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Everything you never wanted to know about why and what I vid, put behind a cut for easy ignoring,
1. When did you first start vidding?
During the 7th season of Buffy...so...2003?
2. What would you say was your inspiration or motivation to start doing it?
I know the exact moment I wanted to become a vidder. I had no name for it, and it was years before I even found fandom and then vidding, and knew what to do with it, but yes. Homicide: Life on the Street. They had these musical montages that were awesome. And there was one. In the episode Every Mothers Son. Where the music is slow and you see Frank and Tim and the mother of the victim framed in this absolutely gorgeous shot looking at the dead boy in the morgue, and then it cuts *just so* when the tempo changes to Frank and Tim crossing the street to search a house and they STEP OFF THE CURB ON THE BEAT. The tempo change, that cut, that movement. I remember the first time I saw that. I remember it, because that entire sequence ripped my heart out with what you could do if you told a story that way. It spoke to me on a gut level. When, a few years later, I discovered fans and vids and vidding through the Buffy fandom? I nearly collapsed with joy at the thought that I could do that. I could. Every time I lay a clip and it hits right, I get that feeling again. That's why I can't stop, regardless of how frustrating it is or how insecure I get.
3. What do you or have you vidded?
Buffy, Dogma, SGA, Dead Poets Society, Highlander, Bend it Like Beckham, Doctor Who, Torchwood.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration from for vids? Is it the song? An idea? Someone else?
It depends? Sometimes I know I want to make a vid about a character or show and I specifically go looking for music that fits. Sometimes I hear a song and it hits me as sounding and feeling like a character. Since I have a hard time making out lyrics, this last method is rather hit and miss and I can't count the number of times I've followed up by looking at the lyrics and going, "Oh, that really won't do... shoot." Discovering that either the lyrics do fit, or that I can make them fit (how much do I love lyrics that can either be twisted or interpreted multiple ways? THIS MUCH) is always pleasing.
5. What was your favorite video to make or do?
Honestly? It's gonna be Papa Don't Preach. That entire vid is essentially me and![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
greensilver egging each other on through the whole thing in a fit of fannish insanity, and cracking ourselves up considerably along the way. Having a partner to take half the head banging load was lovely, and considering we were vidding mpreg, there was nowhere to go but down, and that took a lot of pressure off. Hands down, it's the most pure fun I've had making a vid.
6. What was your least favorite video to make or do?
Taking Chances. Do I really have to say more than Celine Dion? Balancing the LKBV aspects with making it ring true and properly 'shippy when neither the song or the 'ship speak to my inner 13 year old at all was hard. Pulling it off was satisfying, raising money for charity was awesome, and I don't regret it at all. But I can't say that the process was enjoyable.
7. Which video are you most proud of?
Most proud of? Swing Down Chariot. I hadn't made a vid in two years. And never as a solo vidder at that point. I was convinced I was useless on my own, that I could never be a proper vidder as just me. Of all the vidder blocks I've ever had, that one was the worst and breaking through it, finishing that vid, opened that world back up for me. I was terrified of it in ways I've never been terrified of vidding before or since. But here I am, 8 vids later. I still look at it and think "I did do it. I can vid. Awesome."
8. What's the best feedback or comment you've ever gotten?
That's rough, I've gotten a lot of wonderful feedback from some amazing people over the years. Nostalgic favorite? The email fromheresluck with detailed feedback for Welcome to the Jungle. It was the first of that kind of feedback, with discussion of color and movement and *timestamps* I'd ever gotten and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.
9. What is your opinion on clip theft?
Complex? Lifting edits or simply switching songs and taking full credit? Bad, bad, always bad, never right, hunt down with pitchforks WRONG. Doing the same while providing full credit to the original vidder? Depending on context it can be awesome (seecounteragent absolutely amazing meta vid), and while I reckon asking permission isn't required, assuming full credit is given, I tend to think it's rather rude not to. Don't take credit for things you didn't do is pretty much what it boils down to for me. Beyond that...if there's a specific artistic or meta reason and you are creating something new out of the bits and bobs of other media? Well, that's what we do isn't it? Tossing together other people's edits because you want to make a vid but can't be bothered to learn how? Lazy and annoying, and while I won't break out the pitchforks if credit is given, my eyebrow is going to be in my hairline and I'm probably not going to like you very much if you didn't even bother to ask first.
