Sweet Charity Vid | Xena: Warrior Princess | Devotion

[charmax]

Video Title: Devotion
Song Title/Artist: Devotion - The Indigo Girls
Show: Xena: Warrior Princess
Summary: Seasons change, time moves on, one thing remains constant. Devotion.
Length/Format: 3.42, (Xvid, Stream)
Notes: For killabeez Sweet Charity RAINN 3.0. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to vid Xena again your beta was awesome. It's been a huge pleasure!

Download Xvid (768x576 - 85MB)
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Download Xvid (384x288 - 25MB)
Low quality Imeem stream.

Feedback much welcomed.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Comments

[kjaneway.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Very, very cool.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[lilwitchy.livejournal.com]

nicely done.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[bunnythenavia.livejournal.com]

Gab and Xena is love! I love your use of nature shots (flowers and moon and waterfall), it's a bit symbolic, isn't it? It's soft but fierce, like their relationship. Thank you, this video cheered me up :)

z

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I was able to cheer you up! Soft but fierce is a great way of describing their relationship and by extension this vid.

The waterfall and flower shots were about Xena starting her new life with everything in full bloom contrasting with the death and destruction of the opening sequence (flower heads as opposed to heads on poles etc) plus the women in the field are dressed in the same colours as the flowers which just emphasises their connection to nature, something Xena doesn't really have at that point but develops later. So, yeah I guess it's symbolic :D

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those people who stopped enjoying Xena when the show started to turn dark, but this used many of the elements I disliked in the source in a really beautiful way. The song choice was fantastic. There were many facets to Xena that I felt lacked cohesiveness, but here you've tied them all together smoothly, and really captured the X/G relationship.

This video makes me want to watch the show again, from beginning to end. Bravo!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm pleased that it made you want to watch the show again. It's particularly flattering, given that I used stuff you weren't happy about in the source, that you felt I'd conveyed the relationship well.

[rowan-d.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's seriously awesome.:) I love the rhythm and feel of the clips. Really draws you into the scope of the story. And I should tell you, I'm a huge admirer of your "Boom Boom Ba" video as well, I spent most of this fall watching it at least every other day on my laptop while I cook dinner.:D I didn't reawlize you were on LJ. Hope you don't mind I've friended you.:)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting on this vid and for your kind words about "Boom Boom Ba", I made a vid to cook to, who knew? :D

And I don't mind at all that you friended me.

[tallulah71.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was so worth waiting for. My thanks to killabeez for getting you to vid Xena again. Since I'm a little bit familiar with the source(*g*), I'm going to attempt feedback beyond my usual, "OMG, you're awesome. This is the awesomest awesome that ever was awesomed!" :)

I love the opening sequence. It really sets the stage for who Xena was and the quick flash of young Xena reminds us of where she came from. The montage of her riding Argo gives the feeling of her riding away from her past. Here are a few of my favorite moments.

Gabrielle with Hope, then Xena, then the explosion(Dahak's temple?) played over the lyrics, "Blood runs thick and when it rains, it pours."

The scenes from "Remember Nothing" followed by the lyrics, "Gave it up for a love that won't be defined."

The shooting star timed to the cymbal crash.

Xena being betrayed by Caesar over the lyrics, "Building fences for no gain."

The end sequence where you make it appear they're riding towards each other.

So, in a word, AWESOME! ;)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

"OMG, you're awesome. This is the awesomest awesome that ever was awesomed!" Works for me! :D

I totally rediscovered my Xena love with this and that alone makes it worth doing. I very nearly didn't enter Sweet Charity this round (I had deadline angst and Spike phobia) but I'm so glad I changed my mind.

Almost all your favourite parts are the result of things Killa made me think about with her helpful beta which is the other reason I loved this particular Sweet Charity experience so much.

[giandujakiss.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is beautiful! You really make the footage look gorgeous, and I love how you capture the Xena/Gabby relationship.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Making Xena and Gab look gorgeous, not so hard. Making the actual footage look pretty, oh the pain and the tears and the languishing in Avisynth Hell!

[kimberlite.livejournal.com]

This was absolutely gorgeous! I liked how Xena's journey was highlighted and all the moments that showed the intensity of the X/G relationship. The music/lyrics worked beautifully as well as the rich colors and landscapes. I really want to go back and watch both the vid and the show again.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Many thanks! The song and the show are such a perfect fit it made it particularly joyful to work with.

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

I really, really wish I had a play counter on this vid, because I think it would be sort of hilarious to find out exactly how many times I've actually watched the various versions. However many it is? It's a lot.

This last time, I realized that I don't think I ever mentioned to you how much I adore what you finally came up with for the line "haven't much need to look for work." I always adored that line for Xena, and you nailed it. That shot of them on the ramparts was exactly the episode I was thinking of, and I love the sword going back in the sheath, and that you found a perfect spot for Boadicea.

Um, I have to go to bed now. Must... stop... watching... vid...

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad I don't have a play counter because I really don't need to find out exactly how much of my life I spend watching vids. It's one of those things it's probably best to remain in blissful ignorance about.

I finally found that clip of them walking the ramparts handing out weapons. I have must have scrolled past it many times and even now I'm not sure which ep it's from. Anyway it works and that's what matters, also I'm giving myself bonus points for Boadicea, just because.

Anyway it's been a pleasure.

