Fringe Vid: Split Up Six Ways [Walter]

[beccatoria]

Title: Split Up Six Ways
Video: Fringe
Audio: Bullets // Tunng
Summary: How many ways can you split Walter?
Editor's Notes: With thanks to chaila43 and kiki_miserychic!

Direct download available here. 39 megs approx. RightClickSaveAs.

Vidses: vidses

Watch on Vimeo

Cross-posted to vidding and fringe_tv

Other vids available here.

Comments

[di-br.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. Perfect song for Walter and all his peculiarities. Just brilliant! :)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm really glad you liked it. When I heard the song I knew it had to be done. :)

[twtd]

That song was so perfect for Walter. This vid was great!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The song is just so him right? I knew when I heard it I had to vid it.

[mon-st.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is great! I love the song you chose, and how you included both the humour and the heart-break, and let every character have their moment without losing the focus on Walter. This is very poignant and clever and lovely and makes me miss the show. Can't wait for S3!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! :) I'm really glad that all the different facets of Walter came through - his tangle of contradictions is what makes him so compelling, so I'm really glad that managed to come through in the vid. I can't wait for S3 either!

[emmiere.livejournal.com]

This is marvelous. And amazing at really hitting that twisty balance between playground, warmth, tragedy and horror that Walter's so good at. It's a fabulous song for him.

And I love everything, but both the sections with Dr Warren and her mother, and the "a god in whom you've never believed", just. So. Perfect. !!!! WHITE TULIP! It's the sort of vid I want to put on a continuous loop just to marvel at the comparisons endlessly. Possibly bake it a pie. :) or appropriately buy it a slushie and some Berry Boom cereal.

Both the long shot of Olivia at 1:16 and the last couple in the grocery store also feel like a punch to the gut. Really emotionally powerful in context. And more hilariously, the centipede heart thing beating on the beat was a laugh I wasn't expecting. o_O

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Awesome comment is awesome! :D I wasn't originally planning on making a Walter vid just because he's so complex and I didn't know how I'd do it, but then I found this sooooong and just knew I had to and it immediately jumped up my "to vid" list about three places.

I'm so thrilled you noticed Dr Warren! And the white tulip! The long shot of Olivia at 1:16 was actually one of the first bits I storyboarded in my head (inasmuch as I did that for this vid which ended up being a bit more fly by the seat of my pants), while the grocery shots at the end were a much later addition - I didn't know what I was going to end on but I knew it had to be devastating and I kept panicking I wouldn't find something, until, at last, I stumbled across the perfect clip.

So yes, thanks or noticing pretty much everything I wanted someone to notice! <3

[lsw700.livejournal.com]

This is so lovely!

I really like how you managed to include both the humour and the tragedy of the character - and the song choice is really perfect for Walter. Great job :)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The contradiction between the humour and tragedy of the character was very definitely something I didn't want to lose hold of when vidding him so it's very gratifying to hear I didn't do that.

I wasn't actually planning on vidding Walter until I heard the song and just knew it had to be done, it was so perfect. Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it!

[were-duck.livejournal.com]

FRINGE VID YAY! I love the jarring way you set these clips together, and how you flash between moments of Walter's goodness and moments of his selfishness and cruelty--it's as visually discordant as his life is. Excellent song choice and I like that you maintain the balance between portraying Walter as either a daft, misunderstood genius or a morally impaired sociopath. He's all of that, and his relationships are so fraught, and yet there's warmth and a simple straightforward joy to him, and you capture that so well here. Excellent!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! The contradictions of his personality and life - the way he manages to be cruel and selfish and childish and abusive at the same time as being childlike and innocent and joyful and tragic, is so fascinating to me, because I don't understand exactly how the show manages to maintain that balance without it striking me as hypocritical or annoying, as characters who do terrible things but are treate as "omg so tragic" of often do. And yet, I love Walter and find him fascinating and consistently deeply moving even with all his near-sociopathic behaviour. So I'm really, really pleased that I kept that balance in the vid.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[ghanimasun]

