Vid: Hallelujah - BSG, Laura/Lee

[beccatoria]

Yes. It's actually finished. For sordid details, see vidder's comments below:

Title: Hallelujah
Pairing: Lee/Laura (Lee POV)
Spoilers: Through 3.20
Summary: Lee and Laura; love is a cold and a broken hallelujah.
Link: Hallelujah - 35mb, .wmv file.

Password: vidses

Watch on Vimeo

Feedback is love.



Dude, this vid damn near killed me.

Originally it was supposed to be a Laura/Lee vid that focused exclusively on them - ignoring the various other romances/realities of the show. Lots of long, slow clips and fades that had to make use of internal rhythm and motion within the clip instead of faster cuts.

The technical aim remains the same - the slow cuts, the grand, elegiac feel (I hope). I'm...mostly happy with the timing. (See more below).

Regarding the subject matter, well, obviously it's still a Lee/Laura video, but it switched rather dramatically to being entirely from Lee's point of view and started to peripherally touch on Dee, Kara and even Oldama. It turned into a relationship falling apart (possibly to rise again? *hopes*) - love collapsing through circumstance though neither parted wanted it that way.

In short, I think it turned into my Lee Adama's video. Perhaps this is my shipper manifesto; what happened from 2.13 onwards if you're me.

As to why this vid damn near killed me, well lets just say I tried using slightly higher source files than usual - which did work, ultimately. So this is much better resolution than most of my BSG vids. Unfortunatley, my highly crappy vidding program (WMM2) couldn't handle it (or the large number of effects, despite the fact they're not obvious), decided to start crashing two thirds of the vid, refusing to render. In the end I had to reinstall my entire freaking operating system, spend literally hours test rendering (when it would work at all) and finally render it in chunks so there were fewer clips. Unfortunately that meant that in two or three sections it's about two or three frames out of synch. It's a small issue that doesn't terribly affect the timing - which I'm still generally happy with. But it niggles. Also unfortunately, it is basically impossible to fix since the program won't render all the clips together, and this happens when I amalgamate them. Plus I lost a lot of the clip markers from the source files when I reinstalled everything meaning unless I rerip it I can't make frame-specific edits to the first half anymore.

Soooo...what I'm saying is, I wouldn't be posting this if I weren't happy with it. And it's as good as it's going to get given my retrograde technology. But it'll never be an editing accomplishment like "Jesus Walks".

Yeah. And, um, that's me bitching about how this video damn near killed me and reduced me to tears at least twice. Hi. Hopefully you won't all now think this vid is crappy before even seeing it!

Comments

[asta77.livejournal.com]

You HAD to post while I was at work, didn't you? Now I have to wait another two hours to watch. Yes, this is all about ME! :p

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Hey, you're my only guaranteed viewer - it might as well be all about you! ;)

[hazyshade.livejournal.com]

This is absolutely fantastic, and the work you put into it definitely shows on-screen. I'm a sucker for Lee POV, and you captured him beautifully. *loves*

(When I used WMM2, unless I did the whole vid in one go it used to crash every 10 minutes, so I feel your pain! )

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it! And especially glad that my interpretation of Lee worked for you - I think he's hard to capture, so good to know you "got it".

Also - thanks for the sympathy! I really should upgrade to something less archaic, but I fear change... ;)

[asta77.livejournal.com]

Ok, you've made me want to rewatch the series now. :)

I have one criticism so let me get that out of the way. Intercutting the footage of Lee being strangled while seeming to watch his father and Laura kiss was odd and I didn't get your intent. I felt like I was watching the kind of movie I don't like to watch if you know what I mean.

I really liked how you used the music and how the chorus of 'Hallelujah' accompanies moments of realization by Lee or signals a change in him - the shooting down of the Olympic Carrier, almost dying and falling below the surface of the water (love how that happens just as the word 'Hallelujah' is being sung), and his moment of panic and pride as he takes command of the Pegasus.

