Dear Festividder 2016
Oct. 24th, 2016 01:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grammarwomanI love Festivids for many of the same reasons I love the Christmas season: the anticipation, the shared joy and excitement, and the overall squee at gifts received. Plus it's a fantastic motivator for making vids. :)
So, my Festividder, I hope one of these ideas strikes your fancy and inspires you in this ridiculous shared hobby of ours.
In no particular order, and with much borrowing from previous letters, some things about vids that make me happy: being moved emotionally and/or physically (if I can't help dancing in my seat, that's a total win); editing that can never be too literal with lyrics matching or movement timing; people with expressive faces; awesome women doing awesome things; found family and team feels; characters who derive and express joy in being around each other; and people who are phenomenally good at what they do, whatever that might be. Extreme competence FTW!
As for music, I have some suggestions below, but please feel free to use whatever delights and inspires you. I love a wide range of music, so I'm looking forward to the surprise of your choice.
As for my requests, there is only one new entry to my recurring list, because some itches still need scratching.
American Gothic (1995-96) [TV]
This was a short-lived series about supernatural corruption and evil in a small Southern town. The disturbing and unsettling tone of this show still stays with me, almost two decades later. I'd love a vid that encapsulates the tension and dread of "Someone's at the door." Sure, the show didn't always make sense, but it left me with the shivers. And the visuals! So ominously gorgeous! The actors, so pretty! (And a ton of "Hey, it's that guy/gal!") Ah, show. This one goes on the list of series killed by my TV curse - shows that I really enjoyed that got axed in two seasons or less, usually much less.
I would be thrilled with music that brings the creepy, from nursery rhymes to instrumental to gothic (heh) choirs.
Auntie Mame (1958) [Movie] SAFETY
This movie is from a different era, and it shows. Oh, the costumes, and the banter, and the "this a movie set that's pretending, but not too hard, to look real". And Rosalind Russell being amazing: charming, vivacious, outlandish, yet vulnerable. I love it so hard, and if you could make this vid that celebrates her and the movie, I would love you, too - more than I do already for making something for me.
Confession time: I would love, love, love if you could use Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Kiss Them for Me". Because I've always wanted a vid with that combination of source and music, and I've been too lazy to get around to it. So, if you were in the mood to reward my slacking off, woo-hoo! If not, something upbeat and swingy (big band jazz, modern club, whatever) would be fabulous.
Ghostbusters (2016) [Movie] SAFETY
This movie is like a checklist of my favorite things. Smart, diverse ladies being awesomely competent together in a found family of misfits with spectacular visuals! \o/ Plus, Holtzmann being...Holtzmann. *swoon* I would love a Holtzmann-centric vid, or really anything celebrating the amazing team.
I wish I could give you a helpful music selection, but really, anything would be fabulous.
Grease 2 [Movie]
Technically, the request is for the Grease series, but what I really want is a vid devoted to "Grease 2". This is one of my all-time favorite movies: it is the epitome of cheesy musical romance, with a tough-as-nails young woman and a bonus transformation of a bookish nerd to a leather-jacketed, motorcycle-riding stud. I’ll make no bones about it – it’s really, really bad, but I love it so much, from the enthusiastic biology class singing about sex, to the upbeat dance number about bowling, to the soulful duet about losing your virginity set in a bomb shelter. Plus, my young self had an enormous crush on dreamy Maxwell Caulfield and his smooth-as-butter English accent. (This crushing thing is a recurring theme of my media-loving youth.) I would love just about anything from this movie: a collection of the exuberant dance numbers, a focus on the blossoming romance of Stephanie and Michael, or even the trials of super-cool Stephanie all by herself.
I would love a song that’s peppy, poppy, and upbeat for this if you favor a dance theme, but if you choose another route, the sky’s the limit.
Hudson Hawk (1991) [Movie] SAFETY
This is a silly heist movie that’s one of the most-quoted pieces in my household. My husband and I were introduced to it separately; our mutual affection for it was one of the aspects that clued us in to how right we were for each other. It was an absolute flop in the theaters, but it was one of those films that was destined for cult status with the VHS crowd. Made by the same team behind “Heathers”, it stars Bruce Willis, in all his smirking, smarmy glory, in a plot that makes no sense, as a singing cat burglar being blackmailed to track down artifacts of Leonard da Vinci, while paying homage to the Bond-parodying “Our Man Flint” movies. I would love a vid that captures the outlandish plot twists, silly slapstick, and scenery-chewing antics of this ridiculous film. Adding something of the running gag about cappuccino denial would be a bonus.
