Video: Suicide Note (REMASTERED)

[charmax]

Video Title: Suicide Note
Song Title/Artist: Suicide Note - Johnette Napolitano
Show: Angel
Summary: A reflective look at Illyria and Wesley's growing relationship and how it has come to mean more than expected.
Length/Format: 5.19, (WMV, Xvid)
Notes: When I originally made this the show had not long finished airing and so the only footage I had to work with had a huge WB logo and was not great quality. I always promised myself that I would remake it when I bought the DVDs and now eventually I have. Aside from the obvious improvement in picture quality I have made some clip changes to hopefully make things flow a bit better. I have also changed the transitions to get rid of the rather unsatisfactory white-outs and replaced them with something not as heavy handed. I have played with the colours this time too. I went for a muted blue/grey tone that hopefully reflects the mood of the video (and I was maybe just a smidge influenced by Supernatural).

Download Xvid (720x416 - 40MB)
Download WMV (480x272 - 19.9MB)
stream at imeem

Feedback is great.

Comments

[lidi.livejournal.com]

Better late than never, so here I am :)
first of all - it's one of the most powerful, emotional and moving vidoes that I've ever seen. And not in an annoying, one-time way. No, I can watch it over and over again. And then take a pause, rewatch it in a week and still that that powerful surge of emotions, that this video evoked the very first time.

I have several favourite bits. I couldn't pick them up at first - since that video is really whole, integral - but after making those infamouse icons I finally picked up on small details.

For example, I really love when Illiria touches her tomb (and we saw Wesley's previous fascination with it). So I see almost erotic subtext in that bit. Brilliant.

Then I love how he's falling on his knees - when wounds of love are much more damaging that wounds of weapons. It also collaborates greatly with lyrics - stoiclast stand of dying man.

Another excellent moment is when Illiria turns into Fred. We've never seen it onscreen before. I think it was Weadon's decision - not to make Illiria any more human. But with that transition, when we see what Wesley saw in his last moments - aww, it breaks my heart.

And farewell with Agnel - of course Wesley knew that he'll die. So their goodbye looks even more tragic than before.
Also the way we see Wesley discovering papers conserning his erased memories - somehow you get the feeling that he's doomed. The single fact that he's ready to learn the truth by any price (and here goes phrase about pulling the pin on that grenade) tells us that he'll indeed pay the most tragic, full price for that. He doesn't value his own life that much anymore, and he's walking on a thin ice.

And, of course, the hearbreaking loophole of death - endless dying in hands of each other. First - Fred on Wesley's hands, and then Wesley's on Fred's. It's even more twisted and tragic than any Romeo and Juliet variation. Somehow they'll die, and die, and die in the end. (and when I put video on repeat it became and endless loophole of tragedy).


Also I have to metniton flawless editing. All character's movements interlace smoothly. For example, take a bit fro 3:12 to 3:29. Amazing!

Actually I usually prefer not to devide video to small good and interesting bits. The wonder of video is in it's wholeness. And it's like deconstructing your favourite you - you may never get it back if you go too far in breaking it up to small pieces. So I'll just stop here.

Oh, and I absolutely have to praise faded colours of this video. It's creates perfect mood from the beginning. Like powerful energy had been slowed and it can't take it anymore. And it's turning to ashes. And we all look at its dawnfall with awe (very much like in case with Illiria).

Thank you very much for this amazing creation. It's really perfect.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback. It's good to know that you view it as a whole because really that is the best thing that could be said about any video.

The moments you picked out are some of my favourite parts too. I do like the idea that there is a hint eroticism to the vid amongst all that tragedy.

Oh and I like the description of the faded colours, I wish I had said something that poetic in my notes. :D

Thanks again for taking the trouble to leave a comment.

[lidi.livejournal.com]

well, actually I really was planning to write it even earlier, but I was really embarassed after that story with icons, so I felt too shy to write anything.
Instead I wrote it all down on paper (while I was in a subway ;) ).

that video is perfect in all it's components and it wouldn't be fair to devide it into several parts. usually *good* videos have several good parts, which rise above all other simple and ordinary parts. yet in this case the whole video is perfect in it's steady goodyness :))

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I don't hold any grudge over the icons and you shouldn't feel embarrassed. It is a compliment in itself that my vid inspired you to make something in your chosen medium.

Again it is really nice that you see the video as one seamless piece which was my intention. When I hear people are enjoying it like you are it makes the vidding process so much more rewarding. *g*

[lidi.livejournal.com]

oh, I don't know what to say :))
I feel so good right now :))


oh, and can I ask you something completely off-topic - I saw first episode of Eureka and I was wondering in next episodes are really good? (I love your new lj-design, so I was thinking of watching Eureka some more ;) )

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Yes lidi, Eureka is definitely worth watching! It is my favourite of the new shows this season partly because it is a lot more witty and fun than some of the other sci-fi shows. I absolutely recommend that you watch it. I think everyone should give it a shot. *g*

[lidi.livejournal.com]

great! :)) thank you for recommendation :)


oh, and imagine my joy when I found out that our server actually has not one but four episodes of Eureka. yay! :)