Wow this is really amazing. I love how you balance so many of the aspects of Walter, sad, painful, funny, brilliant, scary. I'm definitely going to be watching this a few more times! There's a lot there, some really impressive and interesting quick cuts and it's paced perfectly overall!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm really pleased that I seem to be striking the right balance between all his contradictions - it's the thing that makes the character so fascinating.. And obviously it's always fantastic to hear it's well-paced and edited! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave feedback and hooray for repeated viewing! :D

[metatxt.livejournal.com]

I am compelled to comment: what is going on in your mood gif that River giving Amy a shot is considered "creative"? ^o

Also your vids are gorgeous evil fandom recruitment material. I have a much more visceral understanding of the meta you so patiently explained earlier. It was clear then that the complexity of this character was difficult to describe to someone who had never seen the show, but it was another thing to experience it. My waning and remaining resistance notwithstanding, dear gods, if I could somehow import a brain-pov-implant of your show reading, I would in a second. Stunning vid.

...um and the eyeballs freak me the fuck out D:

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Hee! Okay, re: the mood theme, some of them are a bit odd because River's not in much (TRAGIC), but this one as I understand it isn't so much about the shot as River telling Amy it won't hurt, Amy yelping, and River going, "There, you see, I LIED." I think she's being "creative" in her method of getting Amy to take the shot quickly?

ALSO THOUGH THE VID! Yayyyyy! I'm really glad that the vid manages to convey more of what we were trying to explain to you which is just ridiculously difficult if you haven't seen it, yes. I mean, honestly, I'm still not really sure how the show manages it but it does and I'm thrilled that this vid manages to help add a visceral level of understanding to the thing.

Also, as I've said, it's got too many standalones, but the show really is worth checking out for some of the characters and ideas. I'm horribly biased, (of course!), but I also really feel that my reading of Walter and the show's treatment of him is intentional and canonical which is another fairly surprising fact. I don't feel that I'm having to work to maintain this reading?

Also yes, the eyeballs freak me the fuck out too, to be honest, but um...if you watch the show, don't do it while eating. The gross bits are usually pretty short but also pretty...eyebally. :/

[meridian_rose]

This was fantastic :)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D I love your icon!

[chaila.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful. As usual, it is such an astute character study, capturing all the different facets of Walter, the weird science bits, the creepy parts, and the tragedy. He's such an ambiguous character and you have kept all that marvelous ambiguity in this. At first, it alternately breaks my heart and makes me smile (and cringe, cause Fringe is gross), and then towards the end it just breaks my heart. He’s forgotten and it’s deeply sad, but the things he’s forgotten are deeply fucked up. There’s a lot of genuinely moving emotion here, especially with Peter and Olivia. I particularly love the parallels of Olivia’s child self and Peter as a child. His love for them and guilt over these absolutely huge things he’s done to them are both clear here, and heartbreaking in a way I still don’t know how the show accomplishes. I love all the "split the secret up six ways" stuff and all the cortexiphan kids, it's beautiful. And those cuts of Olivia and Walter and wee Olive and "you passed” GUH. And Pop Tarts. :((( Infinity divided by Walter!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

GLEE! I'm really glad that you like it and all the different aspects of Walter come through. He breaks my heart but he's really a terrible human being, and usually that's a recipe for me absolutely hating a character everyone else loves, AND YET. WALTER. MY HEART. And you're right, I have no idea how the show accomplishes it. Perhaps by focusing more on Walter's deep devastation and guilt and also on how, well, lost and tragic and small he's become, rather than on trying to make us feel bad for him about it, and therefore we choose to? But...even that doesn't quite seem to cover it.

I'm very pleased that the parallels between Peter and Olivia as children - the things that Walter did to them - come through. It's one of the motifs in the series I find really interesting.

As always your comment is gleeeee. Infinity divided by Walter!

old lies and fireflies

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

You already know how much I love this vid and everything about it. It's a beautiful exploration of Walter, his character, and interactions with others. I love your style and how you handled the concept. The vid has the heart and soul of the show, while including the goofiness and bizarre qualities as well.

