DS9 Vid: Good in my Head

[meddow]

I think it's official that DS9 is one of the fandoms for which I have a creative output now.



Title: Good in my Head
Vidder: meddow
Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Music: 'Good in my Head' by Anika Moa
Spoilers: All of DS9
Summary: Faith and anger, things that keep Kira on her way.

Download Links: Large: 50Mb Avi (Xvid) Small: 21Mb Avi (Xvid)

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Vidder's Notes: Kira Nerys pretty much became my favourite character in the whole of Trek in the pilot episode of DS9, in which she took on three Cardassian ships with only six torpedoes and a bloody good poker face. I initially wanted to do a Kira-kicks-ass vid, but decided that would almost be a disservice to the character and the show. I don't feel you can take her a character with her kind of background and go with an essentially 'she's awesome cos she's short-tempered and violent' message (In case you're not familiar with DS9, Kira's background is that she was a terrorist, and she did kill people, and sometimes they were civilians).

So the vid ended up being about Kira's conviction. She has so much faith and also anger, and while recent world history clearly shows that faith and grievance-induced anger in combination can be a very destructive combination, in her case it's what allows her to overcome and occasionally triumph, and it's what makes her such an interesting character (and also why Kira would not be the same if the show was made today).

In terms of the actual making of the vid, the vid is quite long. But I figure, I've got seven seasons of canon and a fantastic character arc to work with, so breaking the four minute mark is not that big a deal in this case. And, well, I can't resist vidding space battles. This was the most ambitious vid I've completed in terms of the amount of source material that went into it, and the music's a departure from the fast beats I usually pick.

I've finally figured out my aspect ratio problems I have to export it from Premiere with a wonky aspect ratio that looks terrible, and then run it through AutoGK and that will fix it (what was happening and what did happen with my last vid was that I'd export if from Premiere with the correct aspect ratio and AutoGK would ruin it). Also, damned pre-HD 90s source. I would give limbs for DS9 to look like and have been shot like BSG. I found the way was shot was actually quite restraining with what I could do.

Oh, and constructive criticism is appreciated.

And lyrics:

Sometimes sad times
Surrender my soul
Fly away through the sky
Abandoned proposal
I don't know you
Cover the full view

I'll say goodbye with no reason why
I'm colder than life and it's hurting inside
No one can say that I went away without a confrontment
Be safer to say
I'm heading on my way

I remember a time
When nothing was beautiful
Separated confused mind
My life is still beautiful

With good in my head to help me on my way
I know if I tried I could stand up and say

I'll say goodbye with no reason why
I'm colder than life and it's hurting inside
No one can say that I went away without a confrontment
Be safer to say
I'm heading on my way

I opened my eyes that exposed to me
Believed I could fly far away

With good in my head to help me on my way
I know if I tried I could stand up and say
It's just another ordinary day

With good in my head
With good in my head
With good in my head
With good in my head

Comments

[serrico.livejournal.com]

Oh, Kira! She is an *excellent* character, with so many facets and shades, and this vid does a great job showing her complexities. Nicely edited, and well done.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you! She is such a fantastic character and there's so much about her I unfortunately just couldn't fit in the vid.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

A fantastic Kira portrait. The convictions theme comes across very well, and I love what you've done with her relationship to various other characters and how this impacts on her, for example the transition from Meru to Dukat to Ziyal. And the Winn encounters (found it interesting that we start with Winn as Kai and later get her as Vedek there). Kudos!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy to know the theme came through. I'd like to say there's something behind the Kai to Vedek thing, but really it was just because the Vedek clip worked best. Thank you.

[laverinth.livejournal.com]

This video is amazing. Well done! (It's been a while since I've seen a real good music video, so you'll have to forgive my swooning.)

[meddow.livejournal.com]

No need for forgiveness, the swooning is very much appreciated ;) Thank you.

[erinpuff]

Ooohhh, I like this a lot. :)

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[morgeil.livejournal.com]

This is excellent! :D

Kira Nerys pretty much became my favourite character in the whole of Trek in the pilot episode of DS9, in which she took on three Cardassian ships with only six torpedoes and a bloody good poker face.

I just started watching DS9 from scratch a few months ago, and the exact same thing happened to me. I latched onto Kira as soon as she appeared onscreen, when she told the Federation to go screw itself and started sassing Sisko the moment he stepped on board the station.

God, what strength. And depth, and heart and passion and.. guh. Favorite Trek character ever trufax.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

She really was from her first line the brilliant strong character she would be throughout the show. Kira is such a fantastic character.

