New Smallville video--Gethsemane

[capnzebbie]

Song: Gethsemane from "Jesus Christ, Superstar"
Character: Clark
Summary: Clark must choose: Is he willing to sacrifice his own life to save the world by becoming Superman?

right click and save
here, for the large file and
here for the small file.

Updated yousendit link.

20MB



There were three things that led to this video. First, I just happened to see Jesus Christ, Superstar on the Sundance channel a few months ago.

Second, I remembered a comment I read from one of the PTBs at Smallville. He said that one of differences between the Superman movies and Smallville is that in the movies, Superman is the real person and Clark Kent is a disguise he puts on, whereas in Smallville, Clark is the real person.

Third, I remembered the episode with the kid who could see how people would die when he touched them. When he touched Clark, all he saw was the Superman cape fluttering in the wind. Some people said that meant that Clark would never die because he's Superman. I thought, perhaps it means that Clark Kent has give up his life in order for Superman to live.

This video goes along with canon. I've used clips from Smallville and from the various Superman movies.

Thanks to my wonderful betas, mkitty_03, euphony_m and talitha78. Your comments, suggestions and support help me to be a better vidder. *hugs*

I hope you enjoy it!

Comments

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Holy fuck--xcuse me for cursing--that's the most intense vid I've ever seen. That's the best Superman vid I've ever seen, I think it just might be the best SV vid ever. I was sobbing like a baby by the end. It's AMAZING, it moves to the music (brilliant brilliant choice) seamlessly, the clips you chose were outstanding and using Chris Reeves was a stroke of genius, because I think in all SV fans minds, they have a connection that goes beyond both playing the same character. I'm babbling but I don't think I've ever ben eso moved by a vid ever. Chilling! *HUGS YOU*
God--I know such brilliant people--I'm such a lucky bitch!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

*HUGS* Wow!!! Thank you for the wonderful comments! *GGG* I'm so glad this touched you. I'm also glad you liked the use of CR--I used a little of the most recent movie, but for me, CR is still Superman.

[carolandtom.livejournal.com]

The video was great! An awesome job!
I love the song; it's perfect for the vid. I'd have preferred the version by Ted Neely, but nevertheless it goes perfectly with the clips you chose. The concept, the editing..., everything was just amazing!

Thanks Roxy for reccing it and thanks capnzebbie for this outstanding, moving, superb video!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I appreciate the compliments! *ggg* One of my betas said she preferred the Ted Neely version as well, but this is the version I hear in my head, because we had this on vinyl when I was a kid, back before the movie had even been made. We listened to it over and over, so it's imprinted in my brain from long ago.

[justabi.livejournal.com]

God, I've always loved how allegorical the Superman story is and you have completely captured it. So, so much love.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, abi! *hugs* That's wonderful feedback. :)

[cinderella81.livejournal.com]

That one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen!!!! It left me speechless!! (and that's hard to do) Absolutely beautiful!!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thank you for the wonderful comments! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[herohunter.livejournal.com]

They're just not saving as vids for me.
*sobs*

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

:( Sorry! I'm going to try sending a yousendit file to your email from the astrea9562 paypal thing--will that work? It's the large file--I hope that's okay.

[mahaliem.livejournal.com]

Amazing. I'm not even sure how to tell you how deeply it touched me. Simply amazing.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, mahaliem--that's such wonderful feedback! *hugs*

[lapetite-kiki.livejournal.com]

Ah! Very beautiful and touching vid!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, kiki! I saw your latest manip right before I posted this, and thought, "kiki and I are on the same wavelength here!" It's a great manip!

[talitha78.livejournal.com]

I just downloaded the large version. It looks utterly amazing. I think this is the Clark character study to end all Clark character studies. Congratulations. All of your hard worked definitely paid off.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, talitha--and thanks for your help with this as well.

the Clark character study to end all Clark character studies *GGG*

*HUGS*

I love your icon, btw--I have a very complex response to it, ranging from pathos to giggles. *g* It's very well done.

[garryowen.livejournal.com]

*grumble* Something is wrong with my wmv player. The vid is choppy. *cries* I am going to try to find an update or something.

STILL...
I can tell it is so fucking awesome! So much character stuff going on. I am amazed by what you can do in five minutes using clips. You rock! I really love your commentary, too. I think this is the thing that most interests me about superhero stories: how do they do it without having mental collapse? This vid is so heart-rending. You can just feel the sacrifice and anguish.

What a great job! You keep on vidding, sister!

[garryowen.livejournal.com]

Quicktime update didn't help. *scratches head* Is this because I have a mac? I've watched your other vids okay, I think. Hm. I'll sleep on it. *g*

Again, great job with this. Your vids are so thoughtful and intelligent, yet at the same time, so enjoyable to watch.

