exsequar: (SN Bros love the whole of you)
exsequar ([personal profile] exsequar) wrote2006-10-18 10:48 pm
Entry tags:

Vid Post: Blind, by starsouls1013 (Anne) - Supernatural, Dean POV

Here's the video I premiered at WinCon! Enjoy!

Title: Blind
Artist: Placebo
Vidder: [livejournal.com profile] starsouls1013 (Anne)
Fandom: Supernatural
Character/Pairings: Dean and Sam, Dean POV
Spoilers: Through Devil's Trap
Summary: "If I could tear you from the ceiling, I'd freeze us both in time..."
A/N: Endless thank yous to everyone who cheerled me along the way in this process. [livejournal.com profile] mona1347 and [livejournal.com profile] poisontaster were especially kind and effusive. ♥ A thousand thanks to my betas, [livejournal.com profile] dualbunny and [livejournal.com profile] ringwench for thoughtful and exceedingly helpful comments. And a huge shout out to [livejournal.com profile] ringwench for organizing the WinCon vid show, which was absolutely STUNNING. It was so much fun to be able to premiere my baby at WinCon, and she made it possible! And finally a huge thank you to the AWESOME [livejournal.com profile] whosjeebus for popping my files up on her hosting service so I can have permanent links for ya’ll!
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. Woe.

DOWNLOAD LINKS (right-click, save as):
Large (.avi, XviD): Blind 98 MB
Medium (.avi, XviD): Blind 40 MB

To view these videos, you’ll have to have the proper codec. I recommend downloading VLC, which is a media player that has pretty much every codec you’ll ever need and can play almost any video file you could dream of. Extremely handy.


Blind has won two awards at Friendly Neighborhood Video Awards:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

And two awards at the Art of Vidding Awards:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

And two at Path of the Heart Vidding Awards:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


“Blind” by Placebo

If I could tear you from the ceiling
And guarantee source divine
Rid you of possessions fleeting
Remain your funny valentine

Don’t go and leave me
And please don’t drive me blind
Don’t go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind

If I could tear you from the ceiling
I know the best have tried
I'd fill your every breath with meaning
And find the place we both could hide

Don’t go and leave me
And please don’t drive me blind
Don’t go and leave me
And please don't drive me blind

You don’t believe me
But you do this every time
Please don’t drive me blind
Please don’t drive me blind

I know you’re broken
I know you’re broken
I know you’re broken

If I could tear you from the ceiling
I’d freeze us both in time
And find a brand new way of seeing
Your eyes forever glued to mine.

Don’t go and leave me
And please don’t drive me blind
Don’t go and leave me
And please don’t drive me blind
Please don’t drive me blind
Please don’t drive me blind
Please don’t drive me blind
Please don’t drive me blind

I know you're broken
I know you're broken
I know you're broken



Well, the most basic thing is that the entire video is Dean speaking to Sam. There are three main things that Dean wants to say: 1) Don’t leave me again, 2) Stop wounding me so often with your words and actions, and 3) I wish I could save you/protect you from this pain. Dean is struggling with the fierce, passionate love he has for Sammy and all the pain that that love keeps throwing back in his face.

The first statement (Don’t leave me) has two levels, which I use at different points in the vid – one is that Dean doesn’t want Sam to return to school, to ditch the hunting life again. Dean only feels whole when Sam is around, and Sam seems to be pulled by his idea of “normality” away from the relationship that he and Dean share. The second layer of “leaving” is death – Sam is in danger SO many times during the first season, and Dean is begging Sam to not leave him alone, once and for all, in that sense. So on many of the “Don’t go and leave me” lines, I have Dean desperately trying to save Sammy from the Monster of the Week. Dean wishes more than anything else that he could keep Sam out of danger, that his little brother’s life wouldn’t be risked on a daily basis.

The second part is Dean’s pain when Sam says things like, “How the hell could you know how I feel?” (or something like that – I’m too lazy to open up Scarecrow) and is just generally insensitive and selfish, because Sam definitely is sometimes, and part of it is because of his hero worship of Dean – he doesn’t realize how fragile Dean is, how emotionally dependent Dean is on Sam, so he whips out these cruel barbs and they just lodge in Dean permanently. So the "please don't drive me blind" thread is Dean wishing Sam would just stop doing that.