[hibernate.livejournal.com]

Kira is amazing and I have had a huge fangirl crush on her ever since the pilot. :D This is a such a fantastic tribute to her! As much as I love Kira kicking ass, this vid has some real depth. Wonderful work!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I have such a huge fangirl crush on her as well :)

[skitty-kitty.livejournal.com]

Loved it, thanks for sharing! Kira def. needs more love in fandom, she's an amazing character. :D

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There really cannot be enough Kira love. She's such a wonderfully multi-faceted character.

[such_heights]

Oh, Kira! <3333 This is really wonderful and a great portrait.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[mad-server.livejournal.com]

Kiraaaa!

I had SUCH a crush on her. Thank you for reminding me why. :)

[meddow.livejournal.com]

My pleasure :) And thank you!

[scrollgirl.livejournal.com]

This was incredible and I'm totally in love with the story you tell here. You're absolutely right, Kira may be kickass, but she's also got so much heart and strength of conviction. She's got so many dark things in her past and so much tragedy, but also an honest and rock-steady hope that guides her in battle and gives her courage.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm really glad you like it.

She's got so many dark things in her past and so much tragedy, but also an honest and rock-steady hope that guides her in battle and gives her courage.

Perfectly said. I absolutely love that about her.

[giandujakiss.livejournal.com]

This is such a great tribute to an awesome character!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[omens.livejournal.com]

Beautiful, and very effective! <3<3 Kira. I loved this a lot.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[leviathan101.livejournal.com]

Kira is amazing and this video is lovely. Very nice job!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[yabyumpan.livejournal.com]

Wonderful vid. I didn't really get into DS9 when it was first shown but I've been main-lining it for the past few months and Kira Nerys has become my favorite ST character and a huge crush. Yes with the faith and anger keeping her going, but also with her huge heart and compassion. She really is the most awesome of characters.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm a very recent convert to DS9 as well. Compassion is another wonderful characteristic of hers, I loved how she took in Ziyal and Tekeny Ghemor and make them part of her family. I adore her so much.

[thelibraniniquity]

Oh, Kira. That was just gorgeous.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[mangosorbet007.livejournal.com]

Fantastic.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

This is absolutely wonderful. There is so much soul and depth to Kira and you brought it out here wonderfully. I am overwhelmed by how beautiful this is. You brought out all the wonderful transitions in Kira's life, from her days in the Resistance to her role on DS9, to her spiritual journey and the pitfalls that came with all that. The trust, the loyalty and oh, the hardships. The overlays are beautiful, the clip choices powerful and the song is positively delightful. I am in love with this so much.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Kira is a character with such an amazing journey and I really tried to have that come through and it's wonderful to know that it is. And thank you for the rec.

[usuallyhats]

Great vid! It shows Kira's character, and that core of belief that keeps her going despite everything, beautifully.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[lcsbanana.livejournal.com]

This is really amazing! It's so powerful and so KIRA, and I'm really impressed at what you managed to do with the footage--I know from experience hwo vidding-unfriendly older TV can be, but this feels kinetic and flows great.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The footage was the most challenging I've ever worked with. I'm really thankful that there were some amazing shots of occupation era-DS9 that I could use.

[shadowserenity.livejournal.com]

Came here from kuwdora's rec.

This vid says SO much about Kira. I particularly loved the editing in the beginning (crossing between Kira praying and Bajor).

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I was trying to link Kira's faith with her nationalism and I'm so happy it worked.

[hollow-echos.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful...Great music choice, great clip selections, perfect all around. Thanks for taking the time to create and share this!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. And thank you!

here by kuwdora's rec

[zulu]

This is absolutely gorgeous. I love Kira so much, and this vid makes me want to rewatch the entire series, because I want to see all those complexities of her character again. I loved this!

Re: here by kuwdora's rec

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jesterlady]

This is kick ass! And a great character study!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

(Here from such_heights rec) Loooooooove it! There is not nearly enough DS9 vids out there and I love Kira so much too. Song worked really well for her and I love all the gun toting. Great vid.

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[huntress1013.livejournal.com]

There are so precious few Star Trek videos and even less DS9, that this vid makes me very happy. Lovely editing and I loved Nerys so much. I love how you show the many different facets of her. Her strength as well as her weaknesses. Well done!

[meddow.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I completely agree, there's not nearly enough Star Trek or DS9 vids (which was one of the reasons I had to make this one).