Snowflake Challenge Day Two

[gunpowderandlove]

Last time I did the snowflake challenge, this was as far as I got I think, but even if I don't make it past this, I will still have assembled some recs, so success!

Rec at least three fanworks that you didn't create.

I tried to think outside of just fic for this one because that's where my mind tends to go by default and then I forget about the other great fanworks I love.

First a Captain America vid.

"Tour Cancelled" by sarashina_nikki

Someone recced this vid on twitter, with the author's description of "Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes versus the power of modern myth," which immediately had me intrigued, and it definitely lived up to that interest.

First of all, it's straight-up a good vid, which is a nice place to start.

Also the song choice! The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel. They were using a live version which surprised me at first, but I figured in tied into the theme of public perception. And it did that, I think, but also there was more to it. You'll see.

The song and the story they were telling made me so emotional that honestly, I cried a little bit. So good!

The best part about this vid, for me, is that it reminds me what you can do with a vid. I am attempting to get into vidding for the first time and I will probably always use this vid as inspiration for how a vid can make a comment on a story and show a wider perspective than a reflection of the source material.


Second is a Rogue One fanmix.

"these sour times" by clachnaben

I liked this mix a lot when I first heard it. I had to make a private playlist for it on my youtube account because I don't have spotify, but I listened to it and thought it was pretty good. One of my favorite things was the use of Riz Ahmed's music to start off the mix which I though was very cool.

Then I hit play on this mix while trying to write one afternoon just to have something to listen to, and for some reason once the mix was done, it didn't move into recommended songs like youtube usually does. Instead it just played the mix on repeat over and over. So I ended up listening to it for a few hours straight and that's when my opinion went from "good mix" to "I need to rec this".

It turns out that I really liked the music, because it took me a while to even realize that it was looping because each song I was happy to listen to, even over and over again. Also now youtube is recommending me songs by the artists in the mix which has led to me discovering even more new music.


I struggled with a third rec, because choosing just one podfic or one fanart is really hard! So I decided to scroll through my bookmarks and suggest the first thing that made me go "ahhhhh!! <3333" out loud.

So, third is a Les Mis podfic.

"Find Out What I'm Feeling" by klb

First of all, this fic is great. Written by lady_ragnell, it has everything you would want in a Les Mis fic: Political Campaigns, Fake/Pretend Relationship, a little bit of miscommunication, newspapers (maybe that last one is just me).

If that doesn't sell you on this fic, here's the summary:

When Marius's girlfriend Cosette writes an article about Enjolras's campaign for a seat in the state House of Representatives (not to mention his attempts to start a new political party) and mistakenly mentions Grantaire as his boyfriend, Enjolras ends up pretending to date him in the media storm that follows.

He's not sure why Grantaire says yes, but he's starting to want to find out.

But my rec isn't for the fic (though it deserves one), it's for the podfic. klb's podfics are one of my favorite things. Her voice is very familiar and soothing, and serious in a way that makes it perfect for an Enjolras POV fic. It also makes the times where characters get dramatic and emote all over have more impact, which she also pulls off fantastically.

(Side note that I just realized: I've never recorded a Les Mis fic where I narrate from Enjolras's point of view. My voice-style is much more suited to Grantaire, that I think I naturally gravitate toward his POV. I should switch it up as a challenge sometime.)

Other great things about this podfic. klb puts so much effort into the name pronunciations, which really brings the podfic together. And she puts so much effort in, that it sounds like it took no effort and it doesn't interrupt the flow at all.

Also I made the cover art for this, and I am so proud of it, so side note, check that out.


Tada! Three recs. I did it!

Comments

[sylvaine]

"didn't notice it was looping" is really the best mix rec!

[gunpowderandlove]

Let me add more recommendation on top of that, by saying that when I was writing up that post, I went "ooh!" and put the mix on again to listen to while I finished describing my other recs.

[clachnaben]

oh wow, thank you so much for reccing me! Hearing you liked the music and didn't notice it was looping is such an amazing compliment, and I'm glad you liked that it started with Riz's music. I love that song of his, and think it fits so well with the vibe of rogue one, and am glad you liked the whole mix! <3

[gunpowderandlove]

I'm glad that you also consider that a compliment. I'd never conciously thought about how to rec a fanmix. I was a little worried, because I thought, "Does this sound like I liked it because I wasn't listening?" I'm glad my meaning got across.