giandujakiss

Like untrue_accounts, I've been stunned and amazed and so, so happy about the response to Origin Stories. We've both been lurking around various discussions of the vid and it's been wonderful to see how much conversation the vid has inspired.

As I hoped she would, untrue_accounts has posted her interpretations of the characters and her thoughts about the vid here. As a supplement to her post, I'm writing about the how the vid was structured to convey the points that untrue_accounts wanted to make. None of this should or is intended to take precedence over any other interpretations and absolutely none of it is necessary to an understanding of the vid, so it's totally fine to skip over this post entirely.

(Honestly, this post is probably more navel-gazing than anything else, not to mention being seriously, seriously tl;dr, so feel free to ignore it - the vid should speak for itself, anyway).

But, to the extent anyone is interested, here goes.

( Read more )

And... that's generally that. The basic animating principle here for me was that because untrue_accounts was making her political argument through storytelling, the vid should focus on effective storytelling and not on the politics. The theory was that if the storytelling was successful, the politics would naturally follow. As a result, the vid contains a lot of details that were included to assist the narrative, but that viewers have interpreted as having political significance - which was exactly the goal.

Vid Title: Origin Stories
Song: "Coffee" by Aesop Rock feat. John Darnielle
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel

Summary: It's Nikki Wood's fucking coat.

Formats: 640 x 480 .avi (67.8 MB), 480 x 360 .wmv (36.5 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (15.4 MB)
Length: 3:49

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Notes: Storyboard and editing by giandujakiss. Commissioned and conceived by untrue_accounts for Sweet Charity.

Thanks so much to counteragent, boniblithe, sol_se, etothey, and springgreen for your feedback and encouragement.

Comments would be lovely.

ETA: untrue_accounts has posted additional commentary on the thinking behind the vid here; I've posted my own notes here.

Now I think I know what it feels like to give birth.

Okay, seriously, here's the vid I've been ... warning y'all about. (And, yes, sol_se, la_folle_allure, amonitrate: this is the reason I was asking about that stuff before, but some stuff ended up not being used.)

So -- here goes nuthin'.

Song: The Real Slim Shady by Eminem (Warning: It's Eminem, with all that implies about lyrics and some imagery.)
Fandom: Starsky & Hutch. Er, mostly.

Summary: Everything but the redheads.

Size: 480 x 360 .wmv (36.4 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (12.2 MB)
Length: 3:42

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Thanks so much to sapote3, kimberlyfdr, rivkat, and coffeeandink for beta services.

( Some notes, navel gazing, randomosity. )

Any comments are welcome.

Did someone say ... challenge?

Song: Zombie Jamboree by Rockapella
Fandoms: Multi, including Buffy, X-Files, Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Pushing Daisies (pilot only; nothing terribly spoiler-y if you know the show's premise)
Summary: Can't we all just get along?
Size: 480 x 360 .wmv (23.1 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (9.7 MB)
Length: 2:25

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Comments would be awesome.

Song: Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite
Fandom: Doctor Who/Torchwood
Pairings: Yes.

Summary: Change partners and dance.

Spoilers: New Who Seasons 1-3 and Torchwood Season 1.
Sizes: 36.9 MB (720 x 480 .avi), 13 MB (360 x 240 .wmv)
Length: 3:55

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Comments would be perfection.

Well, looks like the embargo's ended, so :-)...

Song: Mystery Dance by Elvis Costello
Fandom: Multi.
Summary: Sometimes we need a little help from our friends.
Pairings: Well, they're doing their best.
Size: 640 x 480 .avi (20.6 MB), 480 x 360 .wmv (15.5 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (6.6 MB)
Length: 1:38
Location: Available for downloading at Monsters from the Vids.

Thanks to betas rivkat, sol_se, ithidrial, timberwolfoz, and lauramcewan. Flaws are totally my fault.

Hope everyone at Vividcon is having a great time; can't wait for the con reports!

Song: Credit Card Baby by Wham!
Fandom: Supernatural
Summary: "Bitch." "Jerk."
Pairings: Sam/Dean, natch.
Spoilers: Through the end of Season 2.
Sizes: 21.3 MB (720 x 480 .avi), 9.95 MB (360 x 240 .wmv)
Length: 3:00

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

This vid was created for spn_harlequin, Prompt #19: The Millionaire's Indecent Proposal. The concept kind of got away from me, however, and the vid ended up being only very loosely inspired by the original prompt; for best results, you probably don't want to focus on the prompt when viewing. Among other things, despite the prompt and the generally crackish premise of spn_harlequin, the vid isn't really intended to be AU ... exactly.

