Saber Forum

Spin Wars Episode VII: Lockdown
Here we are again saber community. Another year has come and gone, and what a year it was. Hopefully we have spent some time improving our sabering  skills, since, let's face it, it has been difficult to do much of anything else.  So lets see how you all did. That’s right, the time has come once again to break out those sabers, cameras, and fancy moves, and get ready for this year’s Spin Wars!  This is the announcement you have all been waiting for. This makes the 7th year, so I guess we are in the sequels now. That's how that works right?

Before we go further though, there is a lot of new blood in the community this year, so let's take a look back at where it all began.

What is Spin Wars?

Spin Wars is Tradition!!!

Simply put, most of us here tend to do our own things. We do choreographed fights, martial arts demos, spinning routines, costume work, etc. What if there was a way to get several of those things into one project that would showcase a wider picture of what we, as a community, do with lightsabers? That is what Spin Wars did last 6 years. For anyone unfamiliar, the archived videos are here.


! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_fabiOtA6Y#)
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOXLGXuPRQA#)
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtBuaBYkTjE#)
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUMKS1tbufw#)
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYYyPhHF3jQ#)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzI5lK_47gI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzI5lK_47gI#)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O83Wl90oTI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O83Wl90oTI#)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=29PknRzYdPY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29PknRzYdPY#)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM6eRU81-nI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM6eRU81-nI#)
So what about this year? This year we will be doing one longer video. In times like these we need to come together, so the dark and the light will be integrated into one video. That said, it is not like we have to get along, so bring your A game as there will still be sides, a winner, and dark and light MVPs.

Anyone willing to contribute, post a video in which you show us your saber work. You can choreograph a fight, you can give us spinning, you can film some freeform work, you can do it with lit or unlit blades, in costume or in plain clothes, outside, inside, or on green screen. This footage will be edited together into a montage. There will be a base music track that will be the same for everyone this year.


The criteria:


1. For editing and theme purposes, the video should be designed to accompany a piece of music posted below. Please have the music playing in the video so that I can hear it in the background for timing. If you record it without the music or while the music was playing through headphones, please attach the music track to it before you post.


2. Your video must include a lightsaber (or exotic light weapon of some sort) and be something recognizable as "a performance".


3. Your content should not violate youtube or forum rules.


The details:

If you are interested, please post and say so. Also please indicate if you will considering yourself dark side or light side for this performance. When you have a video, please post it here or on my Darth Cephalus Facebook page. I can rip things from youtube without a problem for editing, but if you post it directly to facebook, please send it through something like google dopcs as well, so I can grab it. Please include the name or moniker you would like to appear in the credits. If you have a youtube channel or web link, post it and I will include it in the description. Please try to submit material as soon as you are able. I would like to start editing in mid December (let's say a final deadline around Dec 23rd) with a video release on Youtube around the first of the year.


The Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUszZJT1MuU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUszZJT1MuU)
Additional notes and disclaimers:

This is not a professional video. This is by and for those who are willing to donate time and energy to make it happen. I will have to decide what makes it in and what does not. I will attempt to give everyone equal time (provided they submit a long enough clip to accomplish this). I will try to include everyone, and if too many people are interested to do that, I will try to make a second cut. This may have to come out after the first though. If you have a favorite segment, feel free to let me know the time range and I will do what I can, but no promises. Other than that, feel free to discuss and ask questions if you wish. If there is anything I can do to help you put together a submission, let me know. Otherwise, let's make this one a good one.
Now Get Spinning!.

I was just thinking about this a few days ago. Excited to see what happens this year. I know I've slacked on my practice this year, but I'll try and pull something together. So consider it a Yes from me, and I think I'll say Dark Side this year!

Epic, if I get a chance to get something put together I'll gladly submit. It'll be an interesting deadline with a month to work with, but this sounds to fun to ignore. If I can get a video done it'll be Dark Side for sure. This seriously rocks!

Awesome seeing some saber-chuck love in that last video! I have a similar pair, and jus got the shipping number for my first saber staff.

 I've never done any actual choreographed routines to music with any LED/sabers, but this could be a really awesome way to get back into actual choreographed routines I haven't done since my competitive TKD days many years ago. Consider me interested!

Just wanted to clarify that the submitted video need not be the full length of the track. 1 to 2 minutes is ideal, but as long as it is at least 45 seconds or so of actual spinning, I can prolly find a way to get it in there.

First spin wars entry from the man himself: Gary Ripper. Not to the right music, but I’ll fix it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=viIVcYhs_t0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viIVcYhs_t0#)

2nd Spin Wars entry from Arisaig Winterthorn. Keep them coming people.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaz4cDPwJ6k (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaz4cDPwJ6k#)

Left in the warmup sessions. You'll know when you see the sunset :)

That **** Mando Armor V2 with the gorget etc is hard to move in. V1 is much easier. ( V1 is the demo at night. V2 is the one at the end. ) Almost done with the Mando Armor sets. Trying to have one for saber demo's and one for shows. Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Dark Side. Don't let the choice of saber color fool you.My daughter may or may not have influenced that decision.....keeps trying to turn me ::)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCGlJ_y4QDk# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCGlJ_y4QDk#)

Awesome. Getting you added to the list right now Ryan.

Spin wars entry #4. 10 more days to enter, so get on it if you are going to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvZK83BeVoU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvZK83BeVoU#)

I'm trying. Waiting for a day when it is warm enough to actually go outside and film.

