Research Into Similar Products: Editing within Fan Videos

I live off 'fanvids' for my daily fix of favourite actors/movies, for a source of inspiration and to evoke my emotions. I just adore them soo much! There are many fanvideos which show such artistry and I thought it about time to write about some of my recent favourites and how they affect me.

Thorin/Bilbo - He was my friend
(by 00shelly77)

"How rare and beautiful it is to even exist"

..."I'd give anything to hear
you say it one more time
that the universe was made
just to be seen by my eyes"

This fanvideo reminded me of my love for Thorin Oakenshield, Richard Armitage and The Hobbit. I'd have used fanvideos such as these to get myself into an emotional state for a character (so this one could be useful for doing emotional scenes as Senara) but in terms of my trailer, it reminded me that I wanted this trailer to be a tragedy and a love story... And that 'the romantic interest is too precious to be seen by the audience.' I can't have the connection with the trailer I want if the main male isn't right, and if I don't have the right connection with the actor on camera I can't portray him correctly (I know it's just a trailer, but I take this very seriously.) So I'm thinking of removing the content with him in, and maybe Stephen's footage could be 'another guy' Senara goes to for personal gratification when her lover's died. I might remove the name 'Isaac' too since I want to start again with his character.
The timing of the clips to the music is just beautiful and really shows the admiration and 'love' Bilbo has for Thorin... 

Between The Raindrops - Thorin/Bilbo
(by yugiohvampire)

"I think I'm quite ready for another adventure"

It's obvious they edited in Thorin at the 'Return of the King' clip in the end, but it really adds to the 'fandom' idea that Bilbo had a great emotional connection to Thorin and can never forget him. Again, this is a fanvideo that made me cry a lot and I love the timing of the lyrics "imbetween the raindrops, riding the aftershock beside you" then Thorin appears! Such timing is extremely important to keep in mind when making my trailer!

Thorin/Bilbo: Young and Beautiful (by Zafonso Unohana)

I've really been getting into Lana Del Rey, so really enjoyed this fanvideo, but the thing that made me most attracted to this one was 50 seconds in when Thorin turns his sword on Bilbo at the lyrics 'Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful'. This darker scene made me think of some context for my trailer (especially if the story of my trailer-in my head- was based in a fantasy WORLD like Middle-Earth-not just Senara being fantastical) that in a 'high emotion' part of the story, Senara may turn on her lover because of her Succubus nature; just like how Thorin turns on Bilbo because of his Dragon Sickness. I could imagine her trying to fight him but he clings onto her, stopping her from fighting him, she tells her to look at him and when she eventually does she realises what she's doing and she reduces to tears. Senara's condition tests their relationship at times; but he has an element of understanding towards her--I'd like to think they help and support each other mutually. But this isn't completely legit, but it was rather inspiring for me to imagine. I guess this is what I mean when I say that fanvideos really can get your creative thoughts flowing!

Thorin & Bilbo - Oh No!(by 00shelly77)

"Cause I feel like I'm the worst
So I always act like I'm the best!"

I've been totally grooving to this song since I watched this video, and I had to mention it because I love how the editing really puts a crazy, chaotic, dark comedy edge on the story, especially the 'I'm gonna die, die, die, die" moment... The lyrics also has such a match to the story like in the line 'If you are not very careful, your possessions will possess you!' as well as the lyrics being incredibly relateable. This is such a slick fanvideo (despite the 'chessey' transistions like the 'slide in/outs' - but it did fit within this one) and I just love how cleverly done it is!

Behind Blue Eyes - Captain James Hook (Peter Pan 2003) Jason Isaacs
(by Skye Sweetheart)

"No one knows what it's like to feel these feelings,

Like I do,
And I blame you"

Since getting into Peter Pan, I've gotten to know of many fanvideos related to my favourite character; Captain Hook. This was the one I watched the most and I love how fanvideos basically use a song to empathise with a character's life and experiences, switching the way they're viewed onto a more sympathetic angle. I love the way Hook's charater is understood so well with this song and it's interesting how merely music and a swapping around of scenes could show a character and story in a different light.
I'll definitely keep this in mind when picking shots and editing down my trailer (along with music choice!)

Harry Potter - Face Down - Draco & Lucius Malfoy
(by AmphitriteEstelle)

"I see the way you go and

say you're right again,
say you're right again,

heed my lecture!"

I already loved this song, but in the context of this video, it's supposed to tell a different story on Draco and his father Lucius' relationship. Here Harry observes an abusive father-son relationship and seeks to tell Dumbledore (what creative things fans spend time doing, eh?). This person is very fond of fades; fade to black, fade to white, dissolve! But it does fit in with the 'alternative rock' sound, so I'll let them off with their lack of editing styles. In terms of the story-telling, it's pretty good, but the song tells the story more than the clips do; audio does have a massive part in it all.

Draco Malfoy - My Skin
(by OAKESHx)

I love the timing at the beginning with the opening singing and the dialogue from Dumbledore; the elements in this fanvid I love the most is the timing of dialogue in cue to the delicate, emotional song. Throughout this video, the creator manipulated the dialogue to make it seem Draco's being constantly insulted and antagonised (even when they were talking about someone else in the actual movie). This made me wonder about the idea of Senara being antagonised in my trailer; she tries but when she does, she finds doing wrong more and more tempting -  or maybe her reputation (if it every comes out that she carries much death on her shoulders) exceeds her to the point everyone turns on her... But surely not her lover (the romantic in me says 'they're faithful and true to each other for ever!!!') 

There's a similar fanvideo of Captain Hook using the same song and 'dialogue timing' ideas... I might as well post it here too!

Captain James Hook - Becoming Untouchable
(by MsOpponent)

"Well contempt loves the silence, It thrives in the dark,
With fine winding tendrils
That strangle the heart"

I personally really love the delicate nature of this video; the lack of audio lets the images and song speak for themselves. Yet the dialogue that is included must be very important. I especially love the fade to black 'Hast thou ever wanted to be a pirate, my hearty?' The song empathises with Captain Hook so well...

I cannot believe how beautiful, powerful, sorrowful and poetic the song used actually is! I'll put the lyrics video down below as well; it really feeds my imagination for tragic characters and dialogue... The second half (that isn't used in these videos) is so emotional...My Skin - Natalie Merchant

"Do you remember the way
That you touched me before,
All the trembling sweetness
I loved and adored?"

Now for my final fanvideo to share, it was my first one when I fell in love with The Hobbit (sorry, another Hobbit one! I couldn't resist...)

The Hobbit - Love Turns to Ashes
(by TisiphoneErinye)

"Every night, I dream you're still here,

The ghost by my side,
so perfectly clear.
When I awake, you'll disappear,
back to the shadows,
with all I hold dear,
with all I hold dear..."

I always absolutely adored the story telling with this video; with both the song (Still Here from Digital Daggers) as well as the ordering of the clips and editing techniques. I think this video gives a bit of a 'nutshell' of the first Hobbit movie, but leaves just enough ambiguity as well (mainly showing the sadness Bilbo must've felt in Lord of the Rings when his life with the dwarves was over...) which is essential for trailers - not too much given away but just enough to give a rough idea of the story but must still make it unpredictable/attractively unique the the audience. 

I suppose this is where I get most of my awesome music taste from; all these fanvideos I watch! 

This has been a really fun blog post to write; and it was a little nostalgic looking back on some of these favourite videos, as well as re-discovering songs I didn't look into as much before. This will be so helpful in understanding the tone which I want my trailer to have, and the relationship between song and editing. I think the songs used and the editing should be rather sad and sympathetic to character more than anything... besides, who needs 'high action' when you have an emotional journey instead?