The third is Dean’s desperate, all-consuming desire to save Sam. This is all encapsulated in his (ohmyacheyheart) line in Something Wicked, “If it means anything, sometimes I wish you could too.” It hurts Dean that the one thing he treasures most in the world is subjected to the brutal world of hunting that, while Dean feels at home in it, is violent and cruel. This sentiment is focused around the repeated line in the song, “If I could tear you from the ceiling.” Of COURSE when I was choosing a song, that line jumped out at me, and I just hoped that the rest of the song would be as perfect – which it turned out to be! I immediately knew I wanted to dodge the literal route – the video I wanted to make was about Sam and Dean, and no one else except in how they affect DeanandSam. So I consciously avoided most of the woman-on-ceiling shots (there’s a brief one of blue!Jess from Sam’s dream, but it’s not even on this line) and instead stuck with a metaphorical interpretation of the “ceiling” as the entire plight that the Demon has put them in. Here, “tearing Sam from the ceiling” is Dean rescuing Sam from what he has been “chosen” for, but he is unable to completely do so – he helps as much as he can (giving support during visions; saving Sam from the burning houses TWICE; shooting hot-unnamed-son-of-Demon to save Sam) but he wishes desperately that he could do more.

The video has an arc that starts with Dean saying all of these things to a brick wall – Sam keeps wanting to leave, Sam keeps being selfish and doing things that hurt Dean. But by the end of the video, the “don’t go and leave me”s are paired with clips where Sam doesn’t leave, where he chooses DEAN, stands by Dean’s side, finally gets fully comfortable in their bond. This manifests itself in the final chorus with clips of Sam saving Dean in Faith and Nightmare, as well as choosing Dean when Dean says he thinks John is possessed. These are hopeful signs of Sam’s growth and understanding of what Dean has been pleading of him this entire time. I am overjoyed to see this pattern of maturity and selflessness continuing gorgeously into the second season – our little Sammy is truly growing up! :)

The “I know you’re broken” parts are, obviously, Dean acknowledging that part of Sam’s unintentional shredding of Dean at every turn is Sam’s scars from Jess’s death. Dean knows that, he does, and he wants Sam to heal, but at the same time he wants Sam to stay there for Dean. This video is Dean’s semi-selfish internal thoughts, but Dean is the most selfless person ever, so that’s why he never really voices or pushes any of them on Sam.

Oh Dean. Best big brother in the WORLD.

Just a couple of my favorite moments, visually and thematically, because I know I’m always curious to see what other vidders are most pleased with in their own work.

2:21 – The turning motion of Sam’s head (thematically important because there he is making his decision, Dean or Dad, Dean or Dad) transitioning into the demon tackling him off screen in the same direction. Yay for internal motion!

2:31 – “I’d freeze us both in time.” This was the first concrete clip idea I had in my head when I first really listened to this song. I could have cut this verse for length, but I just had to keep it in for this line. Dean wishes so much he could turn back the clock and just be baby Dean with his little baby Sammy to take care of, in a normal big brother way. That way, Sammy would be safe. So there’s Dean running backwards to the crib, and the kissing of the forehead – that’s the pre-Demon happy place, that is.

2:35 – Continuing from that moment, this series of three images makes me so happy – wee!Dean kissing wee!Sammy, notsowee!Sam leaning down over broken Dean in DT, and Dean crouching down by Lucas in DITW. The motion of the three together, all moving downward in frame, just works so well for me. Thematically, we’ve reached the part of the video where Sam Chooses Dean, and that moment is one of the key indications of that fact (Sam steps OVER John to get to Dean – oh man).

Okay and I will shut up now.


I hope you all enjoyed the vid! Feedback is GREATLY appreciated. Really. Even if it’s just a short reaction – though in depth reactions are awesome too ;)

[identity profile] paddle-slut.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
god anne, i so luv this vid!!! im going to pimp like crazy for the rest of the week...

s'cuse me while i go fangirl your greatness
wolfling: (dean faded)

[personal profile] wolfling 2006-10-19 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
I'm really glad to be able to dl and rewatch this because I really wanted to see it again. It works very well. Some of my favourite moments are ones you mentioned above too -- the use of the pilot fight and the backwards clip on I'd freeze us both in time especially.

*goes to watch again*

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
Aw LAURA MY LOVE. I miss you so much babygirl! *clutches* I'm glad to see that you got home intact! (Unless you are commenting from beyond the grave - which, spoooooky!)

Thank you honey :D *smooch*

[identity profile] paddle-slut.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
aw anne hunny, im almost dreading tomorrow...i don't wanna fangirl alone *iz sad*

we got home this morning at 6...it was a crazy long drive, i don't know how jacki did it...well, i do...3 cups of coffee & lots of sugar will do that to a girl

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much! It was really awesome to get to sit and chat with you about vidding. I rewatched yours with your comments in mind, and it was really awesome to see more of what you intended with it!

Again, thank you!

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
Awww i HEARD. You poor lambs. *snuggles*

I caught the PLAGUE from Sarah and Jacki *shakes fist*

awww I know! I will totally call you (do I have your number? I dont think so... GIMME YOUR DIGITS BITCH. Unless i have them already. but. JUST IN CASE) and we can squeal because OMG. So excited.

[identity profile] paddle-slut.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
*laughs* aw anne, you're so cute...ive totally lost my voice, so im not going to be that cute on the phone...

"common mark all around everybody's having a great time SMACK IT"...*whimpers* it's just not the same by myself

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
SMACK IT!