*faints* with GLEE from your rec.
brb.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Wow! All I've ever seen of Xena before are somewhat awesome/cheesy action sequences, so you might imagine my surprise when this vid turned out to be luscious and dramatic, tough and tender. You worked magic with the source---it looked like a feature film on my computer. In fact, the whole vid had the pathos of a feature film.

The storytelling was so good that I feel I can really get a sense of narrative without knowing the source.

Beautifully done!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Xena was definitely not adverse to the cheese. But there's also some really awesome stuff to work with, pretty and emotional and epic and magical and just everything I want from a show. I'm so thrilled that you were able to get a sense of that from the vid.

Being compared to a feature film has really made my day! Particularly as 4:3 footage feels so old-fashioned now.

[copracat]

What I love best is how you ranged over the whole series. Or maybe what I love best is how much of the love you show. Then again, maybe what I love best is that this vid makes me fizzingly happy.

Yes, that's what I love best; all of that.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Heee! That you loved all of it is just the best compliment. Thanks you so much.

[femmenerd.livejournal.com]

This is fabulous. It makes me want to go back and rewatch the show. I love how it's totally about their relationship and also just who they are. ♥

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Xena and Gabrielle are just so fabulous, everything about them is just love. To capture a little bit of that makes me happy. Oh you must go watch it again! It's really sad to think that there will never be another show like it.

[missyjack.livejournal.com]

Oh this is so THEM! Beautiful work.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

Beautiful vid. I love the way you edited the clips to the lyrics. Wonderful job!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the lovely comment. *g*

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. That was awesome. :->

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you for saying it's awesome!! *dances*

[xenacryst.livejournal.com]

EEEEEE! Another Xena vid from Charmax! With an Indigo Girls song! I already know how awesome this is gonna be! (And I am not disappointed, no indeedy, not in the least!)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I had left it a bit too long between Xena vids, hadn't I?! Thanks Killa and thanks you. *g*

[gunhilda.livejournal.com]

This was splendid! I have wanted a Xena vid to this song for years, and this was just perfect! Thanks for doing it, and sharing it.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked it. You certainly had to wait a long time for it and I hope I did the song and idea justice, I feel like I am a poor substitute for Killa, mind. *g*

[(Anonymous)]

I've never watch Xena and don't know the song but this was an incredibly beautiful edited vid :) I enjoyed the lovely imagery, mixed with the emotional scenes, and the seemless flow of the whole thing. I've never fancied watching Xena and although I've enjoyed your previous Xena vid's (loved boom boom ya) this one has made me want more. I'm going to add season 1 to my dvd club watchlist now :D This is from Sassy by the way xx

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Hiya, hun. I hope you are able to get into Xena. There really is a great show hiding within it's cheesy martial arts cover. This vid definitely captures more of the flavour of the show than Boom Boom Ba which was really all about the cleavage and the abs. :D

[myhappyface.livejournal.com]

I don't watch Xena, although I want to some day, but the pacing and editing of this vid were just amazing. I loved it!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Ah you should definitely give Xena a look sometime. Glad you could appreciate the vid despite not knowing the show. And thanks for commenting!

[jalara.livejournal.com]

Wow! Another wonderful Xena vid. Thanks for sharing!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you for commenting!

[lilithilien.livejournal.com]

I'm here on data_warrior's rec (over at IJ) and I just watched the streaming version -- I loved it so much that now I'm downloading the hq version. You did a spectacular job with this! (And now I need to go watch me some Xena.)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Oh a rec, awesome!! I can never get enough of those. I'm glad you liked it. It's always rewarding to find out that the streaming version has prompted someone to download.

Thanks!

[bananainpyjamas.livejournal.com]

Wow, I don't remember the show being this gorgeous. You did such a fantastic job of drawing on a kind of soft, tender beauty without compromising the inherent fierceness in vidding a group of warrior women. I liked that Gabrielle's (I hope that's her name) introduction was slightly delayed; it was nice to get a feel for Xena on her own first. And I know you're probably sick of me praising your cross-dissolves but there are some really beautiful ones in here, especially starting around 2:52. Awesome work, I'm off to go watch it again!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks, DC. Getting the balance right was a big part of this vid. The balance between Xena and Gabrielle and the way it changes over time was one of the key elements. Also the balance between joy and grief and between tenderness and violence was something I really wanted to achieve so it's really gratifying that you mentioned those things.

[luzula]

Hi, I'm a vidwatcher who is trying to get better at leaving feedback. : )

I just watched this vid three times in a row, and it makes me so, so happy. And it's not even my fandom, I've never watched Xena, but the vid just leaves me with a warm, glowing feeling. It's lovely.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That it left you with a warm, glowing feeling makes me so happy. That's absolutely the reaction I have to it, I thought it might be nostalgia for the show but you haven't even seen Xena so I guess at least some of that reaction must be down to me. :)

Good luck with your "leave more feedback" pledge. I know I always love to get feedback and really appreciate people making the effort, I'm sure other vidders feel the same.

[titc.livejournal.com]

♥

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks! :)

[projectjulie.livejournal.com]

I know Xena more through watching vids than through watching the show, so I probably missed some of the nuances of this narrative. it feels living-room-viddish, as well it should. but I can appreciate the sheer epic sweep of it. you put together so many gorgeous and heartbreaking moments between them -- there's one sequence in particular, short clips of them together, that's everything I love about the potential of Xena.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting. There probably are aspects of the vid that are mostly accessible to people who watched the show but it's good to know that you could appreciate aspects of the vid anyway.