Re: old lies and fireflies

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! It really means a lot to me that you think I captured all the different parts of him because it's really the web of contradictions that makes the character. He's goofy and bizarre and frightening and gross and heartbreaking and tragic. I think if I hadn't found such a good song, I couldn't have made it, but I'm so glad I did and that you like it. \o/

[grimorie.livejournal.com]

I... I don't know what to say! Except it's a perfect Walter vid! And the song choice! I'd never have thought of that song for Walter but it is a perfect one!

You've captured every contradiction about Walter and his various, tangled relationships with people around him! Especially Olivia's! I just now only noticed how Walter attempting to hold Olivia's face is a very similar gesture to the way he holds Peter's except it comes out a lot more creepy especially with the way Olivia cringes away from Walter! And Astrid! And his old assistant and the mother! Then that sudden breakdown as our last image of Walter! *shakes head* Wow.

ETA: And I just noticed this after re-watching! You've matched the line: 'Catching bullet with our teeth' with Olivia perfectly! Because that's how it feels most of the time when her back's to the wall and she goes for the risky moves but it also describes how awesome she is!

Thank you for vidding and sharing this!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed it. The contradictions are what makes Walter's character so fascinating so I'm really glad they come through. I think the song has a lot of the credit for making that possible. Though John Noble also infuses the character with such depth and charisma it makes the task easy - which is not to take anything away from the other actors too. The shot where he tries to cup Olivia's face and she pulls away is, as yu note, a fantastic microcosm of Walter and Olivia's relationship, so tender and so disturbing simultaneously.

I'm also REALLY GLAD that you like the "catching bullets with our teeth" thing for Olivia because I really feel like it's apt too - that Walter is like some crazy science backup man when Olivia insists on going out there and, well, trying to catch bullets with her teeth (and succeeds).

Thanks so much for the comment! :D

[cyborganize.livejournal.com]

OMG I found this amazingly fun and compelling considering that it's about a boy so I was incapable of SEEING most of it! I loved the parts about SCIENCE.

you'll be happy to hear that heyiya is now watching Fringe and working on recruiting us...

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I AM INDEED HAPPY TO HEAR THIS! Honestly, it has doppelgangers, and morally ambiguous middle-aged women who are cyborgs, and crazy post-humanist tech stuff, and SCIENCE and a kick ass heroine who's allowed to fight people without having to look like Buffy the Vampire Slayer to do it, and alternate universes and STUFF.

But I am ALSO superhappy to hear that you enjoyed it even though you haven't seen the show,and also all pleased that you even tried, considering it's about a BOY and one you don't even know! I'm really glad that you found it compelling and fun - if you ever get around to watching the show, I'll be interested to know what you make of it after the fact too.

*big sciencey hugs!*

[hollywoodgrrl.livejournal.com]

This vid was fabulous! Everyone already commented on the brilliant song choice but it bears repeating. For me it's the up-beat tune combined with the melancholy in the singer's voice which makes the song so Walter for me. It IS Walter! And again, the way you compartmentalized everything, included the lulz with the angst, the way you divided it to showcase his relationships with each member of the team (I really loved the clips you chose to show the Astrid section) was extremely moving and fabulous and super great. My absolute favorite moment of the vid, however, is 1:25-1:31 as it was PERFECTION on many levels, including the fact that cortexiphan angst is my favorite angst on this show, lol.

BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT JOB!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! You make a fabulous observation about the tone of the singers voice being at odds with the melody - it's easier to focus on the contradiction between the lyrics and tune, but the voice itself is definitely a key part of it.

I'm so happy that you feel it reflected all of Walter, not just a part of him, because his complexity is key to his character, both the funny and moving parts of him.

I'm also really glad you like that section - I wasn't originally sure how to work with the music there - I knew I wanted fast cuts, but not exactly what I would put there, but as I went through I realised it would be perfectly for these longer, slower shots about the fractured angsty cortexiphan-angst, which is totally my favourite angst too.