10. Favorite genre to vid to (comedy, angst, romance, drama, AU)?
I'm generally more interested in saying something about a character or characters than any specific narrative or pairing. I do tend to gravitate towards positive messages and bouncier music (hugs? who me?), but not always. Mostly I want to look at the ways people connect, with each other and with themselves. The ties that bind and all that rot.
11. Favorite pairing(s)?
Er, for vidding? None really?
12. What just drives you up the wall when it comes to vidding?
Insecurity. I hate how much it blocks my way, how much self doubt can crush whatever I'm doing and slow me way down. Oh, and that bit where you go looking for a clip that you are just sure exists and would be absolutely perfect right there only to discover that particular scene was only ever filmed in your head, or almost as bad, exists but is visually boring as hell out of context.
13. Is vidding a pastime, hobby or something to help gain experience to do more later in life?
I suppose, hobby? I don't really have any sort of desire to turn it into a career. But 'hobby' feels too, lightweight, for what vidding actually means to me? It's my lifeline, my creative outlet, often it is the way I connect with other people, and sometimes it is my therapy. I take it seriously because I honestly don't know where I'd be with the rest of my life without it. It is community and expression and life outside these four walls in some fashion.
14. What is your latest project or idea for your next vid if your muse isn't dead?
The two major ones at the moment are the meta Torchwood vid in which there are no hugs, and the Seven and Ace one that I need to kick in the pants to get it going again. I have a few other projects kicking around, some of which have clips on the timeline, but I imagine those are the two I will finish next. I'm also signed up for the VVC auction, for the use of anyone who wishes to buy me :). The move is seriously hampering my ability to focus on anything vidwise right now, but I am not blocked at the moment so I'm hoping that when I can, vidding will happen. I'm leaning heavily towards not having a premiere at VVC other than the auction vid this year. It's just bad timing combined with the real world.
15. Finally, what kind of words of wisdom would you offer someone who wants to vid/ is a newbie?
The bad news is that no one will ever care about your vids as much as you do. The good news is that no one will ever care about your vids as much as you do, so make what speaks to you, what scratches your itches, the vid you want to watch, the one that pushes your buttons, and don't worry so much about what other people will think. Listen, read the tutorials and the meta and learn your craft, but don't ever forget that, when it comes right down to it, the most important audience you are vidding for is you. Yeah, I know..that's much easier than it sounds. I'm still working on it. :)
1. When did you first start vidding?
During the 7th season of Buffy...so...2003?
2. What would you say was your inspiration or motivation to start doing it?
I know the exact moment I wanted to become a vidder. I had no name for it, and it was years before I even found fandom and then vidding, and knew what to do with it, but yes. Homicide: Life on the Street. They had these musical montages that were awesome. And there was one. In the episode Every Mothers Son. Where the music is slow and you see Frank and Tim and the mother of the victim framed in this absolutely gorgeous shot looking at the dead boy in the morgue, and then it cuts *just so* when the tempo changes to Frank and Tim crossing the street to search a house and they STEP OFF THE CURB ON THE BEAT. The tempo change, that cut, that movement. I remember the first time I saw that. I remember it, because that entire sequence ripped my heart out with what you could do if you told a story that way. It spoke to me on a gut level. When, a few years later, I discovered fans and vids and vidding through the Buffy fandom? I nearly collapsed with joy at the thought that I could do that. I could. Every time I lay a clip and it hits right, I get that feeling again. That's why I can't stop, regardless of how frustrating it is or how insecure I get.
3. What do you or have you vidded?
Buffy, Dogma, SGA, Dead Poets Society, Highlander, Bend it Like Beckham, Doctor Who, Torchwood.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration from for vids? Is it the song? An idea? Someone else?
It depends? Sometimes I know I want to make a vid about a character or show and I specifically go looking for music that fits. Sometimes I hear a song and it hits me as sounding and feeling like a character. Since I have a hard time making out lyrics, this last method is rather hit and miss and I can't count the number of times I've followed up by looking at the lyrics and going, "Oh, that really won't do... shoot." Discovering that either the lyrics do fit, or that I can make them fit (how much do I love lyrics that can either be twisted or interpreted multiple ways? THIS MUCH) is always pleasing.
5. What was your favorite video to make or do?
Honestly? It's gonna be Papa Don't Preach. That entire vid is essentially me and
greensilver egging each other on through the whole thing in a fit of fannish insanity, and cracking ourselves up considerably along the way. Having a partner to take half the head banging load was lovely, and considering we were vidding mpreg, there was nowhere to go but down, and that took a lot of pressure off. Hands down, it's the most pure fun I've had making a vid. 6. What was your least favorite video to make or do?
