btvsats20in20 ROUND 13: THE PACK (BtVS S1.06)

[red_satin_doll]

My entries for Round 13 of btvsats20in20 - actually ahead of deadline!

Beta: The erudite, eloquent, extraordinary and irreplaceable velvetwhip.
ETA:*Orange and Cat5 (Angel!Pig) reserved for Gabrielle and are NOT snaggable. Sorry.

   

10 Themes
Orange*	Unusual Crop	Truth	Sepia+Profile	Retro
Hot	Crossover**	Contrast	Angry	Yellow+Blue
5 Category |WHITE DECORATION
Cat 1	Cat 2	Cat 3	Cat 4	Cat 5*
5 Artist's Choice
AC 1**	AC 2***	AC 3	AC 4	AC 5

Resources:
Screencaps and movie posters from Bloodqueen, Screencapped and SMG-France.
Textures by colorfilter, scoobyatemysnax and lookslikerain. Angel wing by Kyle Butler



Alts/extras:

   1 - 6


   7 - 13


    14 - 18


  19 - 23


 
I'd love to do this episode another round because there is SO much going on in this episode and so much fantastic imagery that I can't begin to cover it with one round. OTOH, I forgot how CREEPY this episode is, and how emotionally harrowing. REALLY creepy.

I tried as much as possible to emphasize the "victims" here, rather than the perpetrators; but also show how the victims fight back and resist victimization in their own ways. The moment depicting in the Truth icon when she sees through Hyena!Xander's facade ("Now I know") is one of my favorite Moments of Willow Badassery (TM). I remembered that Bob Flutie died terrified, eaten alive; I'd forgotten that before that he chased the pack down in a genuine rage because they killed the school mascot, and dragged them into his office, determined to put a stop to their rein of terror. Buffy manages to fight off Hyena!Xander if just barely escaping being raped or worse; then quips about it to Willow afterwards:

"He tried his hand at felony sexual assault...it's safe to say that in his animal state his idea of wooing doesn't involve a Yanni CD and a bottle of Chianti."

On a side note: it's interesting that in the episode that focuses on hierarchies and bullying in high school, Cordelia and the Cordettes are nowhere to be found. It's interesting to consider where she would have fallen on the food chain if she'd been in the episode. Was Charisma Carpenter unavailable the week they filmed that episode?

                                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Gabrielle has first dibs on the Orange and Cat5 (Angel!Pig) icons; these are NOT snaggable.

But all other are entirely snaggable or make suitable gifts *lol*. Please give proper credit and do not claim as your own; do not post to other websites or archives without asking first. Comments and feedback are always appreciated!

** Crossover, AC1, Alts 20 - 23: Possession starring Sarah-Michelle Gellar as a woman whose brother-in-law body may or may not contain the soul of her comatose husband after both brothers are involved in a car accident. Think a cut-rate version of Jonathan Glazier's flawed masterpiece, Birth (2003).

***Crossover, AC2: Scream2 featuring SMG in a small role as the trope Buffy is meant to subvert: the helpless blond girl in the alley (or in this case, sorority house). Watching "Buffy" crying and begging for her life while being chased by a psychopathic killer is surprisingly unpleasant, btw. (Just saying.)

Comments

[feliciacraft.livejournal.com]

Oh WOW.

WOW!

These are absolutely amazing! Love the top three above the cut the most, the framing on Hot, AC1, 2, and 5 (I'm not in the mood for expressions of anger or confrontation right now), and Alt 2 (a softer, more "fairytale" alternative of AC4). Love, love, love the blue tone and mood of Contrast and Crossover -- I can't stop looking at them.

Thank you so much for sharing!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much Felicia!

I really love those teaser images as well. I think crossover and contrast are two of my favorite icons I've made. The blue tones in those two coordinate so well don't they? It wasn't planned at all believe me.

(I'm not in the mood for expressions of anger or confrontation right now)

I couldn't even watch the episode again itself - the screen caps alone were too intense. And I know the feeling, very very much (these were actually difficult for me to do.) And I'm not going to pry but if you wish to talk about anything, here I be.

a softer, more "fairytale" alternative of AC4

I went back and forth on which one to submit!

I think because, growing up I never saw images positive images of LBGT couples and so I have a habit of wanting to give to slash couples the same gauzy romantic effects that Het couples get in the movies etc all the time. Whether or not that actually makes for better icons... (and I'm just shameless and I like bokeh and light textures anyway.)

Thank you so much for commenting!

[feliciacraft.livejournal.com]

I like bokeh, too. Coming from photography, I spend a lot time trying to produce it with a camera.

Oh, nothing specific, just that there seems to be a lot of negativity going around.

Anyway, wonderful icons!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I'm just getting into photography seriously myself so I'm always thrilled when I get that effect "accidentally on purpose" (at this point it's usually a happy accident). I actually understand textures and light effects better now that I make them with my own photos.

just that there seems to be a lot of negativity going around.

There always is isn't there? People be crazy. Don't let 'em get you down sweetheart. (And there are people who will try.) Your optimism and spirit is such a gift.

And thank you for the compliments!