'Chasing The Storm' - A Veronica Mars Promo

[zimshan]

Four days ago, I was in the worst pit of horrible VM ennui. Now, I think I have enough S3 spirit to market internationally.

Some of you probably recall me complaining about UPN and CW attempts at promos for Veronica Mars in the past?

Well, over the summer, my sis, probably sick of hearing me complain, called me out on it. “What the hell DO you want the promos to be like? I’d like to see you even try.” There it was. The challenge. So, weeks ago, I set out to try and make my own VM promo. I fooled around with it a bit, then my computer got shipped away. But about four days ago, I got my computer back. And finally, I could finish it.

‘Chasing The Storm’: A Veronica Mars Promo
Music: “Rock and a Hard Place” - Supreme Beings of Leisure | “Ashes” - Embrace
Episodes: Spoils EVERYTHING for Season One and Two
Links: Crappy YouTube version | YSI link (10 MB/AVI) | Sendspace link (10 MB/AVI) | Sendspace (15 MB/MPEG1 | Sendspace (45 MB/MPEG2)
Notes: Made for Watchveronicamars.net's VM Promo Contest. A focus on aspects of the show UPN and The CW have yet to promote. The dark and gritty noir. The terrific ensemble of characters. The tragedies which surround them. And the strength they find amidst the storm.

It was a comedy for the masses to finish this with my 'slow as a turtle' 224 MB RAM laptop but I figured if I didn’t finish it in time for the contest, it would never get done. And it drives me batshat that there’s this whole little section that refused to render correctly and is therefore VERY off. But you know what? I had SO MUCH DAMN FUN making this promo. So it doesn't really matter. Really! Best cure for VM ennui ever. Seriously, anyone feeling down about the show? Make a promo.

This promo, hilariously enough was not the promo I set out to make. But somehow, one idea lead to another...and another...and another. And somehow it got made. I swear, the thing just had a mind of its own. It just decided it was going to be made and so it did.

Basically, I ended up making this keeping in mind everything that I’ve ever criticized UPN and CW promos for. I figure, the teen detective angle they’ve tried over and over. It doesn’t work for people. The quips are cute, but probably only to us. The great thing is, this show has given promo people SO MUCH tragic material that they could exploit to DEATH. And they haven’t used one ounce of it. So, as a consequence I might have gone overboard on the tragic. I just see it as a part of the series people who only recognize the show through promos? Have never seen before. Why not reel them in through the tragedy? And I know, it's completely deceptive to use S1 quotes overtop S2 video clips, but again with the reeling nature. That is after all the REASON promos exist. They are meant to REEL a crowd. SO USE YOUR DAMN SOURCE MATERIAL, CW! Ahem. Sorry. Random outburst. Won't happen again.

Still, the rendering quirks that resulted piss me off, so once I get the other half of my computer back, I'll hopefully make a better copy. Until then, copy with quirks it is...


X-posted in neptune_video HERE

UPDATE: REMASTERED version HERE

Comments

[afrocurl.livejournal.com]

I really like how dark the promo is, and how you really get at that thread of your title through the sound clips!

Wonderful done!

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

OoO, thanks! I have this inexplicable love for the dark shots of the show, so I'm glad to hear they worked well here. :)

[afrocurl.livejournal.com]

No problem Shannon!

Tis a lovely promo that gives away allof the crucial parts of the last two seasons without being horribly drawn out.

[beijing.livejournal.com]

Followed the link over from neptune_video, in the event of you wondering.

This is by far the best promo I've seen for the show. If I wasn't already hooked I would watch VM in a heartbeat after seeing this. Really. For some reason people are drawn to tragedy. Veronica Mars has a ton of tragedy. The official promo makers should learn to use it for bringing in the viewers.

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

If I wasn't already hooked I would watch VM in a heartbeat after seeing this. Really.

Wow. That's probably the best comment I could hear! Thank you!

Since most shows will actively exploit tragedy when it's not even there, it will never make any sense to me why VM promo people refuse to use their source. VM has it all. In real, live form. The show should be a promo person's dream. Oh, well.

