Vid: Unnatural Selection - Battlestar Galactica/Terminator: Sarah Connor

[charmax]

kiki_miserychic & zombiep0rn were the inspiration behind the vid.


Video Title: Unnatural Selection
Song Title/Artist: Pussycats Gone To Heaven (Pixies vs Pussycat Dolls) - DJ Lobsterdust
Shows/Source: Battlestar Galactica, Terminator: Sarah Connor, Terminator movies.
Summary: That body was made to look like a person. We were made in God's image.
***Images of apocalypse and violence that some may find disturbing.***
Length/Format: 3.36, (Xvid, Stream)
Notes:
OK so first off this is so far outside my comfort zone as to be in another continent. This vid is one big experiment designed to help me evolve (geddit?) as a Vidder. Everything from the song (first time using a mashup) to the physical editing process (storyboarded in Premiere but mostly edited in AE) to the tone and themes (my dark side, let me show you it.)

The inspiration for the vid came from the fact that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of "The Origin of Species" and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. I've always been struck by the similarities between T:SCC and BSG and I tried to show some of that here. As humanity teeters on the edge of extinction they slide down the evolutionary tree of life whilst the machines evolve into better beings.

kiki_miserychic has written an insightful commentary for this vid over at vid_commentary. A little more of my choices is discussed in the comments.

Unnatural Selection - Battlestar Galactica/Terminator: Sarah Connor - Charmax

Links: Download Xvid (720x400 - 40MB) | Download Xvid (416x240 - 20MB) | Stream@Imeem | Stream@Youtube

Comments

[sasha-feather.livejournal.com]

That is amazing! Gave me chills!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[rodlox.livejournal.com]

superb. simply and beautifully superb.

I like how you meshed and merged the scenes from the shows and film. (and I thought I saw a brief scene from Space: above and beyond)

you did great!
*adds to Memories*

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

I didn't use any scenes from Space: above and beyond but I suppose it's possible that it was used as stock footage in one of the sources I did use.

[nightxade.livejournal.com]

This is incredible. Everything worked perfectly. I would not believe that this was your first time using anything to make this vid. Fantastic.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Well, it's very kind of you to say so. This vid really was something different for me on several levels and there was definitely a moment or two when I thought I'd taken on too much. I'm so glad that the effort paid off.

[mranderson71.livejournal.com]

Pure unadulterated awsm.

Its always a joy to watch an idea come to life because of the editors masterful execution & obvious knowledge of their source material. And I love the idea, especially the way you've included some nature footage in amoungst the carnage, to further support it. Its one of those vids which demand multiple viewings & I will definately be subscribing to that newsletter.

Im on a bit of a Terminator high (new T4 trailer has me in a tizzy) & I'm right into BSG at the moment, so this vid has hit the sweet spot. Like when a batter hits a home run, and this one is out of the park.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Hey there, didn't recognise you for a sec without a Neo icon!

It's great to find that this vid caught you at exactly the right moment and that you plan on rewatching it, that's always a good sign.

I'd be more excited about the latest film if Christian Bale wasn't but I shouldn't let personal prejudice get in the way of some cyborg mayhem. I'm very interested to see how BSG wraps up.

[leviathan101.livejournal.com]

Awesome, I loved it. Fantastic editing as well.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[tassosss.livejournal.com]

That was amazing. I think I'm going to have to watch it about ten more times to start to get everything in it.

Definitely a keeper.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It is always gratifying when someone says they intend to keep a vid.

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Here via thefourthvine - the vid is brilliant!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[sainfoin-fields.livejournal.com]

Holy crap this is so awesome. So awesome.

I particularly love: the little shot of Sarah with the turtle. It may not be the fittest to survive, but damned if she's not going to try to even the odds.
the bodycount, especially the SCC pool scene because I love it, but also the use of the BSG bodies.
the juxtaposition of the words "adaptable to change" and Catherine learning to be Savannah's mom.
the bonus footage from T2 snuck in the back door.
how many levels you made this work on!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

That shot of Sarah and the turtle was so perfect for the vid.

There is a pretty high bodycount in the vid. I love the pool scene too, it is so well shot it lends the violence a balletic feel.

I am absolutely intrigued by the interactions between Catherine and Savannah and I choose to think that this is Catherine developing an emotional bond rather than simply imitating one.

