember being jarred out during an episode where Luthor-blues showed up in wrong context without a reason
*nods* Right! Everything has such specific meaning, when it's 'off' fans really notice, even if they only notice on the 'woah, this feels weird' way.

it makes sense that visuals connected with Lex would play a huge part in a vid about himYeah, I definitely had to work with them, rather than against

[voldything]

This was a fantastic read, I loved this most of all:

you get the feeling that the narrator knows they are being a drama queen but is far beyond caring because the world is pissing them off just that damn much. That's SO LEX.

yes, yes!

[bop_radar]

Yay! I'm glad you agree. ;) I love him in dramaqueen mode: 'that dark abyss they call my soul'. HEE!

[norwich36]

This was really fascinating to read. (It also makes me feel smart for figuring out some of it before I read it, since sometimes I feel like my vid literacy skills are stuck somewhere at the fifth grade level).

And just so you know, I am completely blaming you for the fact that "Paranoid Android" is completely stuck in my head now.

[bop_radar]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D

it makes sense that visuals connected with Lex would play a huge part in a vid about him, so it worked well.
I think you underestimate yourself. You have contributed about 90 per cent of the meta comments I've had about this vid so far. ;) Your comments absolutely thrilled me as a creator: it's the 'yes! yes! that's what I meant!' thrill.

I am completely blaming you for the fact that "Paranoid Android" is completely stuck in my head now.
*accepts blame* Wow! And it's not exactly a toe-tapper! (Though it does get stuck in mine too)

[june_ange]

English is not my native language (i'm french) so it's difficult for me to say ALL the good I think about this work.
It's so True, totally Lex. We can feel your implication on it. It's the richest vid I have seen in a very long time.
The song is perfect and you show perfectly the duality of the character. I hurt so much for Lex.
It's a wonderful work you have done.
It's my fav vid of Lex.

Merci

[bop_radar]

Je parle un peu de français -- j'espère que vous pouvez me comprendre. Je suis si flattée que vous avez pris le temps a partir des réactions en anglais et que vous avez aimé le vid. Yay! :D

Merci beaucoup! :)

[june_ange]

You speak well and thank you for your reply

[turnonmyheels]

Thanks for posting this! It's a very interesting read.

[bop_radar]

Glad you enjoyed it! :)