New Vid: Memoirs Of A Geisha

[charmax]

Video Title: Birth Of A Geisha
Song Title/Artist: Song Of Birth - Eri Sugai
Movie: Memoirs Of a Geisha
Summary: This is a journey from girl to Geisha. Character study/film overview
Length/Format: 3.38 (Xvid)
Notes:
This was my entry in the Reverie style contest. Vidders were asked to submit anonymously and then members were invited to guess who made what and provide feedback before the vidders were announced. It was great fun and I learned a lot. Half the people who voted guessed me right. I suppose that means I must have quite a distinctive style.

About the vid itself, I don't know what the actual English translation is and all my research pointed to the artist using her voice as an instrument rather than specific lyrics. If it is hideously inappropriate at any point I'm sorry for that but I chose to edit it as if it was an instrumental piece. Memoirs of a Geisha is a beautifully shot film and I did my best to utilise that. I roughly followed the narrative of the film but I did take some liberties, perhaps the biggest of which was the decision to remove the fourth Geisha (Piglet) from the vid altogether.

Download Xvid (960x400 - 85MB)
Download Xvid (720x304 - 35MB)
Med stream @ imeem

Feedback is extremely welcome.

Comments

[martoufmarty.livejournal.com]

I've never seen the movie, but I love this vid. It's so pretty and it just... flows.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

The movie is wonderfully visual, such a pretty film with so many gorgeous scenic shots that it's just inspiring. I've had it going "vid me, vid me, vid me" for like, 12 months? I was just waiting for the perfect song to come along. I'm not sure how much it'll be to your taste but it's a great film so you should give it a try sometime.

Thanks Steph!

Oh and at some point I'll comment on your Nikki/Jessica vid - I like the revisions.

[bradcpu.livejournal.com]

It's tough to say anything specific and coherent about this vid because it has such a oneness to it. It's like a big, visual poem.

Easily the most masterful use of crossfades I've ever seen. And I want to go on record saying this is the only vid that's ever brought me to the verge of tears with its sheer beauty.

It's also wonderful how the music cues are reflected in so many ways - the subtle bouncing through the street, the not-so-subtle sparks in the doorway, the light on the face.

Definitely my favorite vid of yours, Charmax, and I don't say that lightly!

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Brad. I wasn't really expecting you to comment again after you said such fantastic things about the vid on Reverie. I Don't think I've ever been so pleased at the thought of nearly reducing a grown man to tears!

Now the cat's out the bag I'll say that editing to a foreign language song (without any real translation) is a bit odd and really I just went with the music because as far as know the lyrics are nonsensical. I hope you are successful with your vid. I am more than a little intrigued and waiting til after Vividcon might just kill me.

[bradcpu.livejournal.com]

I wish the lyrics to mine were nonsensical. They actually apply to the theme of the vid, which makes it strangely more confusing.

I am more than a little intrigued and waiting til after Vividcon might just kill me
Ditto. :P

[benmars.livejournal.com]

Brings out the gorgeous beauty of the movie even more.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks Ben!

[frivolity65.livejournal.com]

It is a really beautiful vid. :) I haven't seen the film, I am going to have to go and get it to watch it now, the visuals are gorgeous (and Ziyi Zhang is one of the most beautiful women on the planet). Someone already pointed out how smoothly this flows, but then your videos always do. *mwah* XXXXx

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I don't know that much about the actress's other work but I agree with you, she is stunningly beautiful. She had me mesmerized the whole way through. In this film she has blue eyes which make her all the more striking. She's gorgeous and she is talented.

The exquisite imagery in the film really speak for themselves.

Thanks so much for the compliments and the comments, Friv.

[bananainpyjamas.livejournal.com]

This vid still brings me to the verge of tears. One of the most achingly beautiful things I've ever seen. The way you hold an ADD viewer like myself in the palm of your hand even after I've seen it so many times is astounding. *goes to watch again*

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much DC. I never would have figured you'd like the vid so much because your stuff is so much more action-y than I usually do so it's an even bigger compliment. I'm so chuffed!

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Absolutely delicious.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Laura! *g*

[nicole-anell.livejournal.com]

Just watched and loved this. Really beautiful and great editing, especially the amazing fades from one image to another. Oh, and when the light comes on cue around 3:13 - wow. Excellent job! *saves and watches again*

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thanks I'm so glad you liked it. The source footage was so sumptuous I'd been wanting to vid it since I first saw the film. I'm glad I finally got around to it.

[etherealshores.livejournal.com]

Someone pointed me in the direction of your fanvid, and I have to say this is very well done! It's certainly one of the most moving I've ever seen, and I love your style.