[shuteyespy.livejournal.com]

Whoa! My Flist led me here and I'm glad they did. I was so caught up in it. The many Superman versions fitting in so well. *is still amazed* I think I might start with the rambling so I'll leave it at Loves!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I'm happy you enjoyed it so much! *g*

[mkitty3.livejournal.com]

The clip of Clark waking up screaming with the overlay is probably my favorite moment in any video ever! This is just so beautiful and unique. You are among the few vidders who's work I literally crave. Truly brilliant my darling.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

*GGG* Thank you! I was very happy with that transition (the waking up and the screaming come from two different scenes, so it was pretty cool how they worked together).

You are among the few vidders who's work I literally crave That's such a wonderful compliment, especially considering I feel the same way about your vids. *hugs*

[trustanti.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. I have always desperately wanted to vid Smallville to JCS - because it would work, you know, and you did, and it is so amazing, and so beautiful and heart-wrenching and powerful and carefully, precisely done. And it's such a clear narrative and argument - I love the concept, that Clark has to die to become Superman, that Jor-El/God is demanding Superman, I love your reading of that and your weaving that into this.

This is an usually long vid but it works, absolutely - I was nervous to see you use Gethsemane, which is such a powerful song but slow, to me, but you use it so incredibly well, and it's absolutely beautiful and very powerful. And also I am heartbroken I didn't get to see Superman Returns in theatre, but, woe. This is incredibly lovely and I have to watch it a million more times now.

The 'surely I've exceeded expectations' part is wonderful - the sequence with Clark catching the bullet, and the car, and Lana's hand, and my heart just clenched up. I love this vid, I love what you've done here! Just, the entire thing, I went to write the pieces back I enjoyed especially, that hit me very hard, but it was all of it.

It's - startling, and gorgeous, and wonderful, and I thank you so much for making and sharing it.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback, trustanti! I'm so glad the story came through so clearly for you and that the video resonated with you emotionally.

I wanted to show Jor-El as a sort of Old Testament version of God--speaking from the glowing ship (burning bush), all the visions and dreams, the signs and wonders.

Yes, it's long, but it's a big story! *g*

I hope you still have the opportunity to see Supe Returns on the big screen--it has some great visuals.

You're the first person to comment on the "exceeded expectations" part--thank you! I worked hard on the timing and imagery in that sequence. It's good to know it worked for you.

*hugs*

[dolimir-k.livejournal.com]

Okay, I would tell you that I don't cry during videos, but it's hard to sell that when I have tears running down my face and dripping onto my chest.

Wow. This is just...wow!

I love the choice of music. And the death of Clark.

Just wow.

*iz very impressed*

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thank you so much, dolomir. It's so gratifying to know that you had such a strong response to the video. That makes all the work worth it. :)

[serenography.livejournal.com]

I posted a comment in the vid comm. but I'll post here too to let you know how much I appreciated this gorgeous vid. I'm so impressed with how much work you did, and how well you did it.
This is an instant classic in SV/Superman vid fandom, IMO. Thank you!
I sent you an email, btw.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I appreciate all your great feedback and your offer to post the vid to the Supe forum. *hugs* instant classic Wow! That makes me very happy!

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

I'm not even into Smallville, but roxymissrose recced this vid and I knew I had to see it. It's my favourite song from JCS (and I much prefer this version to Neely's, which always feels a bit whiny to me), and you did it absolute justice. Poor Clark, I really felt for him, and by the end I was in tears. Not to mention that the vid is very beautifully made.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, kattahj! I like this version, too. I hear more anger in this one, and I wanted Clark to be raging against his destiny. Thank you for the wonderful feedback. :)

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

I can't download either, I'm afraid. Streamload are down, and the YSI links ask me to log in before I can download. :-(

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

I found out the problem with YSI. They've changed their rules so that now you have to register to either upload or download any files over 20MB. phthttt! I'm going to have to find a different short term storage place. The streamload links should be up some time tonight or tomorrow.

[nerodi.livejournal.com]

hi, i would love to see this video, but can't seem to download it. If you get a chance could you send me the link please, thanks!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Did you try the 20MB yousendit link? That one seems to actually be working. If it isn't, then if you'll send me your email address (mine's in my userinfo), I'll send it to you through yousendit. I can't send the larger file for some reason--I've emailed yousendit support to find out why.

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

(I've managed to download the small version from YSI, but I'd like the bigger version if you can fix that link which requires a log-in.)

That's a really impressive video, using a song I would never have thought would have worked with this fandom. Well done!

Who is it singing Gethsemane in this recording?

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I appreciate your going to the effort of getting it downloaded. I tried emailing you the larger file, but now yousendit is telling me I have to login to upload it. It's very annoying. I've emailed their support to find out why, but I think even if I emailed it, you wouldn't be able to download. :(

Streamload says it's going to be up later today, so I'll keep checking on it and put a comment here when the larger streamload file is ready to download again.

I'm so glad you liked the vid! The singer is Ian Gillan; he sang the part of Jesus on this version, which is the the first one I ever listened to back in the 1970s.

[dossier.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed it! I love JCSS, and this is one of its most powerful songs. I think the song works for Smallville/Superman, on both the superficial level of the lyrics, and the deeper metaphorical arguments over Christian symbolism in the Supes canon.