( You can read the prompt here )

I'm not sure that I was as clear as I'd have liked to have been in communicating my concept, but I hope you'll enjoy the vid nonetheless. After you watch, if you're interested, you can read what I had in mind under the cut.

( This is what I was going for; probably best to read only after viewing )

Thanks so much to betas rivkat, sol_se, dontmembersam, and hesperblaze. All flaws are my very own.

Comments of all flavors are greatly appreciated.

This is my Sweet Charity creation, for "Veritas: The Quest."

Song: Three Doors by VAST
Fandom: Veritas: The Quest
Summary: Every journey begins.
Sizes: 39 MB (480 x 360 .wmv), 16.5 MB (320 x 240 .wmv high resolution), 7.7 MB (320 x 240 .wmv low resolution)
Length: 4:06
Location: Available for downloading at my website. A streaming version is available here.

Veritas: The Quest was a short-lived series originally made for ABC. This vid was intended as a recruiter vid to help spark interest in the show.

For information about the show and the fandom, you can check out this Veritas fansite. You can also find additional information here, and the Veritas LJ community at this link.

I've created a little Highlander vid. It's not exactly episodic for The Modern Prometheus, but it's ... close.


Song: Commercial for Levi by Placebo
Fandom: Highlander
Summary: "To eternal life. To eternal loneliness."
Sizes: 22.1 MB (480 x 360 .wmv), 9.3 MB (320 x 240 .wmv)
Length: 2:18
Download: Monsters from the Vids

Thanks so much to ithidrial and lemurgrrrl for beta-ing.

Comments would be most welcome and appreciated.

Done. Thank God, done.

Song: Kyrie by Mr. Mister
Fandom: Supernatural
Summary: He watches over.
Pairings: Sam and Dean love each other. How you interpret that love is between you and your god.
Spoilers: Through the end of Season 2.
Warnings: Borderline blasphemy. Sincerity dangerously approaching LKBV levels. Conspicuous power chords.
Sizes: 37.2 MB (720 x 480 .avi), 14.5 MB (360 x 240 .wmv)
Length: 4:24

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Deep thanks and appreciation to my fabu betas, ithidrial and sol_se, who had the grace to sit through, like, a billion versions of this thing without complaint.

Any and all comments will be warmly and gratefully received.

(Oh, hey, remember how I posted about those moments when if you remove intervening footage, you can get a clear unbroken shot of something? There's a doozy in AHBL 2.)

New vid. James Bond. Mostly, to be honest, I desperately wanted to do this song.

Song: Der Kommissar by After the Fire
Fandom: James Bond
Summary: Why did it have to be snakes?
Formats: 720 x 480 .avi (30.6 MB), 540 x 360 .wmv (45 MB), 360 x 240 .wmv (11.5 MB)
Length: 3:49

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Yes, it's juvenile. Shoot me.

I'm embarrassed at my own gall for even trying to vid in this fandom ... still, you gotta do what you're compelled to do...

Song: The Sharpest Lives by My Chemical Romance
Fandom: Supernatural

Summary: It's not easy being Dean.

Pairing: Dean/Sam. Partly. Ish. Somewhat.
Spoilers: Through "Roadkill."
Formats: 720 x 480 .avi (28.3 MB), 540 x 360 .wmv (36 MB), 360 x 240 .wmv (19 MB), low-res 360 x 240 .wmv (9MB)
Length: 3:02

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Thanks particularly to my amazing and infinitely patient betas, deathisyourart, lithium_doll, and sol_se. Any flaws in ths vid are entirely my fault.

Comments of any sort are greatly appreciated.

I tend to have mixed feelings about posting song lyrics, but in this case, they're particularly unintelligible and I sort of like them, so if you're interested, they're here:

( Lyrics )

Song: Unbelievable by EMF
Fandom: Highlander.
Pairing: D/M. Sort of. Vaguely. In a kind of way.
Summary: Judge. Jury. Executioner. Soliloquist.
Size: 13.3 MB (small), 6.3 MB (small, low resolution), 27 MB (large)
Format: .wmv
Length: 3:19
Location: Available for downloading at Monsters from the Vids or for viewing at http://giandujakiss.imeem.com/video/BnxeTVDw/hl_unbelievable/

Comments treasured.

Oh, yeah, this is a bit of a last hurrah. Real Life - in a very Real Sense - begins again on Monday. And though it's possible I'll get so passionately inspired by a new idea that I'll toss Real Life to the winds, right now, it's looking like Real Life will have to take precedence over vidding for at least a month or two.

A new S&H vid, wherein I return to my natural habitat.