I think a Big Band-type song or a pop standard like “Side by Side” or “Swinging on a Star” would be a perfect soundtrack for this, but feel free to go as nuts as the movie did.
The Pirate Movie (1982) [Movie] SAFETY
My parents love musicals. They thought nothing of blasting "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in the background as I was growing up. This may explain my weakness for bawdy, cheesy, love-will-save-the-day stories set to a musical background. Make no mistake: "The Pirate Movie", a parody/homage of "The Pirates of Penzance" was BAD. But it knew that, and embraced that with as much campy vigor as the Pirate King chasing nubile virgins. When I rewatched it in the past couple of years, I was pleasantly surprised by how much it didn’t fail, considering it was made in the early 80s. It’s pretty gay-friendly, with a heavy emphasis on women taking control of their own destinies…and still completely ridiculous.
Can you condense the essence of this merry romp into a vid? Please try, because I would love you for it. The music is completely up to you.
Wolf Lake (2001) [TV]
Along with a fondness for musicals, dancing, and 80s teen movies, I have another weakness: cheesy supernatural TV, lite on the horror. I am so easy for it, I should have shame, especially because I adamantly will not watch actual horror movies. Maybe it's because horror movies seem to be about the scare and the gross-out (and nowadays the torture porn), and less about feelings and romance and characters with ongoing problems and secrets.
So yes, "Wolf Lake" was one of the cheesiest of the cheesy werewolf shows, ended before its time by premiering with a then-audience-unfriendly storyline at the worst period for fantasy-horror: the week after 9/11. Everyone on the show was so pretty and earnest. Teen Wolf is totally the bastard child of this short-lived series: werewolf politics, human-werewolf love stories, betrayal and intrigue...Oh, show. It's completely ridiculous, and so am I for requesting it. Challenge accepted, vidder?
I can't even begin to offer a suggestion for music. The show is about werewolves. Run with it. (Heh.)
Thank you, and have fun!
So, my Festividder, I hope one of these ideas strikes your fancy and inspires you in this ridiculous shared hobby of ours.
In no particular order, and with much borrowing from previous letters, some things about vids that make me happy: being moved emotionally and/or physically (if I can't help dancing in my seat, that's a total win); editing that can never be too literal with lyrics matching or movement timing; people with expressive faces; awesome women doing awesome things; found family and team feels; characters who derive and express joy in being around each other; and people who are phenomenally good at what they do, whatever that might be. Extreme competence FTW!
As for music, I have some suggestions below, but please feel free to use whatever delights and inspires you. I love a wide range of music, so I'm looking forward to the surprise of your choice.
As for my requests, there is only one new entry to my recurring list, because some itches still need scratching.
American Gothic (1995-96) [TV]
This was a short-lived series about supernatural corruption and evil in a small Southern town. The disturbing and unsettling tone of this show still stays with me, almost two decades later. I'd love a vid that encapsulates the tension and dread of "Someone's at the door." Sure, the show didn't always make sense, but it left me with the shivers. And the visuals! So ominously gorgeous! The actors, so pretty! (And a ton of "Hey, it's that guy/gal!") Ah, show. This one goes on the list of series killed by my TV curse - shows that I really enjoyed that got axed in two seasons or less, usually much less.
I would be thrilled with music that brings the creepy, from nursery rhymes to instrumental to gothic (heh) choirs.
Auntie Mame (1958) [Movie] SAFETY
This movie is from a different era, and it shows. Oh, the costumes, and the banter, and the "this a movie set that's pretending, but not too hard, to look real". And Rosalind Russell being amazing: charming, vivacious, outlandish, yet vulnerable. I love it so hard, and if you could make this vid that celebrates her and the movie, I would love you, too - more than I do already for making something for me.
Confession time: I would love, love, love if you could use Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Kiss Them for Me". Because I've always wanted a vid with that combination of source and music, and I've been too lazy to get around to it. So, if you were in the mood to reward my slacking off, woo-hoo! If not, something upbeat and swingy (big band jazz, modern club, whatever) would be fabulous.