Same, trying to avoid rain. But thankfully my lightsabers arrived with enough time to attempt a submission. Might have even recruited some people if they are willing to try something choreographed. It may not be as achievable with remaining time constraints, but I'm motivated to submit something at the very least. This is such a great idea, so much fun. The call of the Dark Side is strong here...

One week to go.

48 hours... so last call.

I have my video I will be submitting. I just have to upload it and put the music to it, if that is a requirement.

Here is my submission. Light Side. Same name as here (SirLiftaLot) but no desire to have any channel linked or anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kHRwXC9dcQ&feature=youtu.be# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kHRwXC9dcQ&feature=youtu.be#)

Edit: I posted the video on YouTube so it's only visible to people with the link, which may be why only the link is showing up here, not the video? If you need me to make the video public, just let me know. Thanks!

Edit 2: it looks like the embedded video is working now. If anything needs to be changed or updated, let me know.

I might not make it. I'm hoping to film tomorrow (actually going to be above 0℉), but I might not get to. I'll try and have it filmed and uploaded by tomorrow night, but YouTube is giving me grief today and I might not be able to get it done on time. Looking forward to seeing what the finished product looks like.

If you're a little late, I'm not going to sweat it. It is a soft deadline.

Awesome. Got it. thanks.

I feel like I'll have it together before tomorrow is over, my camera gave me interesting difficulties during several hours of attempts last night... I almost like the effect it left me with but am still trying to negate it for some pure shots. Still, thanks for putting this together in the first place/keeping it going. It's given me (and I'm sure others) some enjoyable goals to focus on amid the chaos. It's a pretty cool concept overall, and it's great to see everyone at work doing their best to participate despite the madness. This has also definitely shown me new things about piecing together a video. Long live lightsaber lessons/life long learning.

Well I got it filmed. Just have to edit it and get it uploaded. Should be here before the deadline though. If not, it will be shortly after.

Here is the Dark Side video I put together to submit, it's edited together from hours of practicing done for Spin Wars. I used the night of the Winter Solstice Great Conjunction to add an element of mystery and darkness into the clip. Also threw in the requested music track and made basically a highlight reel. Mostly fighting a shadow opponent and adding more spinning than I normally would have. It was a great training exercise and I'm grateful for the experience. Thanks again to Darth Cephalus, now do what you want with it/edit it to your heart's desire since it's for your movie... No matter what I will enjoy the finished product. Glad we could all contribute despite the crazy year it's been. May the Force serve you well Spin-Stars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQVq8hQ9tXY# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQVq8hQ9tXY#)

Also adding the link incase there were issues retrieving it or it didn't embed right:
http://youtu.be/yQVq8hQ9tXY (http://youtu.be/yQVq8hQ9tXY)

Here's mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rNfT9MeQ2w# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rNfT9MeQ2w#)

I am having serious issues uploading videos to YouTube right now (as in it is taking all night long to upload a 4 minute video). My internet is plenty fast to do it in a decent amount of time. Is anyone else having these issues? I'm trying to figure out if it is me or YouTube.

I had no issues earlier (like 3-4 hours prior to you) so it might just be you. My videos usually take a little bit to upload and it seemed relatively smooth or about the same duration to do so. No crazy long times or diminished uploading speed going on here on my end. Transmitting towers frozen?

BTW is your video light or dark aligned?

Honestly, it is possible that my transmitting towers are frozen (I like in AK  ;D ). Normally it takes 1-3 hours to upload, but its been taking 15ish hours the past few days.

It is supposed to be Dark Side, but it can go wherever DC needs it to.

Too true, and that lightsaber plant at the end seems to be in defiance of the cold/bit of rage at the temperature. The snow makes for excellent scenery, yet I'm proud of you for maintaining your footing throughout in such conditions. Solid footwork and balance I suppose. Glad you got something posted after all, nature worked against me as well! I kept getting rain on days I planned to film, making the ground a mess or threatening to endanger my lightsabers. Now we can just sit back, relax, and await the finished product. + a point for braving the elements to contribute.

Thank you. It was actually very warm (25℉) is really warm for here in December, so I don't really feel like I was braving anything there. As for footing, my driveway has great traction, not to mention my boots have good traction as well. I always look forward the Spin Wars every year, and I'm super glad Cephalus does these each year.

Thanks Taegin and Prodigal. I’ll get those added to my list. It is always inspiring to me to see how people have progressed over the years. The continuity is what makes this particular tradition so worth it.  Now the editing starts.

I'm so sad my new lightsaber got to me a day late. Next year Cephalus. Next year.

And in year New Years tradition, it is time for Spin Wars. Thank you to all who participated to help us spin in the new year!
SPIN WARS Episode VII: Lockdown!

  It was a time of isolation and unrest. A great plague swept across the galaxy, hyperspace travel slowed, and dumpsters (both literal and figurative) burned. Yet in these dark times, there was still hope. 

As the year came to an end, people began to sense a turn in the tide. They turned their thoughts to a new year, tried to remember how to get dressed, and rallied around a can of tea.   

Behind closed doors, the Spin stirred. Spinners, old and new, dusted off their sabers and walked out into the cold. Adepts of the light and dark combined their skills to make something new...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaz0fhSLIaI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaz0fhSLIaI#)

(https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1.0-9/157076281_2890679684479644_797820996332475503_o.png?_nc_cat=108&ccb=3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=HroT-udEGKIAX-LcPLj&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=7652e1f13c9345f565b1c46f2a644c44&oe=6067BE55)

Congratulations winners!

And fantastic job to ALL of those who submitted their videos  :)

Points all around!