New Vid [The L Word] - Space Dementia

[f1renze]

I, JD, JDS, Jennifer Schechter, have so many songs. I don't know where I begin. Or if I end.

Song: Space Dementia
Artist: Muse
Source: The L Word
Download: direct link (DivX, 25.8 MB) | website link

For the longest time, Jenny was my least favorite character on the show. Until one day sweetestdrain said to me, "Just pay attention." And I did. And we ended up telling you this story.

Thanks to sisabet for beta comments.

Notes:
- You might need the DivX codec to watch the vid.
- This vid premiered at the VividCon 2005 Challenge show, "Milestones".


Space Dementia - Muse

H-eight is the one for me
It gives me all I need
And helps me coexist with the chill
You make me sick because I adore you so
I love all the dirty tricks
And twisted games you play on me

Mmmm, yeah
You'll make us want to die
I'd cut your name in my heart
We'll destroy this world for you
I know you want me to feel your pain

Space dementia in your eyes and
Peace will arise and tear us apart
And make us meaningless again
Ooooh...


Comments are most appreciated.

Comments

[estella7.livejournal.com]

Argg!! I'm just stepping out the door, so I'll have to wait til I get home to watch. I'm intrigued. :D

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Yay! Looking forward to your thoughts.

[estella7.livejournal.com]

OMG, you are so good at this! I hoped one day you'd make an L Word vid.

She's such a wounded little bird. :(( This vid, with this music, just spells out how much Jenny has changed and how far she still needs to go to find peace. Woe. I really miss this show.

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, Estella.

how much Jenny has changed and how far she still needs to go to find peace.

That's it, yeah. Like sweetestdrain points out in her post, Jenny's journey is a circular dicovery.

[mstweak.livejournal.com]

I'm coming from the L Word comm.
I absolutely loved that, the ending was my favorite. Very nicely done!

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for watching and letting me know. The ending's my favorite too. :D

[lierdumoa.livejournal.com]

I had your reaction to the character. I didn't really like her at all in season 1. I started liking her more in season 2, but then I got other fannish obsessions and wasn't able to keep up with the show.

I thought this vid was fantastic. The song was so intense, and though I didn't hadn't known this side of the character, you made me really want to know this side of her.

I'll try to give better feedback later when I can drag my brain away from SGA for at least two seconds.

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this. The show *did* get more interesting in the second season. Just holler if you need eps, of course :>

PS: Your SGA squee delights me. I've missed many eps, but I'll eventually catch up!

[lierdumoa.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! If you catch up you have to beta for me!

I would love for you to hook me up with season 2 eps.

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

I can burn the eps for you. E-mail me your address? flozie at gmail dot com.

[lierdumoa.livejournal.com]

E-mail sent! Thanks!

[shynnagh.livejournal.com]

Very well done. Thank you for sharing it. :)

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

This is such a beautiful vid. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Also - be careful. Your L-Word has just acquired a vid-troll.
http://www.livejournal.com/community/vidding/318799.html

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

And yeah, I saw that post. Grrrarh!

[jainieg.livejournal.com]

SKA-WEEEEEEEEEE! I love this vid! Lovelovelovelovelove!

And I love you and then also sweetestdrain for helping you to see the brilliantly wonderful and exquisitely beautiful mess that is Jenny.

*MWAH!*

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Waaah! You're making me so happy.

Thank you, sweetie. Let's hope more people out there will give Jenny and the show a chance!

::smooches back!::

[sakuracorr.livejournal.com]

That was fucking fantastic! The editing blew me away. Wow, just wow!

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really appreciate it.

[omfgdidusayporn.livejournal.com]

very nice. :)

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Yay, thanks!

[twistinside82.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm going into this waaaay biased, cos I can't stand Jenny, but like the others, it's a Flo vid, so ... yes. Watching. :)

Um. Fab. I love the clips playing in rapid fire behind the shots of Jenny's face, and omg Shane/Jenny BFF, and the way the end kind of burns out into white.

I still don't like her, but I do feel like I *get* her more, which I suppose is what you were really trying to do, eh?

Anyway, as usual this is visually stunning and technically magnificent. You continue to be my fave vidder of all time. I swear you could vid like ... court footage and it would be brilliant. :X:X:X

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

You... just made me all teared up. Thank you so much for this. And yes - even a wee bit more understanding of Jenny suggests that I did my job. ::hugs you::

[sxemama.livejournal.com]

This vid is just too good.. I love it! What program did you use to make it?

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I use Adobe Premiere.

[keewick.livejournal.com]

I really, really love this vid, Flo. And after playing it practically on loop the past couple of days think I have a better understanding of it, and Jenny. As a non-TLW viewer, my interpretation might be even more skewed than usual though, so beware. ;)

Thematically, I think this - and every halfway decent vid - is made up of hundreds of milestones...I mean, generally vidders are attempting to explore some form of transition, *change* via their creations so it's all a matter of degree, really. That said, I would say "Space Dementia" featured the evolution of Jenny's character (the questioning and challenging of her identity, sexual and otherwise, with her underlying need to define herself driving the vid), but that it culminated in *one* single milestone.

Originally, I found the ending degrading, but upon subsequent viewings, I've changed my mind. I think that while she tries to define herself through her sexuality and her writing, somewhere along the way it becomes about accepting herself instead and that *that's* what the bus sequence (where she's crying and hugging her victimized child self) and final stripping sequence amounts to.