I can't see how this would have worked as a dual POV video and it works better from Lee's POV then Laura's. The way you utilize the clips of Kara and Dee - they are a part of his life, but it's Laura he keeps coming back to.

I loved how you edited the footage from 'Bastille Day' with 'Crossroads' and it fits perfectly with the lyrics - "There was a time you let me know what's real and going on below, but now you never show it to me, do you?" It just sums up beautifully where they were and where they are at now.

I find the ending hopeful. Their estrangement (?) cut with that first moment of connection in the mini - can they get back there? And given my affection for that shot of them sitting across from each other (see icon :) it was a great image to go out on. :)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thanks for taking the time do give such detailed feedback!

I can see where you're coming from with the criticism - it honestly wasn't my intention to make it look, well, creepy/kinky. Though I suppose there was some heavy-handed imagery there. What I wanted to include was some suggestion of Laura's "other" relationships - same as with Kara and Dee - and that it was developing during a period of time when Lee was psychologically unable prevent it and it was developing with the one person he couldn't act out against effectively. As echoed in the slap/kiss/leaving Kara scene, the women in his life seem to be leaving him for reasons that confuse him, and he feels physically beaten/psychologically incapable of action. I think the physical violence in Black Market works well as a physical analogy to his state of mind. When I see the strangling footage, what I see most is him desperately trying to get at something but unable to - a beautiful sorrow and exhaustion as he struggles though he knows it's doomed. Laura tacitly encouraging Adama's crush on her is just as much a betrayal of Lee as Kara using him as a Zak/Anders substitute. And if it's creepy, well, I guess I do find it a little creepy!

But I can see how it could come off as something literal - either a suggestion that Adama had Lee taken out of the equation or that he was getting off on watching his dad kiss his girlfriend. Neither of which was what I was going for... Err...yeah. So, sorry 'bout that and glad you enjoyed it overall!

I completely agree it wouldn't have worked as a dual-POV and I think the way it so quickly and organically changed to Lee-POV supports that point.

Also you wouldn't believe how grateful I am that you understood what I was going for with the Hallelujahs - took me a long time to pick them all out and they're really long - I was worried that it'd come across as filler-footage and not part of the story.

The Bastille Day/Crossroads juxtaposition was really what finally made me actually get on with this video. I'd been wanting to vid these two for a long time but didn't have...well the footage really. I spent most of season three waiting for them to connect again - however briefly - so I'd have an endnote. And for a long time, I figured I'd vid them to "Oooh Child," by Beth Orton. But then I saw Crossroads and realised, no, it had to be this song.

I find the ending hopeful too, actually. Even though I do think this is a vid about a relationship collapsing. Sometimes you have to lose something to realise how much you miss it. :)

[asta77.livejournal.com]

Your explanation helps to make sense of your choice to use that footage of Lee from BM. I wish your rationale came through better because I really like it. :) But I realize you are rather limited in what footage you can use. Damn you Ron! I do think "the women in his life seem to be leaving him for reasons that confuse him" is very true and his words to Dee in 'Crossroads' - "You really don't understand" were an epiphany for him. It was the first time in a long time he wasn't confused, he understood why she was leaving him and, sadly, it was because she never really knew the man she married.

Now I have to start contemplating my post-'Crossroads' fic...

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

It's reassuring to hear that it makes sense to you. Hoping the viewer "gets" the reference is half the fun of vidding ;) On balance, perhaps my initial instinct to use depressed-Lee-on-the-Raptor from Black Market either side of that kiss may have been correct, but hindsight is always 20/20, right? :)

I love that scene with him and Dee. I don't dislike Dee, and it's an interesting and subtle shade to her character that I think most people miss - she's a hardline conservative.

