The first thing I ever learned about vidding still hold true absolutely today: ALWAYS LISTEN TO LUM.
Seriously, even when an offhanded comment of her's throws me into existential angst over a vid - she is always right about it. Like - the ending of Paradise, she had a problem with something on the original version and damned if I know what that was now... I think it was Fred dying - and I was really resistant to her suggestion because I felt like I literally had to show this: that Angel loses Cordy and then *everyone* but... she was right. That point is taken and made without the vid veering off course in the last 20 seconds.
I'm still at the stage where it's difficult to sometimes find a good vid beta (outside of my usual circle who help tremendously but we share a brain so sometimes we also share the same blind spots) who is willing and has the time to take a look at something.
I love having renenet and Lum as betas (and Ellen was fantastic enough to beta as well on this last vid) - I am so happy with the terrible things they make me do to my vids! See, it isn't that they have to be harsh - it is that I have to listen and be willing to accept what they say. I really should post a before beta vid and an after beta vid because the difference is really quite remarkable in many cases.
I think the best indicator that I have that there exists a Good Beta Relationship here is in, while it is understood we generally share brains and *get* one another -- they are there to point out the weak spots.
And if I wasn't nervous sending something to beta - I'd have to get new betas. It is terrifying - what if they hate part X that you have bled and cried and died over? And this has happened! Renenet told me my very favorite part of Essence gave her a headache! I was devastated - I *loved* that part, it was my reason for being and vidding and without it in the world I just didn't want to go on! And I think I cried and shit and Dawn told me to shut the fuck up and do what (insert renenet's real name) said and I did and it was so much better. I admit that now. At the time I was all making bargains with God to keep it and trying to convince renenet that she was mistaken in her nausea.
But when they comment on something that you love and say they love it too? The relief is palpable. I sometimes shake with it - "Thank God I get to keep this" and all becomes a mantra.
But without betas - I am Angel without Wes. I am Lex without Clark. I am Bo Duke without a car.
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Seriously, even when an offhanded comment of her's throws me into existential angst over a vid - she is always right about it. Like - the ending of Paradise, she had a problem with something on the original version and damned if I know what that was now... I think it was Fred dying - and I was really resistant to her suggestion because I felt like I literally had to show this: that Angel loses Cordy and then *everyone* but... she was right. That point is taken and made without the vid veering off course in the last 20 seconds.
I'm still at the stage where it's difficult to sometimes find a good vid beta (outside of my usual circle who help tremendously but we share a brain so sometimes we also share the same blind spots) who is willing and has the time to take a look at something.
I love having renenet and Lum as betas (and Ellen was fantastic enough to beta as well on this last vid) - I am so happy with the terrible things they make me do to my vids! See, it isn't that they have to be harsh - it is that I have to listen and be willing to accept what they say. I really should post a before beta vid and an after beta vid because the difference is really quite remarkable in many cases.
I think the best indicator that I have that there exists a Good Beta Relationship here is in, while it is understood we generally share brains and *get* one another -- they are there to point out the weak spots.
And if I wasn't nervous sending something to beta - I'd have to get new betas. It is terrifying - what if they hate part X that you have bled and cried and died over? And this has happened! Renenet told me my very favorite part of Essence gave her a headache! I was devastated - I *loved* that part, it was my reason for being and vidding and without it in the world I just didn't want to go on! And I think I cried and shit and Dawn told me to shut the fuck up and do what (insert renenet's real name) said and I did and it was so much better. I admit that now. At the time I was all making bargains with God to keep it and trying to convince renenet that she was mistaken in her nausea.
But when they comment on something that you love and say they love it too? The relief is palpable. I sometimes shake with it - "Thank God I get to keep this" and all becomes a mantra.
But without betas - I am Angel without Wes. I am Lex without Clark. I am Bo Duke without a car.
God - I'm a hack.