Writing For Music Videos

[dreiser]

When it comes to creative talent I truly suck ass at video editing but I'm decent in writing and storyline development. Meaning I can see things happening but I don't have any idea, in a visual way, to show them in a compelling or entertaining manner. I've tried many times throughout my sad and unpaid career as a fangirl to create the music videos I see in my head when I'm fixated on a particular fandom and hear a particular song that really strikes me. But each attempt at making music videos was just so goddamn lackluster I found them painful to watch. And if there's one thing that sucks as hard as a bad fanfic it's a bad music video. Which is why I no longer attempt to make them myself and will now write out my favorites on my personal wish list for L Word music videos, including not only the song I hear playing but the video concept as well. Fucking snooty isn't it? Me typing the word concept. Whatever. I'm snooty. Deal, bitches.



Simply Not Enough by Cory Lee:

http://beta.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=3F0BC8310039F182

This is the only video that doesn't involve Alice in some way because, duh, I fucking worship Alice and she's why I watch The L Word. Shocking as it sounds, mostly because I loathe this ship, I actually love this idea for a Tibette music video so much that it's told from the point of a rather bitter and bitchy Bette. Which is how I like her best. S3 ripped Tibette to shreds and I rather enjoyed it and I think it would make excellent fodder for just a really harsh video portraying their break up and relationship that also has good video effects.

The song starts off with the excellent echoing of a whispering Cory saying the word "breathe" which immediately made me see the image of Bette doing her yoga and meditation shit and trying to find her inner peace and it being matched with the echoing by video that fades as it jumps forward towards the viewer. During the "I make love, you take love, for years I gave you everything but it's simply not enough" lyrics I picture flashbacks to S1 Tibette with Bette doing all her wooing of Tina and such and then cutting to S3 with Bette being treated like crap by Tina. If you listen to the lyrics of the song they perfectly fit several events throughout Tibette's relationship in S3. Here are a few simple examples…

You got me waiting
Every second motion feels like a year
Communication's fading
When I speak you don't even hear

There's so many scenes with Tibette in S3 you can use for this. The one that sticks out in my head is when Tina comes home and Bette is reading that weird book that has her all inspired and she's trying to connect to Tina by explaining their personalities or some shit and Tina is just really not so fucking subtly exasperated at Bette and then once again launches into a bitch fest about finances that blames Bette for being out of work.

I should have said, my one regret
To hold on for so long
Now this time, I must decide
I can't stay, I can't go, it's over

This is dead on for Tibette at the end where they both know it's fucking over and they're just hurting each other but they can't seem to let go. I can continue on and on about how dead on I feel these lyrics are for Tibette but I really prefer to move onto something better. Namely Alice focused videos.

Oh! But before I do, the end portion of the song that has the boyfriend calling at the end? I SO want that to be played over a clip of Tina's douche bag of a boyfriend talking on his cell phone. I dunno why but I think that's rather funny to do.

Virus Of The Mind by Heather Nova:

http://beta.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=FB07AC110CE49E40

I've always loved this song and I've thought for awhile it's pretty much the perfect song for an Alice tribute video. Just the stream of thought nature of the lyrics and the fact that the song is basically about how people try to make you feel there's something wrong with you because you don't fit in and lets face it, Alice has sort of always been the odd woman out in a lot of ways. At least in the arena that sadly enough not a lot of people take her seriously and she is just sort of taken advantage of for her kindness or simply ignored.

While I was watching this talk show the other day
And on it there was this guy

This is how the song starts and the first thing I picture is seeing Alice watching TV on her couch sort of lazing around and then cut to that stupid T.O.E. guy that Kit dated doing one of his self help speeches.

I'm pretty happy, living in my
My own sweet time, living in my

With these lyrics I'd like to see Alice just being her goofy hilarious sweet self with Dana or Shane and just basically proving everyone that she's fine in the way that she is. I think besides the opening portion of the song what I see the most strongly comes with the following lyrics.