I'll be very interested to see how they handle the Lee/Dee relationship in S4; I'm half expecting them to drop it like it never happened. The weirdest thing is, that sort of fight - you wouldn't expect it to end an marriage. At least...something about the buildup, the way it played, if it had been other characters, I don't think I'd assume it was DivorceCity. Perhaps just in real life, if someone was married, I'd expect them to put a little bit of effort into working something like this out. However, in this instance... I guess that just really says something. Epiphany. Good word.

Now I have to start contemplating my post-'Crossroads' fic...

Far be it from me to stop you! :)

[asta77.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope the marriage is over, however I think it would be good for the characters and the audiance if they addressed the end of the marriage. Let them act like adults and admit that they just can't make this work and why. But I fear around epsiode three or four we'll find out that they have divorced and we'll have some awkward looks between the two in CIC and that's it. :/

[raincitygirl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, neato! Downloading as we speak.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yay! Hope you enjoy it! :)

Also - your icon! Awesome!

[miss-atom.livejournal.com]

Any chance of a youtube link? I would really appreciate it I am desperate to watch! :D

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I don't currently have any plans to upload to YouTube, sorry :( I'd hate to prevent you from watching. I have considered YouTube from time to time and may eventually opt to join. If and when I do, I'll post an announcement on galactica_vids and probably on laura_lee_bsg too.

[vastvision.livejournal.com]

Uh, super! Finally I could download this, my internet wasn't
doing fine lately :)! Now I'm back hehe!

The song is great,
I like how you mixed their other (essential) relationships
into this video.
And it's just *sigh*...poor Laura/Lee!


You should really upload this at youtube!
1. because it's a great vid 2. it supports Laura/Lee
(you know the idea is to flood youtube with L/L videos ;))!

I used to live alone before I knew you

What more is there to say? Both felt best when they were together...!

[thelibraniniquity]

Not usually a Laura/Lee fan, but I gotta say I really enjoyed this one. Excellent job with a Lee POV, struggling to get to what he (thinks he?) wants, but never quite being able to make it, either through his own (in)actions or something beyond his control.

And I sympathise completely about WMM2. I've found it to be an excellent anger management tool, but not very good for much else, unfortunately!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Hey, if you're not a Lee/Laura fan and you still enjoyed it then I must have done something right! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and thanks for both the WMM sympathy and that you took the time to leave feedback. :)

[projectcyborg.livejournal.com]

I gotta say, I fear I'm way too indifferent to Lee Adama to be fully capable of watching this vid. I did appreciate the story you told, though, even if it's your story and not mine. quite a sweeping, coherent narrative. and the editing technique of interspersing long clips with shorter ones worked well -- very lyrical. bravo! I'm glad you didn't die.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Hey - I'm glad you got some appreciation out of it and yes - it's definitely my story more than yours. Though entering into Lee's POV was quite alien for even me and he forms one half of one of my major 'ships.

Believe me; if there were enough footage I would totally vid Maya/Laura, but I doubt there ever will be. Perhaps one day Tory/Laura will be a possibility. I think that a song like this would fit them too. But that's because I think I cast Lee (I DENY his Leemoness!) in very similar roles re: Laura.

Anyway thanks for taking the time to comment - as always I'm hugely grateful for the hosting and hearing that the vid succeeded is awesome.

I'm glad you didn't die.

ME TOO! ;)

[jo-lasalle.livejournal.com]

I came across this going back through the entries on the L/L community, hence this latest feedback ever -- I really like this vid. The song's been on so many soundtracks that I imagined it would be hard to make it fresh, but you did; the song fits them incredibly well and this is possibly the first time I've heard the second stanza incorporated, which has such very tricky lyrics but works beautifully for Lee mid-season 2.

I also love your choice of interpretation for the verse that sounds like it's about sex, and how you framed that in the context of what they've accomplished together.

A really cool interpretation of their relationship, and thanks for persevering in the face of the technological struggles! :-)

[prettyblueroses.livejournal.com]

This was really well done. Very nice how you incorporated the scenes of what they've been through together (and Lee on his own) into the song. I loved watching some of these scenes again through your video as well. Thank you for sharing. =)