Ghostbusters (2016) [Movie] SAFETY
This movie is like a checklist of my favorite things. Smart, diverse ladies being awesomely competent together in a found family of misfits with spectacular visuals! \o/ Plus, Holtzmann being...Holtzmann. *swoon* I would love a Holtzmann-centric vid, or really anything celebrating the amazing team.
I wish I could give you a helpful music selection, but really, anything would be fabulous.
Grease 2 [Movie]
Technically, the request is for the Grease series, but what I really want is a vid devoted to "Grease 2". This is one of my all-time favorite movies: it is the epitome of cheesy musical romance, with a tough-as-nails young woman and a bonus transformation of a bookish nerd to a leather-jacketed, motorcycle-riding stud. I’ll make no bones about it – it’s really, really bad, but I love it so much, from the enthusiastic biology class singing about sex, to the upbeat dance number about bowling, to the soulful duet about losing your virginity set in a bomb shelter. Plus, my young self had an enormous crush on dreamy Maxwell Caulfield and his smooth-as-butter English accent. (This crushing thing is a recurring theme of my media-loving youth.) I would love just about anything from this movie: a collection of the exuberant dance numbers, a focus on the blossoming romance of Stephanie and Michael, or even the trials of super-cool Stephanie all by herself.
I would love a song that’s peppy, poppy, and upbeat for this if you favor a dance theme, but if you choose another route, the sky’s the limit.
Hudson Hawk (1991) [Movie] SAFETY
This is a silly heist movie that’s one of the most-quoted pieces in my household. My husband and I were introduced to it separately; our mutual affection for it was one of the aspects that clued us in to how right we were for each other. It was an absolute flop in the theaters, but it was one of those films that was destined for cult status with the VHS crowd. Made by the same team behind “Heathers”, it stars Bruce Willis, in all his smirking, smarmy glory, in a plot that makes no sense, as a singing cat burglar being blackmailed to track down artifacts of Leonard da Vinci, while paying homage to the Bond-parodying “Our Man Flint” movies. I would love a vid that captures the outlandish plot twists, silly slapstick, and scenery-chewing antics of this ridiculous film. Adding something of the running gag about cappuccino denial would be a bonus.
I think a Big Band-type song or a pop standard like “Side by Side” or “Swinging on a Star” would be a perfect soundtrack for this, but feel free to go as nuts as the movie did.
The Pirate Movie (1982) [Movie] SAFETY
My parents love musicals. They thought nothing of blasting "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in the background as I was growing up. This may explain my weakness for bawdy, cheesy, love-will-save-the-day stories set to a musical background. Make no mistake: "The Pirate Movie", a parody/homage of "The Pirates of Penzance" was BAD. But it knew that, and embraced that with as much campy vigor as the Pirate King chasing nubile virgins. When I rewatched it in the past couple of years, I was pleasantly surprised by how much it didn’t fail, considering it was made in the early 80s. It’s pretty gay-friendly, with a heavy emphasis on women taking control of their own destinies…and still completely ridiculous.
Can you condense the essence of this merry romp into a vid? Please try, because I would love you for it. The music is completely up to you.
Wolf Lake (2001) [TV]
Along with a fondness for musicals, dancing, and 80s teen movies, I have another weakness: cheesy supernatural TV, lite on the horror. I am so easy for it, I should have shame, especially because I adamantly will not watch actual horror movies. Maybe it's because horror movies seem to be about the scare and the gross-out (and nowadays the torture porn), and less about feelings and romance and characters with ongoing problems and secrets.
So yes, "Wolf Lake" was one of the cheesiest of the cheesy werewolf shows, ended before its time by premiering with a then-audience-unfriendly storyline at the worst period for fantasy-horror: the week after 9/11. Everyone on the show was so pretty and earnest. Teen Wolf is totally the bastard child of this short-lived series: werewolf politics, human-werewolf love stories, betrayal and intrigue...Oh, show. It's completely ridiculous, and so am I for requesting it. Challenge accepted, vidder?
I can't even begin to offer a suggestion for music. The show is about werewolves. Run with it. (Heh.)
Thank you, and have fun!
