BetterMost, Wyoming & Brokeback Mountain Forum
Our BetterMost Community => Chez Tremblay => Topic started by: You-Bet on April 11, 2006, 09:01:13 pm
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You are all cordially invited to the World Premiere of my first ever BBM Music Video!
"Renouncement".
By definition "renouncement" means "to be resigned to, to give up or refuse". Towards the end of Jack and Ennis's 20 year relationship it was clear that Jack had become resigned to the fact that he could never BE with Ennis in the way he dreamed of ("I did once"). Their final scene together at the Lake was a turning point in Jack's heart. As he stood there looking out into the mountains...his mind raced with memories of his love for Ennis, thus begins my vision for "Renouncement".
A couple years ago I came across an instrumental CD called "Solace" by Michael Hoppe. Upon my first listen, I was deeply moved by the cinematic quality of this composition (Renouncement).
The video is a collaboration between me and my "brokie" friend/video artist Katie. I sent her the CD along with a "scene by scene" storyboard set to the timing of the composition. Using her amazing editing talents, she has brought that vision to life in a manner that exceeded all my expectations! Since this is an instrumental piece we contemplated keeping some dialogue in, but in the end we both thought the composition spoke so clearly to the emotional core of our vision, we decided it would work best to let the music do the "talking".
With all due respect to Gustavo, what if BBM was scored as an epic love story? Perhaps this may be close to that "what if". My vision was to capture the intimate, yet sweeping romanticism of Jack and Ennis's relationship against the backdrop of nature's epic beauty.
I hope you enjoy and look forward to your comments. :) Michael (Mike)
Click on YouTube link below, click on "pause" and allow the video to load 100% then click "play".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJsCQ-0Kyw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJsCQ-0Kyw)
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Awesome Mike! Another well done video..Keep em coming... ;)
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Very nice Michael!
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:) very impressive - I loved the music too - bravo!..............
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Awesome!!! :-*
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Michael that was beautiful! Thanks for letting us know about it.
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excellent.
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:) Thanks everyone for stopping by!!
Glad you like it. Katie and I are rather proud of our collaboration on this video. She is indeed the one who worked her magic in the editing room bringing my "storyboard" to life!
This being my first "video" it's surreal to see my vision come to life and then be released into the world. I'm happy it's finding such an appreciative audience. :)
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:) Thanks everyone for stopping by!!
Glad you like it. Katie and I are rather proud of our collaboration on this video. She is indeed the one who worked her magic in the editing room bringing my "storyboard" to life!
This being my first "video" it's surreal to see my vision come to life and then be released into the world. I'm happy it's finding such an appreciative audience. :)
I know, that's how it was for mine too ;D
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Brandon, nice to see you here (twice!). I love your montage as well. :D
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Hi Mike,
Wow. Great video and music! Where can one download it from?
Really, great work.
Love,
Reanna
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;D
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Hi Mike,
Wow. Great video and music! Where can one download it from?
Really, great work.
Love,
Reanna
Thank you so much Reanna! The video is getting such great responses here and elsewhere...really warms the heart. "Renouncement" is an international labor of love (Katie in Canada, Me in USA)...just like BBM!
:D HIGH QUALITY DOWNLOAD IS NOW AVAILABLE!!
If you would like to "own" our video on your hardrive please contact Katie at her PM service via the YouTube link in the first post. She would love to hear from you. Say "hi" for me!
Mike
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Michael,
I LOVE IT, I JUST LOVE IT. YOU BLEW ME AWAY.
You have distilled the essence of the story and film into a short piece, yet you have also re-directed the material and given it a melodramatic, moving and operatic touch that Ang Lee surpressed! I can see that this material, in other hands (yours), could be very emotionally pumped up and still effective. It is very poetic, Michael, and the music underscores the idyllic first half of your video so beautifully. In doing so, you have also made an inadverdent and point-well-taken statement about the role that music plays in film and its ability to make a union like theirs either emotionally reserved (Lee) or emotionally BIG (you).
I LOVE IT. I'm going to look at it again. You have given the material a new "read" -- wow. I'm impressed.
rt ;D
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Dear rt,
Thank You, Thank you!! Your review means so much to me! What an honor to recieve such a "rave" from our own resident film critic. You see directly into the heart of my intent for this video and have articulated my vision so beautifully!
Yes, indeed....music has a powerful effect upon our perception and emotions. I've always been intrigued by how music in film can elicit "feelings" in the audience that would not be there without that particular musical melody or greatly altered by a completely different score. Case in point...Gustavo's score is absolutely brilliant in it's sparse, haunting quality and as such it perfectly matches Ang's vision for the film as a meditation of hidden longings and unspoken feelings.
The first time I saw BBM, I couldn't feel much. I felt numb. I admired the story, the screenplay, the direction, the acting, the cinematography, the score...but not one tear was shed. Yes, I was moved, but felt "suppressed" by the film itself. It wasn't until the next day...did that suppression ease and the film hit me in the gut (and heart) with such a primal force I was completely overwhelmed with grief and love for these characters (and this movie).
This experience got me to thinking how BBM would have "hit" me had the score been different...same movie, different score...perhaps a more epic score that conveyed the romantic sweep and tragedy of love, longing and loss.
The first time I heard "Renouncement" (2 years ago) I was moved to tears. I couldn't explain why...it was completely irrational, yet the composition touched something deep, profound and yes..."suppressed" in me and allowed those hidden feelings to surface. Well, the same could be said for "Brokeback Mountain"...but it worked it's magic in a completely opposite way. Ang's masterful direction (and Gustavo's score) did not allow me to release the suppressed feelings the film had elicited within. And THAT, I believe.. is why this film has such power over us (me)..because it "stirs things up" within us but doesn't allow us to fully release those feelings, thus leaving us haunted and compelled to return to it (the movie) over and over seeking resolution and healing. Gustavo's sparse guitar score is key to that phenomenon.
After seeing BBM several times I pulled out the Michael Hoppe CD and listened to "Renouncement" with new ears. I was stunned by how the piece brought up very specific scenes of the film within my mind's eye. Even more surprising was how the music allowed those feelings the film had elicited to re-surface and be healed/released. Thus my "vision" for this music video was born.
I'm thrilled that so many people are responding to the video in such a postive (and perhaps healing) manner. Much credit is due to Katie for her remarkable editing talents in bringing my vision to life.
Thanks again rt! :D
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;D Bump! ;D
Celebrating 1300 YouTube views in it's first week of release!
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Wow that is a lot! That number will go up when I finally get to see it, I will definitley try and watch it tomorrow! Promise. :-*
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Wow that is a lot! That number will go up when I finally get to see it, I will definitley try and watch it tomorrow! Promise. :-*
It's an absolutely beautiful video. Watched it again 10 minutes ago. The music will definately get you :'(
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It is soooo beautiful... I LOVE it. :-*
Thanks for sharing.
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THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF MUSIC I CAN'T STAND...except--here...
Thank you so much.
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Boy, I HATE that GWTW music shit...if I could only stop crying.
The scene of Ennis sitting alone on the hillside...wonderful stuff..
There is somethinjg about the "epic" score that gives the movie the seal of mainstream...we are watching a love story, just as sure as any love story is a love story...I love the original music too, but it is so interesting this way as well.
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Wow, Michael (and Katie)..
Well done you.. that was beautiful.
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Definitely a high-point, and I sent a note saying so to Katie as well...