[identity profile] paddle-slut.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
*hystarical sobbing* I MISS MY FANGIRLS
amalthia: (Default)

[personal profile] amalthia 2006-10-19 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
oh wow I really REALLY loved this music video. the effects, the song, i loved the clip choices. going to have to watch this one again. :)

[identity profile] michaela3105.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
This was fantastic!!!I don't know where to start because every cut, every effect was perfect. You are one hell of a vidder. Hope to see more from you soon!

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much! The best compliment is when people rewatch - I'm glad you enjoyed it that much :)

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww, thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words.

[identity profile] ongiara.livejournal.com 2006-10-19 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow! I think I've never seen any fanvid that was so carefully plotted and structured as yours. You managed to say in less than 4 minutes what some fanfic writers can't accomplish in a novel-sized fic.

Beautifully thought-out character study and interpretation. You sure know Sam and Dean well!
On technical terms, loved the fast succession of clips during the first 'I know you're broken' verse. Also, this doubling effect at about 3:14 min in and than the transition to Dean on the left of the shot in Scarecrow. So beautiful!
Also very much enjoyed the rewind thing at 2:31 and how well it fit the lyrics and can only nod my head in agreement to your analysis of Dean. Brilliant work!
jb_slasher: enter shikari; common dreads (winchester brothers)

[personal profile] jb_slasher 2006-10-19 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh. WOW. That was awesome. (or maybe it was just that the vid was such good quality it blew my mind. umm, NO.) The lyrics fit, yeah, but holy crap, you've got serious SKILLZ! This one's a keeper :D

[identity profile] immoralilly.livejournal.com 2006-10-20 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Hon, this is wonderful. It made me go all melty inside.

My favourite bit would have to be when Dean runs backwards from Papa to Sam - it's just so poignant (ooh, big word).

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_sin_attract/ 2006-10-20 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
Yay! I just want to say that I LOVED your video when I saw it Saturday night! Eeee! It was just so good and a great song to go with it!

I'm downloading it right now where I expect it'll be watched at least 3 times in a row!

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-20 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
Aw thank you so much sweetie! *hugs* Have fun! :D

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-20 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much honey! Glad I struck a chord. I was really pleased with how that turned out :)

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-20 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
Hee, thank you very much!

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-20 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
You sure know Sam and Dean well!

I DO spend 90% of my time thinking about them, sooo... ;)

I'm glad to hear that my exploration of the characters worked so well for you, and that it indeed came through. I try my hardest to really SAY things with my videos, and I'm always gratified to hear that someone took a real message away. So thank you so much for saying that, and for your lovely feedback!

[identity profile] dualbunny.livejournal.com 2006-10-20 05:43 am (UTC)(link)
Well you know I love this, right? :D And the moments you mentioned are faves of mine as well.

[identity profile] seewhoiam.livejournal.com 2006-10-20 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
GOD, amazing song choice, I love Placebo and this song is just pefect for the Winchesters, loved the video ;);)

[identity profile] obsessive24.livejournal.com 2006-10-21 07:20 am (UTC)(link)
Oh my god, how awesome is this vid!?!?!? Bloody damn well awesome, that's what. My goodness - the last time I've seen a vid of yours is Alone and Colder, which already blew me away, and now I come back months later to find that you've upped your game to, like, seriously intimidating levels. And that's all just tech - can't even understand what's going on, other than the awesome clip correlations at parts. (Have started downloading season 1, but the torrent's a bit dodgy - currently at 7% so still a ways to go.) Oh, this is big, shiny, happy-making stuff. And definitely going on my next recs list.

[identity profile] exsequar.livejournal.com 2006-10-21 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, NICKY! You make me flail with embarassment and glee. I just... wow. Thank you SO much. Really. Your words make it all worth it, because honestly I admire your work so much and to have that admiration returned is just so, so gratifying. Thank you so much.

This is the first vid I did with Premiere, so I think that had a whole lot to do with it, even though I didn't exploit Premiere NEARLY to its full potential. But it was just so much easier to make it all polished and suchlike. And now I have to give up Premiere, woe :( I'll be trying to find Final Cut Pro for my new Mac, but I donno when I'm gonna vid again - it'll definitely be Supernatural again (um, obsessed) so I want to wait for more juicy S2 stuff.

Damn girl, you have to see this show. *prods your torrent* Gotorrentgo! I would point you to a download comm but the major one just got deleted *more woe* You know the DVDs are out, yeah? I'd understand if you dont wanna shell out the cash, but omg if you could even rent the last disc - the extras are PRICELESS. Adsfkjdhfs.

Oh god I'm sorry I've done it again. The merest MENTION of Supernatural and I'll just go off. But yeah honestly, you want to know anything about this fandom, any way to find more media or whatnot, just ask me. I'm an expert :D

Tangent aside, thank you again, SO much. It really meant a lot to me *hugs*

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