a declaration

Kai Stromler · Post by **Kai Stromler** » Wed May 31, 2006 7:08 am

This is a video that is for old people, and for not so old people. It increases by itself by about 5% the number of Springsteen videos in the database (c'mon people, get going here!), and it is the polar opposite of just about every Initial D video that exists. Whatever you're expecting from it, this is probaby something different.

a declaration
music: "Independence Day" by Bruce Springsteen
visuals: Initial D (first stage)
download: local (45 MB, xvid/mp3)
runtime: 4:45

Comments are welcome, whether you saw this at Anime Boston -- where, beyond it not winning anything, I have no idea of how it was received, as I was still in China at the time -- or are just seeing it now for the first time.

--K

Tormentor · Post by **Tormentor** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:51 am

Okay I shall start this then. Well the visual quality wasn't really high, but that's not the main point I dislike about this. From my poin of view, the video doesn't give me anything sorry. I understand your concept, but the song is just too passive as for me. It didn't really touch me, since the song just has nothing to give. Furthermore is it long, which might the video appear to be boring. You did what you wanted to do, but as for me I don't like it, since it is not my taste, sorry.

gangstaj8 · Post by **gangstaj8** » Wed May 31, 2006 4:28 pm

I rather liked it, maybe I just fit into that age range somehow or another. I've never been a big fan of Springsteen, or of Initial D (recently stopped watching the series cause it felt too much like someone placing Yugi-Oh behind the wheel...), but I really liked the story you told with this video. I don't know how their relationship actually ends up in the series, but much of this video rings true, and the message of the song really helps to bring that out.

Definitely the kind of video we could all use more of, IMO. Maybe someone should start a campaign for Quality>quantity.

Kai Stromler · Post by **Kai Stromler** » Thu Jun 01, 2006 7:34 am

gangstaj8 wrote:Maybe someone should start a campaign for Quality>quantity.

hehe, thanks, though it's odd to see "quality>quantity" applied to me of all people. (me of 21 videos per year)

Tormentor, I really hear you on the visual quality...in the abstract. My perceptions of visual quality are definitely colored by the fact that I remember what this footage looked like on the DVDs, before I started cleaning it up and restoring it. As for the song, it resonates with some people and doesn't with others; mostly the people I've gotten positive reactions from have gone through something similar themselves. I'd hoped for some more universal appeal, but to handle this in a way that's emotionally accurate is good enough.

The comments have been cleaned up to be a little less tl;dr as well.

--K

Warheart · Post by **Warheart** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 8:10 am

Very good storytelling at least it works for me but may be due to the fact I betatested and thus know what you wanted to acheive. The story itself does not really arouse my interest and the sources are not my cup of tea either thus I can't really enjoy it, but that's the price you pay when your making indie-videos. Anyway, keep up the good work.