Thanks for such a lovely comment! :)

[bofoddity.livejournal.com]

This is just brilliant! So perfectly, perfectly Walter.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :D

[nam-jai.livejournal.com]

I'm here from grimorie's rec, and this is just amazing. Definitely downloading. I'm newly completely obsessed with Fringe, and this vid captures so much of why this show has grabbed onto me in the past couple weeks. Also, I already loved the song, and loved what you did with it here.

And all the much more thoughtful, deep stuff people have already said above, I second that!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed it, and it's always awesome to hear someone thinks it's worth a download.

Fringe is wonderful! It really snuck up on me. At first I was like, okay, this show is all right, I like it, then somehow, during the middle and second half of the first season I realised that it was GUTTING ME EMOTIONALLY on a near-weekly basis.

Thanks for taking the time to comment and I'm really glad you think the vid does justice to Walter's brilliant character.

[brijeana.livejournal.com]

Lovely video. Walter just goes straight to my heart. Great song choice, clip selections and editing. I think you've captured Walter perfectly.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Latest reply ever, but thank you. I completely agree about Walter - he really just guts me and I'm never sure when he's about to do it. So glad you think I captured him here.

[goodbyebird]

That was absolutely wonderful ♥

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[tearful-eye.livejournal.com]

that was so awesome.
i think i'm repeating everyone here, but it's still true: absolutley brilliant song choice! i love it.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! And thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it. I really feel I found an absolute gem of a song for this one. I knew I wanted to make a Walter vid eventually but honestly I really thought it'd take much longer to find a song that captured his mix of wacky and tragic and happy and horrible. I'm really glad it works for you!

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

song choice, song choice song choice. it can make or break a vid. but it has CATAPULTED this vid into sheer awesome. the ups and downs! omg, Walter!

I love the intro, the slow, forlorn feeling, but then the bouncy science bits! the intercutting at 1:26!

the pacing through the vid is remarkable and, gah, Walter at 2:52 when he's angry at Belly.

I am overwhelmed by the sheer awesome. The editing, the music, Walter! I love it a LOT.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yessss! As I was just saying in a comment above, I knew I wanted to make a Walter vid for a while, but I really thought it'd be impossible to find a good song for him so I sort of put it on the back burner and forgot about it until I stumbled on this song and it's just so perfect it got jumped right to the top of my vidding list. I'm really happy that it's working for everyone. It was a joy to vid to.

I'm so glad you like it and thanks for letting me know! :D

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

This is fabulous! Perfect song choice and spot on editing. You've just got Walter's story down brilliantly! :D

Have downloaded for keeps.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Very late reply, but thank you so much! It's always fantastic to hear someone thinks I caught the essence of the character and glad it merits a download. :)

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

[Hi, going back through Fringe recs and I found you!]

It is amazing how perfect this song is for Walter and I love the mix of 'omg ew' and 'omg evil Walter!' and 'omg I want to give you a hug' in this vid!!! Wonderful wonderful work!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Hi! :D Glad you found me and glad you enjoyed the vid! Thank you! :D

[crickets.livejournal.com]

What a great vid. And I love the song. Excellent!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :D And I agree, the song is brilliant. First time I heard it I just knew I had to vid it for Walter!

[rainer76.livejournal.com]

I've only just found this series - watched seasons 1&2 in about a week - and this is a fantastic vid. Perfect song choice for Walter, and a perfect selection of clips. Thank you!

[raffaella.livejournal.com]

This is very late, but I've been looking for Fringe vids lately and I found yours yesterday. Amazing. I started with the Olivia vids, because she's my favourite (and I'm incredibly happy that there are so many non-shippy Olivia vids -- I don't mind Peter, but I'm here for Olivia), and I absolutely loved Intelligent Design and Mad World, which are gorgeous and exactly about what makes me tick in this show.

And then I had to check the Walter vid, and it's PERFECT: everything about his character, what he's done, what he used to be, his selfishness, his fear, how utterly damaged and heartbroken he can be, his despair at feeling diminished, and his moments with people he's grown to love: not just the son he stole but Olivia (Oh, Walter and Olivia. I'm so, so happy that what he did to her was never just a neglected plot point, it informs everything between them), and the absolutely lovely relationship he formed with Astrid. Thank you!