Great song choice as well - hardly anyone knows of Eri Sugai, so it was really interesting you picked that one.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you for commenting. I hadn't heard of Eri Sugai until fairly recently but I'm definitely hooked now, such a unique and beautiful sound. It's good to know that you found the vid so touching and the you found the song an appropriate choice for it.

[amalthia]

lovely vid.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you and thanks for the friend, I've added you back. :)

[amalthia]

I friended your imeem account but realized i don't check imeem nearly as often as I do LJ. :)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Yeah same here, I'm much more likely to keep up with people here. If I haven't got my head in Premiere that is. *g*

[txlsplash.livejournal.com]

I can't stop watching this. It's absolutely amazing, and SO BEAUTIFUL, with the music and the cinematography...ah, brilliant. Your crossfades make me want to cry. In a good way.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

It seems this vid is almost too pretty, it's making everyone cry. lol.

It means a lot that you enjoyed it so much and that you took the time to comment.Thanks.

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

Sumptuously beautiful vid (as befits the subject matter).

You use the overlays and crossfades like a geisha's fan, the way the focus shifts from side to side mirrors that cloistered world, its sliding doors and layered robes. Glorious sequence at the turn of the story where the serial overlays give the impression of the girl running though snow covered roofs to be confronted by her adult self.

I also loved the centrality of the relationships between the women, men look on but the greatest passion seemed to come between the girl and her mentor/anti-mentor good mother/bad mother ending in fire. It gave a disquieting edge to the Cinderella ending, I haven't seen the movie but it’s deliciously unclear in the final scene whether the prince at the centre of the labyrinth is really a toad.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. Your summation is beautifully poetic. You're right the focus for me was primarily the main geisha, her mentor and rival. I couldn't leave out the Cinderella style love story altogether and I think it is fair to say that he really isn't a toad even if it is a bit unsettling given that he has known her since she was a child.

I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks again!

[buffyann.livejournal.com]

Again, visually BEAUTIFUL. I didn't like the song really but I was still glued to the screen. The way you used the original source shows your great eye for visuals.
I adored the used of crossfades and probably overlays, I'm not sure when what was used... but really beautiful. You really captured something beautiful and made it beautiful. *love*

[charmax.livejournal.com]

It's a shame you didn't like the song. Personally I love it and it was quite liberating not having to worry about the lyrics (I'm usually very lyric orientated)

Beautiful was the one word I wanted to express in this vid. The original footage was so gorgeous I wanted to really put it centre stage. So that in a way the cinematography is almost a character in the vid.

[buffyann.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry if I gave the impression I didn't enjoy the vid enough. I got tired of the song cause it's very repetitive but it certainly doesn't take anything away from the amazing work you put into it. I really enjoyed your editing, especially since you didn't use "obvious" cuts and transition and yet, ti created something beautiful and I think you paid a great hommage to the original source. :)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

The song is repetitive and intentionally so. Obviously it isn't going to be to everyone's taste or possibly anyone else's choice of vidding song but I love it and what's important, in my eyes, is it fits the source. For me there was no better alternative. The genre, era and subject limits musical selection down considerably, it's generally quite rare for vidders to approach this kind of song but it was an enjoyable challenge for me.

But anyway, I appreciate your comments on this, obviously not everyone is going to like everything every time - different strokes for different folks and all that. I'm glad you could see past the song enough to get some enjoyment out of the vid.

[spookysen.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this vid. Loved the song, and I agree about the voice as an instrument. *Glad you took out Piglet.* She was one of those bitchy people who are just about unforgivable. ;)

I applaud what you did at the parts around 1:01ish 2:15ish. And the end, lol. Good job, you rock. :D

[charmax.livejournal.com]

It's good to know you enjoyed it and thanks for picking out your favourite moments. There wasn't any room for piglet in this vid and she did turn out kind of unpleasant but I think that's understandable when you see how her dreams were quashed and how unimportant she was made to feel.

Cheers, Sen.

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

This is just gorgeous. The source is sumptious and you did fantastic things with the movement and colors. And the overlays/crossfades you used. Makes my eyes ridiculously happy to watch it. :}

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Visually, this is one of the most breathtaking films I've ever seen and this was one of those rare occasions for me where a vid looks exactly how I envisaged it. The crossfades just couldn't fail.

[balistik94.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. Seamless use of overlays and wonderful musicality. Stunning piece.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[azdaja-dafema.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful. I love the way you blend the scene-changes. There's such a flow to this. I don't know what the words mean, but it certainly works as an instrumental, I think. The colours are so beautiful.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Again with the tardiness! I am so sorry. Truthfully, I don't know if the meaning of the words is relevant but they certainly create the right soundscape for the vid. Glad you enjoyed it.