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

[skipthedemon.livejournal.com]

This vid just blew my mind. Awesome.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Really?! Fantastic.

[aurora]

Dude, this is amazing!!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Glad you think so! Thanks.

[threezerotwo.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I'm a bit late with this but I've just watched it and wanted to comment.

This is a really thought-provoking vid with so much impact. You know, like a punch in the face =] I love it. You really didn't hold back.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Hi! Like a punch in the face! It's not often I'd take that as a compliment but that is precisely the sort of reaction I wanted for this particular vid. Glad you found it thought provoking.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

This vid is incredible, and actually rather intimidating. Normally watching excellent vids makes me want to create my own. This? I look at it and think "Holy shit, I will NEVER be able to make anything half so clever or beautiful."

I've watched it three times so far, and I'm sure I'll watch it many more, but let me list a few early impressions.

1) Gorgeous. Simply as a work of art, the editing, rich color, and flow of movement in this make it beautiful. The fluttering bird, beautiful and panicky both. The song is a mash-up, and there's a real weave to the clips you use, punctuated by these sharp, brutal moments - the smashing skull at 0:48, the zoom-in on the terminator and tincan faces at 1:52.

2) Smart. Just the parallels between SCC and BSG would have mde a perfectly good vid. But you brought in Darwin and God and that pushes it to a whole other level. I'm sure I'll get more out of it each time I watch. For example, "The Devil is Six" is clever and all, but what are you saying with the apple and snake? Are we tempted by these superior versions of ourselves we've created? By our fear, have we been ejected from the Garden of Eden of a possible future which has creation between humanity and our creations? I don't know, but it's lots of fun to think about. Also, the turtle, which of course ties into Galapagos, but can we hope that they, our creations, might take pity and save us from our own limitations?

3) Technical excellence. I've no clue how you created and merged some of these effects, but they're exactly what's needed for your story-telling. I've tried inserting audio into vids before, and it's so damn hard. Yours is crisp, resonant, and timed perfectly around the song and captions. (YOUR CAPTIONS! I LOVE THEM SO!)

Really, I'm in awe.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you for the lovely feedback. I am so happy that you've gotten such a lot out of the vid. It was my first time using a mash-up and I certainly enjoyed the experience. I have a particular soft spot for the "Rock me Joe" terminator so I'm glad you picked that particular section out.

I thought the turtles were a pretty obvious reference to Darwin's study of the Galapagos tortoise but I think you are the first person to specifically mention it so maybe not as obvious as I thought. The turtles in the vid are symbolic of the change in the relationship between humans and robots. Passing the baton from one to the other as the robots evolve.

The apples and snakes are the two sides of the machines on the one hand the threat, danger and deceit of the serpent on the other Eve's curiosity and temptation.

I know voice-overs are something a lot of vidders don't like but I really wanted them for this vid and I'm pretty pleased with how well they worked.

Thanks again!

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

oh my god, that was incredible. recced by a friend. Wow.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it.

[beatrice_otter]

I wanted to watch this vid because I was going through the Wiscon vid list, but alas the old link is dead. Is it available anywhere?

[charmax]

Hi there, the 720x400 version is still up. :)

[beatrice_otter]

Thanks! Don't know how I missed it.