Taking Chances. Do I really have to say more than Celine Dion? Balancing the LKBV aspects with making it ring true and properly 'shippy when neither the song or the 'ship speak to my inner 13 year old at all was hard. Pulling it off was satisfying, raising money for charity was awesome, and I don't regret it at all. But I can't say that the process was enjoyable.
7. Which video are you most proud of?
Most proud of? Swing Down Chariot. I hadn't made a vid in two years. And never as a solo vidder at that point. I was convinced I was useless on my own, that I could never be a proper vidder as just me. Of all the vidder blocks I've ever had, that one was the worst and breaking through it, finishing that vid, opened that world back up for me. I was terrified of it in ways I've never been terrified of vidding before or since. But here I am, 8 vids later. I still look at it and think "I did do it. I can vid. Awesome."
8. What's the best feedback or comment you've ever gotten?
That's rough, I've gotten a lot of wonderful feedback from some amazing people over the years. Nostalgic favorite? The email from
heresluck with detailed feedback for Welcome to the Jungle. It was the first of that kind of feedback, with discussion of color and movement and *timestamps* I'd ever gotten and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. 9. What is your opinion on clip theft?
Complex? Lifting edits or simply switching songs and taking full credit? Bad, bad, always bad, never right, hunt down with pitchforks WRONG. Doing the same while providing full credit to the original vidder? Depending on context it can be awesome (see
counteragent absolutely amazing meta vid), and while I reckon asking permission isn't required, assuming full credit is given, I tend to think it's rather rude not to. Don't take credit for things you didn't do is pretty much what it boils down to for me. Beyond that...if there's a specific artistic or meta reason and you are creating something new out of the bits and bobs of other media? Well, that's what we do isn't it? Tossing together other people's edits because you want to make a vid but can't be bothered to learn how? Lazy and annoying, and while I won't break out the pitchforks if credit is given, my eyebrow is going to be in my hairline and I'm probably not going to like you very much if you didn't even bother to ask first. 10. Favorite genre to vid to (comedy, angst, romance, drama, AU)?
I'm generally more interested in saying something about a character or characters than any specific narrative or pairing. I do tend to gravitate towards positive messages and bouncier music (hugs? who me?), but not always. Mostly I want to look at the ways people connect, with each other and with themselves. The ties that bind and all that rot.
11. Favorite pairing(s)?
Er, for vidding? None really?
12. What just drives you up the wall when it comes to vidding?
Insecurity. I hate how much it blocks my way, how much self doubt can crush whatever I'm doing and slow me way down. Oh, and that bit where you go looking for a clip that you are just sure exists and would be absolutely perfect right there only to discover that particular scene was only ever filmed in your head, or almost as bad, exists but is visually boring as hell out of context.
13. Is vidding a pastime, hobby or something to help gain experience to do more later in life?
I suppose, hobby? I don't really have any sort of desire to turn it into a career. But 'hobby' feels too, lightweight, for what vidding actually means to me? It's my lifeline, my creative outlet, often it is the way I connect with other people, and sometimes it is my therapy. I take it seriously because I honestly don't know where I'd be with the rest of my life without it. It is community and expression and life outside these four walls in some fashion.
14. What is your latest project or idea for your next vid if your muse isn't dead?
The two major ones at the moment are the meta Torchwood vid in which there are no hugs, and the Seven and Ace one that I need to kick in the pants to get it going again. I have a few other projects kicking around, some of which have clips on the timeline, but I imagine those are the two I will finish next. I'm also signed up for the VVC auction, for the use of anyone who wishes to buy me :). The move is seriously hampering my ability to focus on anything vidwise right now, but I am not blocked at the moment so I'm hoping that when I can, vidding will happen. I'm leaning heavily towards not having a premiere at VVC other than the auction vid this year. It's just bad timing combined with the real world.
15. Finally, what kind of words of wisdom would you offer someone who wants to vid/ is a newbie?
The bad news is that no one will ever care about your vids as much as you do. The good news is that no one will ever care about your vids as much as you do, so make what speaks to you, what scratches your itches, the vid you want to watch, the one that pushes your buttons, and don't worry so much about what other people will think. Listen, read the tutorials and the meta and learn your craft, but don't ever forget that, when it comes right down to it, the most important audience you are vidding for is you. Yeah, I know..that's much easier than it sounds. I'm still working on it. :)
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