The leering men admittedly jarred me and I saw Jenny through *their* eyes upon my first few viewings, but later, I tried to see it through Jenny's gaze and I suddenly felt, if not empowerment, than at least acceptance of self. From her pov, I got the impression that she was determinedly facing those that had sexualized her so she could take that power back in their presence and move on with her life.

I don't know if any of the above makes sense or is anywhere close to what you were aiming for with this vid, but it moved me nevertheless and I thought you'd want to hear that if nothing else. Seriously, I think this was the most emotionally *powerful* vid I saw at VVC this year; it made me *feel* and *react* even if my interpreting skillz are for shit. ;)

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Oh Keely, you just made my *week*.

You really, really got it. Wow. And it means even more since you don't know the show. I am forever grateful.

I think this - and every halfway decent vid - is made up of hundreds of milestones...

Yeah. Like you, I define milestones somewhat loosely. I guess it's partly because I'm such a drama princess, where every life change feels discontinuous AKA never gradual.

Originally, I found the ending degrading, but upon subsequent viewings, I've changed my mind. I think that while she tries to define herself through her sexuality and her writing, somewhere along the way it becomes about accepting herself instead and that *that's* what the bus sequence (where she's crying and hugging her victimized child self) and final stripping sequence amounts to.

It was exciting (for me and sweetestdrain) how people at VVC got these different interpretations from the ending. I think the show leaves it open to interpretation, and that's *wonderful*, but I have to say that my intent in the vid is closer to your latter interpretation. So, coolness :> Also? How much do I love you for getting the part where it's her victimized child self that she's hugging?? Eee!

I think this was the most emotionally *powerful* vid I saw at VVC this year; it made me *feel* and *react* even if my interpreting skillz are for shit. ;)

Your interpreting skillz are mad like whoa. And I just want to squeeze you really really hard right now! Thank you, thank you. ::hugs you tight::

beauty in breakdown

[sombrapreciosa.livejournal.com]

i really wish more people would just "pay attention." jenny is by far the most underrated character on this show. to say that she is complex would be an understatement. there are so many layers wrapped up in emotion, uncertainty and discovery. i adore watching them all unfold.. watching her take ahold of who she is and figure out what she is to become at the same time. the intensity she projects is beyond addictive. to put it simply, i love artists with actual depth.

your video is beyond beautiful. the music was perfect and i think it made me love her even more if thats possible. thank you for making it. x

Re: beauty in breakdown

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the kind comment. I enjoyed every word you just said about our girl, and I'm so glad the vid worked for you! :D

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I really feel you captured the character and journey of Jenny in this vid. I don't really like Jenny in the show perhaps because in some ways she is a bit close for comfort. That said she is the key character in the L word and annoying and bewildering as her actions sometimes seem I think it captures someone’s descent into madness very well. And that is the strength of this vid. It takes all the clues, which were there from very early on, that Jenny was damaged and puts them together in such a way that I found myself truly empathising with her.

I love the editing choices you made. Those little jump cuts and cross fades within a scene really give a sense of someone who is slipping away from the world, losing little bits of time and making everything seem slightly unreal and unfamiliar.

While I am commenting I should mention that I have been a secret admirer of your vids for quite a while. I am particularly in love with your Hex vid. Not least because I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one watching that show.

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you *so* much for this. Wow.

I'm glad you caught Jenny's early clues. They annoyed and confused me somewhat in season 1, but in season 2 they're suddenly so much fun to explore. And they break my heart!

Your emphatizing with Jenny makes me so happy. I feel like I was carrying a message with this vid, just for people to get Jenny even a bit more. I'm glad it worked for you.

Those little jump cuts and cross fades within a scene really give a sense of someone who is slipping away from the world, losing little bits of time and making everything seem slightly unreal and unfamiliar.

Wah! How beautifully put. ::is so giddy now::

Thanks also for your general support of my vids. And YAY for Hex! I notice that you live in the UK - how lucky! I hope I'll find the episodes for download soon after they air over there.

Nice meeting you, and thanks again for the kind words.

ahrg typo

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

I meant *empathizing*, of course. That was me giddy from your comments. :D

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

This was a lovely vid. Pretty and rather unsettling. The idea of her continually remaking herself was very interesting to watch, even without source familiarity. :]

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm glad to introduce her story to you!

PS: I am now officially in love with VM. Will say more when I am less incoherent with cracktastic obsession, OMG.

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

::is giddy for you:: :D

[washizdarkbliss.livejournal.com]

I just have to leave a comment here. Though, I don't know what to say exactly, and I'll probably end up babbling like some insane person.
This video is one of the best, if not the best I have ever seen. First of all, the song itself is amazing. Incredibly good choice there.
The first time I saw this vid, I just stayed rooted to my seat and let my player play it over and over. Just ... wow.
I swear, there are so many thoughts swirling in my head everytime I watch this video. I won't get into them, because I'd end up not making sense, but just know that I adored this video. Thanks for sharing it with us. :D

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. Wow. I'm glad it worked for you, and I really appreciate you letting me know. Please feel free to dump these swirling thoughts of yours anytime you like. We can just, you know, not make sense together ;)

[nzlaura.livejournal.com]

I've never seen the show, but now I really want to. Great vid - gorgeous shots, and obviously showing some pretty complex stuff I don't understand without context. Loved the unusual song choice too, it was very powerful.

[f1renze.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I appreciate it. L Word is a mixed bag, but the first couple of seasons were a lot of fun.