I haven't seen the Brandon Routh version of Superman yet, but I found that he was really hard to pick out from this--which one was Brandon and which one is Chris? I know theoretically that they're uncannily alike in appearance, but yeah-can't tell.

Great job technically, as well--the clips are clean and clear, not too long, and they illustrate the subtext of the lyrics really well. I adore the fades and transparencies, too. Thanks!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dossier! I'm so glad you liked it! :) Clark/Superman is often protrayed as a Christ figure in both Smallville and in the movies. If you get to see the new one, you'll see quite a bit of that imagery, although I pulled mine mostly from the series and the older movies.

There were only, I think, three clips from the new movie in the vid--one was the jumping scene close to the beginning (I really liked that one *g*), the second was the extreme closeup in the Kevin Spacey/Luthor sequence and the third was where Superman was flying with the plane. So none of them showed his face very clearly--for me Reeve is kind of the real Superman, unless you count the one from the comics of the 1960s :).

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[dossier.livejournal.com]

also, I can upload the vid to my webserver and do a mirror?

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

I think so. First, what's a mirror?

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's brilliant. So lovely and so sad. Clark!

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, laura! *hugs* I'm so glad you liked it. :)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Wow! What an interesting vid. I love the ground you've covered--it's such a different take on Clark's journey--and the integration of the Superman movie images worked really well.

I thought, perhaps it means that Clark Kent has give up his life in order for Superman to live.
I'm really glad you wrote about the inspiration for the vid, particularly this quote. It's actually a reading of SV that works really well, since Jor-El seems to have been telling Clark that's exactly what he DOES have to do. And the journey from Mortal on indicates this is true. But this vid really taps into Clark's uncertainty about that--and at the same time his hope. I really liked, for example, the use of the images from the caves, and it helped me to recall just how fascinated Clark was by his heritage back then. He has a cycle of attraction-regression with understanding his true nature. This song was a great choice to capture BOTH of those emotions.

I'll definitely be watching this vid again, and I'm sure there's even more to get out of it--what a great journey.

And to return to the cloke image--I had never thought of that interpretation, but it's quite chilling. He loses not only the ones he loves but the person he is himself. Makes me wonder where SV is going with that...

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the great feedback, bob_radar! I'm so glad you enjoyed the vid! (I'm also glad you were able to download it) I did want to show Clark's ambivalence about his heritage--he started out being so curious, just needing to know, but now, the more he finds out the more isolated he feels.

And to return to the cloke image--I had never thought of that interpretation, but it's quite chilling. He loses not only the ones he loves but the person he is himself.

Cool! That's such a great comment! *ggg*

I commented once on sv_live that it seemed to me that the SV PTBs have a hard time distinguishing between science and religion. (I was talking about the "Mortal" ep, I think, with all the stuff about balance--a life for a life). The SV portrayal of Jor-El often reminds me of the Old Testament God, speaking to Clark from the burning bush (spaceship), leaving cryptic messages on cave walls, testing Clark, making impossible demands on him and then punishing him when he falls short. I hope some of that imagery came through in the vid.

It seems different to me from the way he is presented to us in the movies--there, he seems more benevolent and loving, although still stern. It also seems to me that the impetus behind Jor-El's actions is to serparate Clark from the humanity he learned from the Kents, to make him be outside of humanity, so that he can be an impartial judge of it, and an even-handed dispenser of justice.

That leaves him with no chance of companionship, no chance of a normal, human life. And this is something that he struggles with in Smallville, in all of the movies and even in the comics. He keeps having to make this choice every day.

Anyway, I'm rambling on here, but these are the sort of things I was thinking about while I made the vid.

Again, thanks so much! *hugs*
(Reply to this)(Parent)

[amandajane5.livejournal.com]

This is sheer awesomeness, I cannot even express my love for it, it's like, the bestest thing. I'm so inarticulate. It's so *right* in a way that I totally love. And I hadn't heard the song before, and it reinforces that I need to see JCSS for reals. Also? *friends madly*

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thanks, amandajane! I appreciate the enthusiastic feedback! :) I'm so glad you enjoyed the vid. And yes, JCSs is definitely worth seeing--or at least listen to the album. Great music! I had listened to the album many, many times before I ever saw the show.

[mskatej.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. I'm completely blown away. You are so extraordinarily talented, my God. That was *beautifully* put together; rhythmic and lusciously edited, gorgeous to look at, and a moving, intelligent character study of an icon. You really do make the best vids I've ever seen. I can't wait to show my friends this.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

*HUGS* Thank you, kate! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate the wonderful feedback. You really do make the best vids I've ever seen *bounces happily in the desk chair* Thank you!!!

[kdsch123.livejournal.com]

Your video is amazing. I saw it recommended on TWoP and had to look. I'm so glad I did. It's epic. I'm always in awe of the people who are talented with the graphic arts and this video is now the standard by which I will measure any others. Thank you so much for making it.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Wow! Thank you for the feedback! this video is now the standard by which I will measure any others That is such a great compliment--I'm honored, and I'm so glad that you enjoyed the vid so much. :)