Well, I went to this party thing last night
A lot of people I hadn't seen in a long long time
And they wanted to know about my life
But making me feel like it wasn't quite right

Through that entire sequence I pretty much see Alice at one of the group parties with the friends and just cutting to clips where she appears out of place. Believe me, it's not that hard to find them. Look throughout early S3 and you have a fucking chock load of them, right? I dunno what it is about this song but I totally think it fits Alice and I'd love to see a video for it.

Wherever You Will Go by The Calling

http://beta.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=B6FDFB7739E1839F

Without fail, each time I hear this song I start thinking of the following idea for a music video That's how much I love it and how really sad of a fangirl I am. The concept, my god I used the snooty word again, for this video is that it's told from Dana's point of view after she's died. She spends her time watching as Alice tries to move on with her life, wanting desperately to help Alice but is simply unable and consoles herself by faithfully staying at Alice's side.

So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place

For these opening lyrics I picture Dana looking off into the distance, sort of weird and ethereal looking as she does so. Making it somewhat clear that she's a ghost of a memory

When I'm gone you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face

I see a number of things for these lyrics. Mainly I see Alice breaking down in the hospital when Dana dies followed by a sweet Danish scene that has Alice looking utterly happy which fades into another Dana ghost appearance watching Alice.

Then between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own

The Danish break up scene is what I see here. Mostly because of how Alice tells Dana she's not sure she can live without her.

Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

Whenever it goes into this chorus an image of ghost Dana watching over Alice in happier times, perhaps Danish flashbacks.

And maybe, I'll find out
A way to make it back someday

For these lyrics Dana in the waterfall could work but I also think scenes with Alice and Lara or Helena hinting towards her S4 romance opportunities would be kick ass as well. What makes me love this song so much for Alice and Danish in general is how I think it just fucking fits perfectly Dana's thoughts and emotions as she watches Alice move on with her life after her death. Which includes wanting so very badly to be with Alice again, romantically, but wanting her also to be happy again and to find love again because she can't stand to see Alice as miserable as she is right now.

To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days

Once again, clips of depressed Alice. Her popping pills from the S3 finale would fit just so perfectly here.

If a great wave shall fall and fall upon us all
Then I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you

This has to be accompanied by clips of Alice with Lara or Helena. Perhaps clips for both ships. Just because I think both of them are fantastic romantic opportunities for Alice in S4 and what I sort of see here is Dana realizing that Alice finding love with Helena or Lara is like bringing Dana herself back into her life. Mostly in the capacity of making Alice happy again.

Run away with my heart
Run away with my hope
Run away with my love

Romantically painful Danish flashback scenes. Cut between clips of Danish recalling those times together. Showing they're still connected because of the love they share for one another, something that death can't take from them.

I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on

Again, clips of ghost Dana watching Alice with Lara or Helena. Another emphasis on Alice realizing that finding love again will help to keep Dana alive in her heart because Dana would want her to find happiness.

In your heart, in your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time

More clips of romantic Danish and a cut to Alice that leads to the conclusion these clips are memories she's currently thinking about.

For the rest of the chorus I have no specific images or clips in mind. In fact, even the clips I use now aren't really something that NEED to be used. What mostly gets to me about this song is that I feel it expresses the storyline of Alice struggling to move on after Dana's death, just in her day to day life, and then in a rather guilt ridden romance with Helena or Lara all while Dana watches her from heaven, wanting so very badly to help Alice but simply unable. The ending should be sad and bittersweet though. I'm definitely sure on that.

Okay! Was that snooty enough for you? rofl. I honestly don't expect anyone to make these music videos but I just felt fucking compelled to share them because I'm sad fangirl lame.

Comments

[narcolepsy-slds.livejournal.com]

I don't even know how to make a music video, otherwise I would happily oblige *g*
I have the same problem, I hear a song and in my head I have the "perfect" story line etc. , and maybe one day I will figure out how to do it.

[dreiser.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not alone with this nerdy habit. lol. It comforts me.