Thanks for commenting!

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

Ooo, P-C approval!

Yea, that abrupt switch is one of those rendering flubs which make me mad, but it's Ashes! I had to use it. And yep, I definitely needed some fun in the mix. ;)

[maxymama.livejournal.com]

I agree with P-C that the switch to the fun is a very much needed balance, and nicely placed at the end of the promo. Great job! Thanks for sharing!

[the-royal-anna.livejournal.com]

I loved this. The way you've used Veronica's voiceover is just brilliant, and I think the theme is perfect, and one of the things that draws me to the show - not the tragedy itself, but the characters' fight to move beyond that. You illustrated that beautifully.

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

Wow, Anna. That's so amazing to hear. I honestly spend days trying to figure out a narration that would incapsulate exactly that, until I realized Veronica had said it much better than I ever would. So thank you!

[arabian.livejournal.com]

Pretty, pretty, pretty darn cool!!!

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[ww1614.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I really like it. That's the really cool thing about this show, the part that really distinguishes it from other teen shows.

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

This is great, and I'm going to play it at my S3 premiere party. Whee!

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

My promo gets a spot at your premiere party. I feel all special now!

[squaringkarma.livejournal.com]

You did such an awesome job on this, Shannon!

[squaringkarma.livejournal.com]

If you're still having a link to the blatherings on neptune_video, you might want to change it ;)

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

WHEE! Thanks, Gaby! I'm glad you enjoyed!

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

Ah, I'll keep it up and annoy people because I'm mean like that. ;)

[singingrl.livejournal.com]

Awesome job, I think the problem with the promo department is that they're doing this as a job...and as fans, we tend to see things a bit differently than they do. Hell, most of the people assigned to do promos probably have never even watched the show. That's the joy of the entertainment industry, even the actors who work on a show don't have to watch it lol...So, while I don't really think that any UPN or CW promo has done an even passable job of marketing the show, I think it's more a result of lack of comprehension of the material or the fact that the show is so low down on their priority list. That sounds insanely cynical, but whatever. I still love your stab at promotional marketing better than anything I've seen :)

[zimshan.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

I think the problem with the promo department is that they're doing this as a job...and as fans, we tend to see things a bit differently than they do. Hell, most of the people assigned to do promos probably have never even watched the show.

While I do agree, I find that many promos done for tv shows are pretty well done. Or at least exciting enough to compel a person to tune in. It seems its VM's promo's specifically that aren't using the material they have that would make for a really exciting promo. This show has got death and guns and danger shots that any other promo department would exploit like crazy. Like, I saw the ER promo for the premiere last night. And it was crazy and chaotic with insane flashes and quick cuts and just very compelling. And I'd put money on the fact that the ep itself probably is not as crazy as the promo is showing it as. But the promo itself makes it look exciting. If you look at the Supernatural/Smallville promo, it does the same thing. The Heroes promo would be another example. And there are a bunch more out there. I really don't care if they get the show or not, I would just like to see them make a compelling promo with the source material they have been given instead of basically static scenes with quippy/semi-bitchy when taken out of context quotes.

And sorry, that comment ended up alot longer than I intended it to be. I have a bad tendency to go off on crazy tangents when its comes to promos. ;)

[subtle--sarcasm.livejournal.com]

I'm completely in love with it, it's seriously the best promo i've seen for the show. I love how it's amazingly dark but in no way comes across all zomg-emo. and the music&voiceover is perfectly done. *applauds*

[http://users.livejournal.com/naty_/]

Neat! I especially like the first section.

[lil-miss-sneaky.livejournal.com]

Hey, hope you don't mind me popping in here... I just saw your video in the cloud watchers community, and I just want to say... WOW! It gave me chills. I love it! It's better than the Comic Con preview, if you ask me. Hope you don't mind, but I plan on putting a link in my AIM profile to get my friends to watch the show.

[details15.livejournal.com]

I watched all the ones over at Cloud_watchers, and yours was one of the better ones.

[cosmicviolet.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was pretty awesome. Certainly one of the best promos I've seen. :) I intended to make one as well, but I didn't have enough time.