festivids highlights

I have conquered festivids! And I am here to point to what I enjoyed most and want to share with you if you haven't been by already.

I know some of you don't like or aren't familiar with vids, and/or aren't interested in seeing stuff about shows and movies you don't know. That's how I feel about yuletide each year—a bit left out because I don't know the vast majority of sources and therefore can't really enjoy the stories written for them or take part in the communal celebration of multifannishness. Plus, there are an overwhelming number of stories.

festivids—a post-holiday gift vid exchange for rare fandoms—turns out to be different. First, there are a manageable number of entries. I've seen them all (except the one for Slings and Arrows, because I'm planning on watching the show and don't want to risk being spoiled) in three sittings. Second, it only takes a couple of minutes to experience each entry, as opposed to the time investment in reading a long story in an unfamiliar fandom. Third, the quality ratio is extraordinary. And fourth, the vids are designed to be understood by non-fans on some level, to summarize the source, and/or to pitch the source. They may not resonate as much as they would if you knew what they're based on, but they're accessible. I knew maybe a third of the fandoms here. Sometimes I felt lost, but it didn't matter, because the ride was so enjoyable. Only a few left me unmoved.

fan_eunice has some convincing arguments to make for taking a look, namely: new music, new shows/movies to taste-test, social interaction while enjoying the entertainment and artistry, and, to reiterate the above: "you also do not have to know or be particularly interested in the fandom to still have one hell of a good time." I've been introduced to Joshua James and Rose Polenzani, become interested in two shows and a movie I'd either dismissed or not heard of before, and learned more about spectacular video editing.

And of course, if you do know a small fandom in the 'fest, it's probably pretty great to see a vid (or three) made for it.

Okay, that's the hard sell. Now for some recommendations. Not a problem, said I, when I first started watching; I'll just note the good ones. Okay, except they're pretty much all good. Then I decided to write down my favorites. Which, whoops, totaled about 30. I'll just pick ten, I said when I began this post. Well, I couldn't do it, so here are 15 of the vids I think shouldn't be missed, with handy emoticons to indicate the mood of each. Again, I hope you won't skip any on account of not knowing the source. Some of the best work lurks in the most obscure places. Of course, obscurity is relative.

( Favorites behind the cut: )