Sweet Charity Video: Still Breathing (Spike, BtVs, AtS)

[charmax]

Video Title: Still Breathing
Song Title/Artist: Still Breathing - Duran Duran
Character/Fandom: Spike, BtVs, AtS
Summary:Spike's redemption song
Length/Format: 4.06 (Xvid)
Notes: What it says on the tin image, commissioned as part of the Sweet Charity Auction, RAINN 2.0.

This is very much a character study of remorse and redemption. The parallels are to show where he's been, how far he's come and how far he still has to go in a geographical sense but more in a personal journey towards becoming a hero. It's also about how he can't escape his past because the same situations keep arising but this time he reacts differently. It's about never going back to his old self or repeating the same mistakes.

My buyer is happy so that makes me happy. :)

Thank you so much xandra_ptv, messyjessie58 & giandujakiss for your helpful beta comments. Sorry if it was you that missed out on the beta process, in total I had 6 opinions on this (which is way more than I usually have) and I had to draw the line somewhere.

Download Xvid (720x400 - 50MB)
Download Xvid (480x272 - 27MB)
stream @ imeem

Feedback is extremely welcome.

Comments

[bradcpu.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to tell you this for ages, charmax, but I just *adore* this. It just aches with this slow burn, and you feel it in every pulse of the music. Maybe the best expression of Spike's...well... existence that I've ever seen in a vid. Feels quite timeless.

On a more technical level, there's beautiful pacing, and I love your use of cool blue and firelight yellow throughout. It reminds me a little of Candleburn in how well you've mastered the connection between color and emotion here.

Also, *terrific* song choice. The lyrics - and the way you show them off - are just absolutely perfect. Got a chill at "I'm just waiting for a good day."

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Hey, Brad.

I wish I could take credit for the song but the sweet charity vidder gave it to me with the brief of it being Spike leaving Sunnydale or LA. I combined it with an idea I'd had for a while about comparing Spike in AtS with Spike in the later seasons of BtVS and this was the result. I am very pleased with how it turned out so I'm ridiculously pleased when anyone shows it some love but particularly when it's someone I know loves the source.

Thank you very much.