There is a fair bit of T2 in there along with a few shots from T3 and even a quick clip from the T4 trailer. The playground scene was the thing I remembered most from the T2 film and I just had to have it in the vid.

Thank you so much for commenting.

[belenustenebrae.livejournal.com]

I loved the images of fire, and the bird and the worm in this.
Awesome vid.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's great to know that adding stock footage worked so well.

[dlasta.livejournal.com]

Stunning.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[a-slow-descent.livejournal.com]

Amaaaaazing!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Oh very cool. Awesome song choice.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm glad you liked the song choice, it's definitely got me hooked on mashups.

[woolly-socks.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm in awe. This is STUNNING.

The music absolutely blew my mind, and the vid finished me off.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

WAY COOL. Our eventual death by the hands of our robot oppressors has never been so fun.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure fun is exactly the word I'd use, but I'm happy to know you enjoyed it.

thanks for commenting.

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

OH my god, that's freaking amazing. Great work.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

OMG BRILLIANT!!!!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FRAKKING BRILLIANT. I am just... totally blown away. BEST FANVID ALL YEAR, for sure! Just... WOWWWWWWW!!!! *mind explodey*

I promise to be back with more thoughtful thoughts when I come down from the squee.

Give me a few days? :)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Wow, I just don't know what to say. Best fanvid of the year! Admittedly it's only March but nevertheless go me! :D I just want you to know how insanely happy that makes me. I do love to get squee.

More thoughts would be fantabulous.

[iseult-variante.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, that was amazing - I hope that you are happy to have gone outside of your comfort zone, because, wow, seriously. I really liked how the outside sources were integrated into the vid - the fire sweeping over the schematic of the skeletons, and the various ways the text from the Origin were worked in - and the mashup seemed a really perfect fit for the ideas you were working with. I totally jumped at the start of the guitar solo-y bit, where the terminator and the centurion sort of jump out! And the turtle made me cheer for humanity, heh.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm really glad that I forced myself out of my comfort zone too. Every aspect of this vid forced me to look at what I would normally do and see if there was something else I could do that might work better. It was a bit of a gamble on my part but I have been blown away by the response to the vid. I do love the Terminator and Centurion breaking the fourth wall.

Thanks for the feedback.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

That was ASTONISHING.

I need to go away and think about it. I hope to be smart at you later. (:

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks, Laura!

YEUH

[gega-cai.livejournal.com]

Whoa. Pixies meets Terminator meets BSG. Slike you read my nerd brain.

I'll be honest, I've never watched a frame of BSG, but this vid was awesome. Sgoing in my memories, ondelay!

Mucho kudos for the hard work that went into it!

Re: YEUH

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I guess all nerd brains think alike. It's a relief to know that you enjoyed it even though you don't watch BSG because I did worry BSG might be taking up too much space in the vid.

Thank you for commenting.

[luzula]

Oh wow, that's creepy but awesome. I'm definitely going to watch it again, to catch everything that's going on.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you find its creepiness awesome and not just y'know, creepy. I hope you continue to enjoy it when you rewatch it.

Thanks for commenting.

[ecila-etc.livejournal.com]

That is amazing!

I'm teaching a masters class on science fiction and want to show this to my students as an example of images of science and technology in fan works - would that be ok with you? We'll just watch it along with reading a load of fic. They won't sit and critique it for hours or anything.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you kindly. I'd be honoured for you to use the vid in your class. It's hugely flattering that you think it will be of interest! I hope it all goes well.

[parallactic.livejournal.com]

Whoa. I'm sitting here stunned, sure that I have to watch this vid several times to let it seep in. I've never watched BSG, but the TSCC, Darwin, voiceovers, and song choice parts are perfect. The vid feels seamless as well.

This monkey's gone to heaven, indeed.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you didn't find the BSG footage confusing or intrusive. Frankly, it's quite a relief to get some feedback from someone who only watches T:SCC because I really wanted to do justice to that show and not have it feel like it was playing second fiddle to BSG.

I love your icon, there should definitely be turtles!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_omnivore_/]

Completely stunning!!! Just... made of pure frakking win. *fails at words*

[charmax.livejournal.com]

It may be few words but they mean such a lot to me. Thanks for commenting!

[turnonmyheels.livejournal.com]

stunning

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[(Anonymous)]

wow! just wow!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks!