Being Human: Review and Tribute Video

It's hard to believe it's been a year since my all time favorite show ended. & I don't say "all time favorite" lightly. I don't have one favorite song or band (although 30 Seconds To Mars & M83 are up there), or one favorite movie (although Oblivion & Knowing are up there). I love shows like The 100 (based on books by Kass Morgan) & the tragically cancelled Star-Crossed, due to their Scifi themes, but Being Human is the only show in the history of television that I can truly say is my favorite.

Being Human started as a European show, which I saw a couple episodes of on BBC, but just couldn't get into it after seeing the U.S. version on the Syfy channel. No offense to the first Being human, but I think the U.S. version was drastically improved. I might be biased though. It's one of the very few shows where I can honestly say I adored the entire cast, especially the main characters.

In the beginning, Aidan (Sam Witwer) & Josh (Sam Huntington) move in together as roommates. One small problem though - one is a vampire & the other a werewolf. They soon discover that their new-found abode is haunted by a ghost named Sally (Meaghan Rath), & since their supernatural state allows them to see her, they quickly become friends with her quirky, lovable spirit. Then, eventually, Josh falls in love with a coworker named Nora (Kristen Hager), & accidentally turns her into a werewolf. Oh & he also impregnates her with his possibly monstrous child. Ruh-roh D:

The setup of a vampire, werewolf & ghost living under the same roof makes for tons of action & drama, but that's not really why I loved the show. I loved it because one minute the characters could be sitting at the kitchen table joking & laughing (& making me laugh quite a bit too), & the next minute they could be on the edge of life & death, screaming & crying & clawing to save each other. This contrast of comedy & drama is, I think, what made it so great. I've recently discovered a genre of music that I feel is my musical soul mate, called doom metal (bands like My Dying Bride & Forest of Shadows & our friend's band Agonal, & soon our own music too). Since then, I've referred to Being Human as the Doom Metal of TV. Because it does the same thing - makes you feel safe & warm, & then when you least expect it, rips it all away in a flurry of sorrow & despair. I loved being on that emotional roller coaster. Maybe I'm just crazy, but that's why it's my all time favorite show.

When it was announced that Being Human was ending a year ago, with only a couple weeks to adjust to the shocking news, many people were angry. I was too, at first, but then I found out why it was ending & I felt a little bit better about it. & the Series Finale was everything I could have hoped for, bringing all the story lines to a beautifully happy ending. Unlike with the aforementioned Star-Crossed, Being Human got the ending the characters & fans deserved, & I will always be grateful for that. :)

I seriously can't believe it's taken me a year to make my tribute video for Being Human. First, I had a plethora of songs to choose from, finally deciding on my remix of "Breath" by Breaking Benjamin, since it allowed me to showcase both the action & romance on the show. Some of the lyrics really went with certain things that happened too. Then I had some technical difficulties (way too many clips for poor little windows movie maker to handle), & then my novels & other projects got in the way, but finally I decided to finish it, coincidentally, exactly one month before the one year anniversary of the show's ending.

Speaking of the ending, I had to squeeze in another song at the end of the video - my remix of "I Won't Let You Go" by Snow Patrol. You may have heard this song on the Divergent soundtrack. It was in the credits of that movie, but I felt like it should have played when the credits first started rolling (it didn't - one of many musical issues I had with that movie), so for this video it is the credit song, & I really feel like it's perfect for what's happening at the end. Here are the lyrics of the part I used:


Never gonna be easy, was it?

You didn't think it'd be so much fun.

The smile comes despite the danger.

Get some.

I know I'm where I belong.

Deep down inside, I've known all along.

I won't let you go,
 so don't leave go of me.

I wanted something more, 
I wanted this right here.

This is what you really want.

This is what you asked for.


Any of Being Human's main characters could have written these lyrics about their loved ones in the show, & while most of the video is filled with action & dread (& a LOT of screaming, LOL), I wanted to end it on a happy note. Because I think I can speak for all fans of the show when I say these lyrics also sum up how we feel after that ending. This is what we really want. This is what we asked for.

I for one couldn't have asked for a more perfect show or a more perfect ending. I will never let Being Human go (pun intended). I could watch it over & over for the rest of my life & never get sick of it. & I just might do that, once I finally own it on DVD. ;)

Okay, enough gushing. Video time!

Warning: This video is basically the entire series squeezed into 4 minutes (thanks to this amazing & hilarious recap for some of the footage). Some big spoilers ahead. But chances are if you're reading this you've seen the show anyway, so sit back, relax, turn the volume up & enjoy the feels!

:')

P.S. (Spoiler)
I also just found out while researching for this blog that they intended all along for Sally & Aidan to have the same door (to the afterlife) which made this long time Saidan shipper very happy. They were soul mates. It doesn't get better than that. :)

I leave you with an article (interview with Sam Witwer AKA Aidan) discussing the door thing and much more, including a farewell interview video. This amazing show and its truly lovable characters will be missed, but I for one have never been so satisfied or fulfilled after a series. Thanks for the memories. 


Be Human,
Kylie Jude.


}i{

Review and Mashup: Delta Rae

Like lots of people, I first heard Delta Rae on the a capella TV show The Sing-Off. But it wasn't until I heard their first single "Bottom Of The River" that I truly became a fan. The song and video were so intense and dramatic and well done that I couldn't wait to hear more like it. But I had to wait, since we have bad internet connection where we live. Honestly it's a miracle I'm even able to blog as much as I do (which isn't much, so that's saying something).

Finally, (and coincidentally on the same weekend that their concert on AXS premiered), I was able to hear some of their other songs online, and although I loved their a capella stuff, I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of their songs involved beautiful, intricate, and unique instrumentation as well. And when I watched their AXS concert on TV shortly after, I was even more thrilled to see that they actually played their own instruments (a feat that is sadly not seen enough anymore), and that they had such great energy onstage too. I would have loved to have been there live. If you get a chance to see them on tour, I recommend it.

I fell in love with a bunch of their music, especially the songs that reminded me of my own novels as well as my husband's, and when I heard their song "I Will Never Die" (which reminds me of BOTH our novels), it quickly became my new favorite. And I quickly noticed that the vibe and lyrics both seemed to go well with "Bottom Of The River" so I decided to try mixing the two songs together. Turns out, they go together perfectly. I feel like this mash-up takes all the intensity of both songs and just amplifies it. Hopefully you will like it too. And I really hope I got the right lyrics. So many sites butcher lyrics these days, so fingers crossed ;) Anyway, let me know what you think! And be sure to check out their EP "Chasing Twisters" as well as their debut album "Carry The Fire". Some truly amazing music on both. For tour dates and much more, visit their website HERE, and check out the killer teaser for yet another new album from the phenomenal band (coming in April 2015) HERE.

Delta Rae is a force to be reckoned with. Their electrifying energy, their powerful voices and musical talent, and their creativity in using some really unique and awesome instruments, all make these kids stand out as nothing like we've ever seen or heard before, and likely never will again. Some say the band's vivacious lead singer Brittany is a witch. Whether that's true or not, listening to their music definitely does make you feel like you're under a spell, and the more you listen, the more you want. And there's no denying the themes of witchcraft in some of their songs, including the two I mixed together (so of course it's no wonder they remind me of my husband's books). But whether witchcraft is involved or not, I'm perfectly happy to be under their spell. :)

 And now I give you my
Delta Rae mash-up:

Let me know what you think in the comments below! And please subscribe here and on Youtube if you like it (after subscribing to their Youtube, of course) ;)


Be The Lightning,
Kylie Jude.


}i{

Frozen Creek Studios

"Hues Of Blue"

Some of you know about the budding photography company my husband and I are trying to get off the ground, but I wanted to have a link everyone could come to and find all the details about it. Plus, we've really been struggling with getting the word out there, so hopefully this will help with that too.

Cincinnati Panorama

Frozen Creek Studios focuses on capturing beautiful still shots (mostly of nature and wildlife), which my talented husband takes himself, as you can see in the collage of BTS shots below. But we're at a bit of a standstill right now, until he can get a new camera. So please donate here if you can, and spread the word.

But FCS is about so much more than just photography. We also do cinematography, video editing, photo editing, graphic art and more. Below is a list of all the services we currently offer (from the FCS Facebook page). It's hard to put a set price on said services, since prices range anywhere from as low as $20 to $100 or more, depending on how much work and time the job entails - but as a general rule, the services are listed in order from cheapest to not as cheap. We will always give discounts for friends and family though, so check them out and please let us know if you have any questions:

Photography: 
 
8x10 prints now on sale for $15! 
Order 10 prints & get free shipping & a free print of your choice! We have over 200 prints to choose from here.


Photo Restoration:
 
Old family photos that are water-stained or ripped? We can restore old or damaged photos to look like new.
 

Graphic Design:
 
Need a logo for your business? 
Need original art for your website, book cover or album cover? We can create almost anything you can think of. 


Video Editing:
 
Want to remember a special occasion in a unique & heartwarming way? We can create slideshows of past events, & we can capture future events through video &/or photography & create a slideshow or music video to keep for memories & to give to friends/family. We can also create book trailers, ETC.


Please contact us to discuss pricing and to ask us anything at all. 
We will always respond. :)

-Eric & Kylie
Frozen Creek Studios

There you have it! I know this is a bit different from what I normally post here, but we needed a place to direct customers to, so I donated my blog for the task. I hope you'll check out my husband's beautiful photography HERE and follow FCS on Facebook and Twitter.

By the way, the book trailers are a fairly new development. Of course I've made trailers for my own books and my husband's books (I will let you know when they're up), but it never dawned on me that I could be offering my services to other authors too, until our good friend Stephen Zimmer asked me to make one for his newest book, Heart of a Lion. I had lots of fun putting the trailer together and hope to make more for other authors in the future. Below is the trailer as an example. Enjoy, and feel free to check out the book too!

Future book trailers will be on my website, so be sure to check them out!

I leave you with some before-and-after shots of our photo restoration work.

Stay Frosty,
 Kylie Jude.


}i{

Dear Santa - A Holiday Journal Entry

When my talented husband D. R. Acula wrote his monologue entry for the new Tentsquare contest #HolidayJournalEntry, I loved the cool and hilarious twist he put on it, but we weren't quite sure how actors would portray it or if they would get the message we were trying to convey with it. But then, a light broke through the clouds of uncertainty. That light's name is Adra Janean.

Adra is an actress with some work already under her belt, which you can find on her IMDB. We were pleasantly surprised to see that she not only read the monologue, but understood completely the message in it, conveying it perfectly and hilariously on film, with some great editing to top it off and make it even more entertaining. And she did it all in one hour! As a dabbling video editor myself, I know how hard it is to complete a project like this in just one hour, but she did it. So that earns even more kudos from me!

At first Adra was worried if a female Santa could work for the challenge, but her take on it as Mrs. Claus was absolutely brilliant, and she even threw in some improv that made the whole thing better. With this video, Adra completely surpassed our expectations, and made a little masterpiece in the process. Watch the magic HERE. You won't regret it. ;) 

If you like the video, you can vote for it once a day, beginning December 13th. If she wins, she'll score some cash and a meeting with casting director Lindsay Chag. So help us show our appreciation for this wonderful performance by voting when the time comes. She so deserves to win. :) 

Be the lightning, 

Kylie Jude. 

}i{ 

Making "Coma"

 As most of you have probably heard by now, my husband D. R. Acula and I have been participating in a contest on a collaborative website called TentSquare, and for about a month now it's pretty much all we've been doing. We've now made it all the way to the final round, and for this round contestants were asked to write an original song, using elements of TentSquare's coming film "While You Were In A Coma" in which a man wakes up from a coma to find that aliens have invaded. 

We were told to incorporate a gas mask (which we happened to have anyway), a city (which we did NOT have), and the fact that the main character 'doesn't get the girl' in the end. So we built this whole apocalyptic world based on that little bit of information, in which our characters are in the midst of this war with the alien invaders, and we have run out of bullets so we have to use swords and hammers and such to fight them, and our characters are basically singing to the guy in the coma, waiting for him to wake up and 'help us save the world' as the song states. 

Photo by Kylie Jude

We only had about 10 days to compose the music, write the lyrics, film the video, edit the video, and get it uploaded (which for us is an entire day's work anyway). We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary during the 10 days, and we had to take a few breaks for yard work, road work, house work, and even tearing apart and rebuilding our porch steps. So in reality it probably only took us 6 or7 days to do all of this work. And trust me, it was a LOT of work. 

First he composed the music, which featured elements of the video interview we submitted in the 2nd round, so it wasn't too hard to build on that and make it into a full length song. Then I wrote the lyrics, which I'll paste below in case you can't understand them in the song. Then we recorded vocals and I mixed them into the song, which took longer than it probably should have. 

Then we filmed the video, which took about 3 days, and was a combination of us, some close-up shots of the machines that conveniently decided to work on our road during that time (which never happens here so it was good timing - we figured they could pass for aliens), and footage that people sent us of cities including New York, Chicago, and even from Argentina. We don't have a city near where we live, so we were really lucky to get that footage from them. Then our TentSquare shirts arrived in the mail just in time to go back and film some extra shots for the last chorus with us wearing the shirts. 

Photo by D. R. Acula

Then came the editing process, which was probably the most tedious and time consuming of all, but I love editing and I had fun doing it. As it started to come together, I literally squealed with excitement a few times. LOL.

We both worked harder on this than I think we've ever worked on anything, and it was so much fun to create something like this together. Hopefully we'll be doing more stuff like this in the near future!  

UPDATE: We didn't win the contest, but we did come in second place. We are grateful to those who supported us and voted daily for us, and we hope to do more stuff like this in the future (even if it's not with TentSquare). We will be uploading the music video to Youtube as soon as we can, but for now you can still watch it on the site HERE.

And please let us know what you think!

  Oh! And here are those lyrics I promised: 

When you wake up

We need to talk 

Everything has changed my love 

They came from the skies 

Hell fire in their eyes 

And waves of radiation 

They blew the buildings down 

They blew the lights out 

And now we're left with nothing 

To fend for ourselves 

To fight for our lives 

And only the strong will survive

Are you strong enough to fight 

Or will you give in tonight 

Don your gas mask draw your sword 

Come and help us save the world 

Open your eyes 

Look to the skies 

Death is in the rain son 

Don't be fooled by 

Their coy disguise 

Trust nothing and no one 

Are you strong enough to fight 

Or will you give in tonight 

Don your gas mask draw your sword 

Come and help us save the world 

When you wake up 

We need to talk 

Everything has changed my love 

I'm not yours and 

You're not mine and 

We will never happen 

This is not the 

Time for love - it's 

Time for killing - time for war  

So don your gas mask 

Draw your sword 

Come and help us save the world 

Photo by D. R. Acula

Be the lightning,

Kylie Jude. 

}i{

Star-Crossed: Review and Video.

UPDATE 1: 

Sadly, the CW chose to cancel Star-Crossed, with only one episode left in the breathtaking first season. I thought it was doing well & was absolutely shocked when the news hit (as were many others). Overall, 23 shows were axed. Some other great shows were cancelled, but Star-Crossed was probably the most shocking, & the most heartbreaking. There is so much left for this wonderful show, & I hate seeing the fans so crushed, as well as all the work put into this show going to waste. 

When a show has been cancelled, it's pretty unlikely it will get picked back up. Nonetheless, many Statgazers (fans of the show) have started campaigning for the CW to reconsider, or for another network to pick it up. Don't get your hopes up, but if you want to join us in the Twitter campaign, we are using hashtags like #SaveStarCrossed in addition to the usual hashtag, #StarCrossed. Some are also trying to get Netflix to pick it up. I personally think Syfy would be a good channel for it, but, we'll see. It's worth trying, but again, don't get your hopes up too high. Closure is important.

^ That was my first reaction. Just in shock. There are plenty more that feel the same, which is definitely apparent when you search for #SaveStarCrossed or any of the related tags on Twitter. It's even more shocking when compared to some of the shows that were renewed, and some of the new crap coming out to replace the cancelled. It makes no sense whatsoever. The brilliant minds behind Star-Crossed deserve a second chance to tell their amazing story, and even if it does no good, Stargazers will not go down without a fight.

Here are some petitions you can sign that MIGHT help:

Petition 1: Change.Org

Petition 2: Twitter 

Petition 3: DVD Release

Petition 4: Netflix

(If you know of more please let me know & I will add them here)




UPDATE 2:

 The season (and most likely series) finale of Star-Crossed aired this week (5-12-2014) and it was even better than the rest of the series, with plenty of eye candy, all sorts of feels, some plot twists, and tons of action. I joined in on Twitter during commercials, and it seems the finale had the best online ratings yet, with it not only being a crazy amazing episode, but with the fans desire to see another season, and the hopes that tweeting like crazy about it would help. Only time will tell if it did. All I know is, after the finale, I now love Star-Crossed even more than before.

~ Clearly, I was impressed. And the show used the perfectly dark cover of "Stand By Me" by one of my favorite musicians Ki: Theory for the disturbingly epic end of the episode, which only made it better. Like I said on Twitter, the editing was done so well during the song that it was almost like a music video (which is great since Ki: Theory unfortunately had to remove the original "Stand By Me" video from Youtube because of 'violence' - which was crazy, BTW). And the way the show ended was absolutely without a doubt a cliffhanger, obviously written when they expected a second season. So now the fans are even more distraught, because while Star-Crossed did most definitely end on a high note and go out with a bang, not to mention an exciting science fiction shot that made scifi nerds like me squeal, it's obvious that this wonderfully intricate show wasn't given the proper ending it deserved. Good shows have ended before, such as The CW's other show Nikita, and the wonderful Being Human on Syfy, but both shows were given a proper ending. So, while I miss both shows to this day, the emptiness we felt when they ended doesn't compare to the void that this cancellation has left. Star-Crossed deserves to go on.

Like Amee said on Twitter (pictured) the main reason that the cancellation of Star-Crossed is so heartbreaking is that it never had a chance to tell its story, and it didn't get the proper ending it deserved. Season one left us with a huge cliffhanger, making us want to know what happens next season. Like I said, other shows (such as Nikita) at least had a good ending, so it was easier to say goodbye with everything tied up nicely. But Star-Crossed is left wide open, and while the finale was amazing, it just didn't wrap up the story as much as a series finale should. Some are even speculating that the CW is just messing with us and will soon laugh and say it was all a joke, but if it is a joke, it's not funny.

Even Ki: Theory (the musician who's music played at the end of the finale, pictured) enjoyed the final episode of Star-Crossed. Others such as the great William Shatner joined in on live tweeting in an attempt to "save scifi" - because in the end, I think that is what we're all fighting for. Good science fiction. And Star-Crossed was just that. It also had the rare ability to make you think, to make you question your own morals, and to open people's eyes about so many things. That is the main reason I will miss this show. Sure, I'll miss the Science Fiction aspect, and the graphics, and all the hard work that went into creating the Atrian history and culture, but the message of the show is what will stick with me more than anything. There just isn't enough "decent" programming on television these days, and this cancellation proves that networks would love to keep it that way.


If there is a silver lining to this cancellation, it might be that it brought people from around the world together for a cause. People bound by their love for this wonderful show, and by their similar feelings about it being wrongfully cancelled. Stargazers are pretty awesome, and I hope this fandom is around for a long time. Whether it's a tattoo of Atrian markings or the beautiful Sondiv language from the show, or whether it's music videos commemorating Star-Crossed, or whatever it is, I have a feeling Stargazers will keep shining for years to come.


So keep shining, Stargazers. And never forget the impact that Star-Crossed had on you. Hopefully the rest of the world will realize how unique, beautiful and innovative this show was, and if not, well, that's their loss. ;)

Phew! That was long. 
Now for my original post:

The CW has created some amazing TV shows, including Reign, The 100, The Tomorrow People, and much more. All of them have intriguing plot lines, epic quotes, stunning visual effects and cinematography, and perfect music that ties it all together for a great experience. But my favorite show of theirs so far is Star-Crossed, which is loosely based on Shakespeare's timeless tale of Romeo and Juliet, but with an alien twist.

In the show, Roman (who's name is an obvious play on Romeo) is among the aliens (called Atrians on the show) who come to Earth for sanctuary, and are in stead met with prejudice. Emery is the human girl (the equivalent of Juliet) who, unlike most humans, stands with the Atrians. After she befriends Roman as a child, they are separated for years, until a special program puts him and a group of his fellow Atrians at her high school, and the friendship (as well as romance) rekindles. Most of the humans continue to discriminate against the Atrians for being different, which is escalated by a few violent mishaps, and Emery continues to defend the Atrians, showing that not all humans are bad. Which is as true in the real world as it is in this show. Not all humans are bad. :)

Obviously, the romance between Roman and Emery is the main plot of the show, but it's done tastefully - the Atrians aren't "little green men" but look very similar to humans, aside from the markings on their skin, which are unique to each Atrian and glow blue in water "to light the way" - which hints at an amazingly intricate alien culture we want to know more about, and is intensified even more by their unique language, created by the wonderful David J. Peterson (who also created languages for HBO's Game of Thrones and Syfy's Defiance). There's a lot more to this show than just romance, and it holds a beautiful message about acceptance, tolerance, and the power of love. Which brings me to my music video. ;) 

After the long awaited and shockingly passionate first kiss between Roman and Emery in "To Seek A Foe" (yes, the episode titles are all quotes from Romeo and Juliet, which is awesome), I decided I had to make a music video. So, I went to work getting as much footage as possible from that episode and the ones before it. I didn't get as much as I would have liked (I especially wanted to include footage from "An Old Accustom'd Feast" which was the next episode, but our internet connection coupled with the replacement of Star-Crossed reruns on Fridays by Hart of Dixie made it impossible). So, I did what I could with what I had to work with. I also added a few photos from the show, and animated lens flares over them to make them more interesting. I hope it worked.

I apologize for the poor quality. Since we don't have DVR or anything like that, I have to get most of my footage by recording the TV screen with a video camera. So that's why. That's also why you can barely hear the audio clips from the show, but I added text so you can at least know what they are saying. I just loved the quotes and had to use them, one way or another. I know it's not my best video, especially because of all this, but please try to ignore it and enjoy. The second half is hopefully better than the first, so try to stick with it!

When it came to choosing a song, I was stumped. So I posted about it on Twitter and got a couple song suggestions from fellow Stargazers (that's what fans of the show call themselves). @ThiaBaybee suggested "The Power Of Love" (the cover version performed by Gabrielle Aplin) and @MarsAmee suggested "Aquarius" (also a cover, performed by Digital Daggers - who I love BTW). Both great suggestions! 

I had heard Gabrielle Aplin's cover of "The Power Of Love" on CW's other wonderful show Reign (it played during the "Frary" wedding scene), and I thought the lyrics were perfect for the storyline of Star-Crossed, but the music, although beautiful, didn't have quite enough "oomph" to edit to. But I decided to soldier on and add my own drum beats to the song to make it more powerful and easier to showcase my editing "skills" with. LOL.

I also added some subtle clips of the other request (the Digital Daggers cover of "Aquarius") over the song, essentially blending the 2 songs together. I have done this before, but never while adding my own beats, so the music alone is a pretty exciting reveal for me. You might need to blast it on headphones, but hopefully you can hear the changes. I will definitely be editing more music like this in the future, so keep those eyes peeled! 

Oh, and "Aquarius" was used at the end of the very first episode of Star-Crossed, so I finished off the video with a clip of that song (also with drums added). I suggest listening to the whole song though - it really is amazing. 

I hope both Stargazers who suggested songs will approve of the music and the video! I tried to give it the best of both worlds ;) And I added clips of the drums I used during the video credits (without music), in case you're curious.

Caution: This video is pretty romantic. Not only is the main song called "The Power Of Love" and the clips chosen accordingly, but it was made right after the first "Romery" kiss, so just keep that in mind. More than anything, I guess this is a "Romery" video, mainly for fangirls, LOL. So, watch with care. And possibly tissues? IDK.

Side note: This is my first official TV show music video and review! I plan to do more in the future (such as Syfy's recently deceased Being Human & hopefully some more CW shows) so again, keep your eyes peeled. And be nice. Keep in mind this is my first. No better show than Star-Crossed to break the ice with. :) 

You can see Star-Crossed every Monday on the CW, 

and you can see my video RIGHT HERE:

*Squeals* I hope you liked it! Please comment here or on the video itself and let me know! And please "like" and share and subscribe and all that jazz. Thanks for reading, and thanks for watching! 

Be the lightning, 

Kylie Kerosene. 

}i{

Fairytale In Red (Malukah Remix)

I first heard Malukah's angelic voice when she posted her very first Skyrim cover on Youtube a couple years back, and since then, I've become hooked. Then a couple months ago when I heard her original song "Reignite" (inspired by and including clips from one of my favorite game series "Mass Effect") I knew she was a star. She has become just that among gamers all over the world, and rightfully so. 

I commented on her Reignite video saying something like "Keep writing songs. That is where your true power lies." THEN I discovered that she had released a whole CD of original songs under her real name Judith de los Santos, called "All of the Above" and what do you know, I was right - her original songs are in my opinion even better than her covers. She puts so much emotion into everything, and this album is no exception. The sound is masterfully produced and the lyrics are surprisingly brilliant. 2 of my favorites from the album are "Covered in Red" which has that dark intensity I always look for in music, and "Fairytale" which weaves words together in a mind-blowingly impressive way. 

The 2 songs seem to have a similar theme, as well as similar notes (each of them still standing alone as separate songs though) so I had the idea to try mixing these 2 songs together. I used "Fairytale" as the base (it plays the whole time) and added clips of "Covered in Red" over it (it's quiet but it's there - I would have made it louder but the drums would have clashed). Mind you, I don't have the best equipment to do stuff like this with, but hey, I tried. And my husband tells me that despite my lack of good equipment it still sounds like one fluid song, which is a huge compliment coming from him (he tells me the truth whether it's ugly or not) so, I hope you guys will like it too! 

 

Screenshot from "Fairytale In Red" (animation)

They say all musicians are capable of hearing 2 songs in their mind at once, and I've always been able to do that. As a result of this bizarre talent, I've been wanting to mix songs together for a few years now (even made a list - lost it since then but it's quickly growing again - this will be the first of many mixes), but I never actually tried it until now. And Malukah was the one I wanted to mix music from first, since that first project is always so special, and Malukah is also so special. Her covers alone have helped me through some pretty hard times, especially "Reignite" (which also got me through beating Dragon Age: Origins for the first time) and not only does she have this amazing talent, but she is one of the sweetest people you'll ever encounter. She always takes the time to reply to people online (which is quite the feat considering how many people interact with her every day) and it amazes me how humble she still is. The following wasn't even in reply to anything, which I thought was awesome of her.

Via Google+

Anyway, since I'd already talked to her a few times, I felt like I needed to ask her permission before uploading this mix. So, I sent her an email and crossed my fingers, not wanting to get my hopes up. To pass the time until I heard from her, I tweeted things such as this to get people excited: 

And I think it worked ;)

Then, to my surprise, Malukah said yes! I was happier than a kid on Christmas morning, and it definitely showed in my posts on Twitter. LOL. And @MarsAmee (a mutual fan) was pretty excited too, which was awesome ;)

I quickly got to work finalizing the project, making a simple lyric video (to clarify which parts I used where) and even adding some animation (which is apparently MUCH harder than it looks) and finally, after much blood, sweat, tears of frustration & tears of joy, staying up until 5am for 3 nights in a row, working on it for most of my birthday (today - New Years Eve), 34 Movie Maker files and over 520 Photoshop files, I'm happy to finally say IT IS FINISHED! I know it's not perfect, but I hope it will showcase her music in a fresh new way and attract even more fans for this amazing musician and wonderful person. :)

 

Screenshot from "Fairytale In Red" (animation)

If you haven't heard the album "All of the Above" you can check it out at Malukah.Com - I recommend listening to each song on its own before listening to the mix. I also recommend checking out her Youtube if you haven't yet. Get over there and see what you've been missing! 

Anyway, enough rambling. Here it is. My mix and lyric video of these 2 amazing songs (I've also combined the titles of the songs to get "Fairytale In Red") - Hope you like it! 

I'd suggest headphones & full-screen. Just saying.

So, there you have it. Remember, this was my first time mixing 2 songs together, and also my first attempt at actual animation. So be gentle with me, but let me know what you think! I loved making this, and I hope I get to collaborate with Malukah (again) in the future. I think this arrangement would make for a great duet (might have to try that if Malu and I are ever in the same town LOL) and I already have a little something in mind (actually kind of a BIG something) for a possible future project with her if she's up for it. Hint: The song in the credits. ;) 

Whatever the future holds, I feel brilliance on the horizon. New year, new passion. I'm so excited to bring you more stuff like this :) If you like it, please subscribe to the channel and also to my channel where I'll be posting some future stuff like this too. 