Song: Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down
Fandom: Starsky & Hutch
Slash?: Yes, but susceptible to gen interpretation.
Summary: Hutch's side of the story.
Length: 3:52
Sizes: 480 x 360 .wmv (30 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (16 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (low-res, 7.4 MB)
Download: Monsters from the Vids
Streaming: Imeem

This vid was conceived as a companion piece to my earlier S&H vid, Wounded, although it should stand on its own.

Once again, though I didn't seek to vid a particular fic, there are several pieces of fanfic that haunted my brain as I created this. Chief among them were Charlotte Frost's Spoils of War, Rosemary's Black and Bruised, and, above all, Suzan Lovett's (gen - yes, gen!! heterosexual, even!) The Thousandth Man.

Thanks so much to everyone who sent feedback on the beta version -- it was really helpful. And I would be quite grateful for any additional feedback; I'm still not quite certain there isn't more to be done here; I'll just be damned if I know what it is.

This was created as a Starsky & Hutch Secret Santa present for Rae. FWIW, I'm not sure how much appeal it will have to those outside of S&H fandom, but ... here goes:

Song: Joy to the World by Three Dog Night
Fandom: Starsky & Hutch
Slash?: Hell yeah.
Summary: Well, maybe not the cars.
Length: 3:19
Sizes: 480 x 360 .wmv (26 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (13.6 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (low-res, 6.3 MB)

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Happy holidays!

Song: Church by Lyle Lovett
Fandom: Buffy and Angel
Summary: Thanks for all the years of joy. Except for "The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco." Because that really sucked.
Format: .wmv
Length: 5:55 (Yeah, you read that right. I dare you to watch without taking a bathroom break.)
Size: 23.9 MB (small), 11.2 (small, low resolution), 45.7 MB (large)

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

Thanks so much to lithium_doll for a last-minute beta.

As always, would muchly appreciate any comments....

Song: Teenagers, by My Chemical Romance *Warning: Lyrics NSFW!*
Fandom: Multi, including, but (seriously) not limited to, Buffy and Veronica Mars
Summary: Old as the hills.
Format: .wmv
Length: 2:45
Size: 11.1 MB (small), 5.27 MB (small, low resolution), 31.6 MB (large)

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem.

Comments: This vid was essentially intended to make up for the fact that I am really far, far too old to love this song this much.

( Read more )

It's not really a Halloween vid, but the show is about vampires, so that's close enough... ?

Song: Not an Addict, by K's Choice
Fandom: Forever Knight
Summary: Who mourns for Electra?
Format: .wmv
Length: 4:41
Size: 19 MB (small), 9 MB (small, low resolution), 37 MB (large)
Location: Available for downloading at my webpage, or for viewing at http://giandujakiss.imeem.com/video/aMq2-KjR/fk_notanaddict/

Comments: The song I selected for this one is not only reaching the saturation point as far as vids go, but also seemed an almost too-obvious choice for Forever Knight. So, I tried to do something a little different with it; hopefully, you'll tell me whether I succeeded.

( Read more )

I got my S4 DVDs and needed to put them to immediate use. So, I've made another Starsky & Hutch vid.

Song: Wounded, by Third Eye Blind
Fandom: Starsky & Hutch
Slash?: Yes, but probably gen-tolerable.
Summary: I like to think of it as a celebration of police brutality.
Length: 4:37
Size: 480 x 360 .wmv (36.5 MB), 320 x 240 .wmv (18.6 MB), 329 x 240 .wmv (low resolution, 8.8 MB)

Download: Monsters from the Vids

Streaming: Imeem

( Totally gratuitous vidder's notes, though I recommend viewing the vid before reading. )

Also, for those who are interested, in addition to Wounded, I've remastered my earlier S&H vids to substitute in new S4 footage.

Song: Nancy Boy by Placebo
Fandom: Highlander
Pairing: D/M
Summary: Did you ever read Friend of the Devil? Or, the chelle oeuvre? Umm ... yeah.
Length: 3:00
Size: 12 MB (small), 34 MB (large), 5.63 MB (small, low resolution)
Format: .wmv
Download: Monsters from the Vids

Warning: Portions of this vid are sexually explicit, not worksafe, and ... kinky. And if that's not enough to get me a few comments ....

Seriously, this was my first attempt at anything like a constructed reality or AU, so ... well, you can see for yourself. Honestly not as effective as I'd hoped, but if some Peter Wingfield fans feel they need to examine it closely, maybe go back and watch particular sections several times in order to truly gather their thoughts and reach an informed opinion, that's certainly understandable.

( Lyrics behind the cut )