Happy New Year! 

 Be The Lightning ;)

}i{

UPDATE:

Here is Malukah's sweet and thoughtful response to the blog and the mix: 

   Thanks Malu :)


}i{

Purpose

If it isn't killing you, 

It isn't your purpose in life. 

This may sound harsh and extreme at first, but think about it. From the moment we are born, we are dying. Life is death. Therefore, death is also life. That's not saying you should actively seek out a career path that will kill you, or take drugs that could kill you, or jump off a cliff; it simply means that you must pour your life into your passion. 

When you find your purpose in life, you will know it. You will know it not because it is easy, but because it is hard. It will pull the best parts of you out kicking and screaming, until you are forced to submit to the power inside you. And yes, there is power inside you. It flows through all of us. We just have to recognize it, and put it to use in a positive way.

I wrote a poem a few months ago about the power that flows through all of us. I don't know how good it is or if it goes well with this blog, but either way, here it is: 

 

 Now I'm going to get personal, but bear with me, I have a point.  

At least I hope I do.

When I first discovered video editing, I thought I'd found my purpose. It was and still is one of my biggest passions, but it is not my purpose. Then when I founded   RISE (Rape Incest & Suicide Education), I thought I'd found my purpose. But while helping people is definitely a huge part of everyone's purpose, and while I am extremely passionate about RISE, it's still not my purpose.

When I started writing as a child, I was nonchalant about it, and remained that way until recently. But with the creation of my newest literary endeavor, a series of science fiction novels, I honestly believe that I have finally found my purpose. Writing. Not just writing, but using words and images to attempt to pull out the best in people. Using fiction as a motivational tool. I'm not just saying this to promote my books, either. But I want you to understand how I came to this conclusion. Through writing these books and doing the painstaking illustrations for them, I am learning more about myself and the world than I ever imagined I could learn while being creative. I am learning that it is hard, but worth it. All good things are worth it, and all things worth it are hard. 

I don't yet have children (and if I ever do, they will become my purpose) but I know that many people see their children as their purpose in life. Bringing children into this world and raising them is a wonderful thing, but it is by no means an easy task. Childbirth itself is a testament to this. It is probably the most painful thing a woman will ever have to endure, but in the end, when she looks at her baby for the first time, it's worth it. The pain and suffering we go through while pursuing our purpose is a lot like childbirth. It's hard, but in the end, it's worth it. 

If it doesn't require all of your energy; 
if it doesn't make you cry and sweat and bleed; 
if it isn't killing you, then it isn't your purpose in life. 

So what's your purpose?
What's the one thing that is harder than anything else, but that you also want more than anything else? Don't be afraid to leap into the unknown. You can't have crops without reaping, and you can't have success without work. So when you find your purpose, jump in blindly with everything you have. Put the necessary work in, and in the end it will be worth it. Because everything hard is worth it, and everything worth it is hard. 

"City of Angels" Music Video

Recently, 30 Seconds To Mars asked their fans (AKA The Echelon) to vote on what they thought should be their next single. Many voted for "City of Angels" and I joined them, giving good reasons for my vote. 

Being an aspiring video editor (youtube.com/kyliekerosene) of course I've now imagined an entire video for this song. LOL. Usually I won't post scripts for my videos online, but I'm not trying to make any money by doing this, I just want them to use my idea because I think it's perfect for the song. So, here it is: 

(Please skip over this part if you don't understand it. More blog after this!!!)

 

00:00 

Time-lapse of the sun starting to set over L.A. 

00:10 

Slow motion shots of city lights coming on as the sun sets, & other slow motion shots. 

00:27 

Quick shots of local people & places (signs, ETC.) to the beat of the drums. 

00:37 

Jared on a rooftop playing piano. Maybe some quick shots of this to the beat too. 

00:46 

RV of Shannon & Tomo walking through the city streets. More quick shots to the beat. Shannon maybe twirling a sharpie like a drumstick. (This will make more sense as you read on)

00:55 

Jared standing on the roof with a microphone, singing, the Hollywood sign glowing in the distance behind him. 

01:04 

Shot of a local boy around 17. Shannon & Tomo reach him, shake his hand, & Shannon draws a triad on the boy's hand with a sharpie. CU of the boy looking from his hand to them as they walk away. 

01:13

A goth girl or maybe a hooker on the corner, obviously lonely. They walk up to her & draw a triad on her hand. 

01:29

Jared on the roof singing.

01:32 

RV of Shannon & Tomo walking through the crowded streets, silhouetted by lights. Interlaced with shots of Jared singing on the roof. 

01:41 

Shannon & Tomo draw a triad on another local's hand, ETC. 

01:45

Jared singing on the roof, the lights behind him. 

01:50 

Some more slow motion shots. 

01:55 

Shannon & Tomo walk into a bar or restaurant. 

01:57

Jared singing. 

02:02 

Shannon & Tomo in the bar/restaurant. Shots of violinists playing to the music. They approach a woman with a little boy. Tomo draws a triad on her hand on "mother" & Shannon draws a triad on the boy's hand on "brother" 

02:09 

Jared singing "me" 

02:11 

Shannon & Tomo walk out of the bar/restaurant, the mother & son watching curiously. Maybe more violinist shots. 

02:13 

"The silver of a lake at night" ...'Nuff said. 

02:18 

Jared singing "The hills of Hollywood on fire" with the Hollywood sign behind him. Maybe some close up shots of the sign too. 

02:22 

Shots of the walk of fame & maybe a close up of Shannon & Tomo's feet as they walk across it. 

02:27 

A couple making out on "streets made of desire" because let's face it, it wouldn't be 30STM without it LOL (& because sex sells) 

02:31 

Shannon & Tomo mark more people, ETC. 

02:40 

Jared singing. 

02:45 

Shots of city lights, ETC. 

02:50

Shannon & Tomo start climbing the stairs to the rooftop where Jared is. 

02:54 

Jared singing as Shannon & Tomo set up to play in the background. 

02:59 

Time-lapse of the sun beginning to rise, & shots of the people they've drawn on (some where they were & maybe some getting out of bed) as their triads start glowing. 

03:05 

Slow motion shot of Shannon bringing his drumstick down to hit it for the first time. Cut away right before hitting. 

03:08 

Shots of the people they marked as wings appear on their backs on "angels" (CGI if able, & if not then just strap on wings that are already on. Either way, this is the first time we see wings.) Their eyes maybe glow too as they look at the camera. Some quick shots of them to the beat, shots of the sun rising, ETC. 

03:24 

CU of Shannon playing the drums. 

03:25 

Jared singing "I am" on the roof with the band. The sun has risen now. 

03:27 

The marked with their angel wings all start running from where they each are on "home" in slow motion.

03:31 

The band playing on the roof. 

03:36

The marked with their angel wings running in slow motion. There are a bunch of them (naturally). They eventually meet up at the base of the building the band is on. 

03:42 

The band playing & singing as it begins to rain. On "angels" zoom out & down to the crowd (filmed from the crowd) 

03:47 

CU of one of the marked looking up at the sky as it starts raining. On "strangers" zoom way out & up to show the whole crowd (filmed from the roof) 

03:53 

The band singing & playing, ETC.

04:03 

Slow motion shots of the marked angels jumping upward, maybe with a hand raised & a finger pointing up for "one" ETC. 

04:12 

The band singing & playing, ETC. 

04:21 

Shots of the crowd holding hands or some of them hugging, drenched with rain. Maybe shots of people walking by watching, ETC. If possible, a time-lapse of the city as the entire crowd of smiling angels slowly fades out of the shot, giving a disappearing effect. Maybe a time-lapse of the sun beginning to set again. 

04:40

The band playing & singing on the roof, wet from the rain (the girls will love it LOL) with the setting sun behind them, if possible. BTW Jared is now back at the piano, & now the band all has angel wings on (or CGI'd. Either way we don't see their wings till now.) 

04:44

Shannon & Tomo disappear (instruments included) & Jared is left playing piano & singing alone on the roof in the setting sun with angel wings. 

04:49 

On the last "angels" Jared looks up from the piano at the view, maybe with tears of joy rising  in his eyes. 

04:51 

Wide shot of Jared at the piano with his wings, the setting sun &/or Hollywood sign behind him, silhouetting him. 

04:53 

Jared disappears too, leaving a gorgeous shot of a lone piano on the roof, silhouetted by the sunset &/or Hollywood sign in the background. Zoom out slow. 

04:59 

Cut to black. 

Beautiful, right? 

I sure hope you think so. 

If you like this video idea, be an angel (pun intended) & share this blog online using the hashtag #MarsAngels along with a photo of yourself wearing angel wings (or photoshopped wings) & a triad on your hand. like so: 

(Evol Eric)

(Kylie Kerosene)

& make sure to tag the band & its members if you can! Even if you can't do the pictures for some reason, you can still share this blog! Here's a great example of an amazing tweet from @MarsAmee: 

There is no guarantee that this will work. In fact, it probably won't. But even if it doesn't, it's a fun way to come together & show our love for this band & this song. 

I don't live in L.A. & I have no other agenda than just to get this idea out there while bringing Echelon together. I hope you'll join me! Who knows, if I get enough people to submit pictures I might even make a lyric slideshow of my own to the song ;) 

Have fun posing, angels! 

Be the lighting, 

Kylie Kerosene. 

UPDATE: 

Well, if you follow the band, you know by now that they didn't use my idea. They did use the rooftop idea though, so I'm okay with that. :) Thanks to those who participated. It was fun! For those who may not have seen it, here is the official "City Of Angels" music video: