April 2005

NEWS: VH1 Classic's Matzo & Metal

As Passover winds to a close, I hope all of you caught VH1 Classic's Matzo & Metal. Besides retelling the story of the Jews exodus from Pharaoh's land in its own unique fashion with Popsicle stick characters, the special also featured a Seder with a variety of Jewish metal icons. Among the attendees were Anthrax's Scott Ian, Twisted Sister's J.J. French and Mountain's Leslie West. The host was Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider  (who is only half-Jewish, for the record) and the show was sponsored by the kosher winery Manischewitz.

SHOT: LB Shortbus - Cary Heckman, director

Remember making fun of kids who rode the shortbus to school? Well, you're going to be very jealous when you see what you were missing out on.  This is the debut video from Long Beach Shortbus, which features members of Long Beach Dub Allstars.artist: Long Beach Shortbussong: "California Grace"label:  Skunk  director(s): Cary Heckmanproduction co: 1171 Production Group/MNJ Productions

NEWS: Hammer & Tongs/Garth Jennings - The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Longtime music video director Garth Jennings of Hammer & Tongs makes his big screen directorial debut with The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, which opens tomorrow. This film version of the Douglas Adams cult novel stars Martin Dent of the hit BBC show The Office, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel and John Malkovich.

Garth Jennings has directed videos for Blur, Badly Drawn Boy, R.E.M., Beck, Supergrass and many other groups. He is repped by Anonymous Content for music videos.

SHOT: Bizarre - Anthony Ernest Garth, director

D12 member Bizarre will launch his solo album Hanni Cap Circus with a video that features D12 cohort/track producer Eminem. A Making Of special with Bizarre and Eminem was also shot. Air details to be confirmed.

artist: Bizarresong: "Rock Star"label:  Sanctuarydirector(s): Anthony Ernest Garthproduction co: A Common Thread

SHOT: Coldplay - Mark Romanek, director

Coldplay will debut their new album X&Y with a video for  "Speed Of Sound," directed by Mark Romanek. The video was shot on April 22 and 23 at Sony Studios in Culver City, CA. Early word is that the clip will feature  performance  in front of  a giant bank of high-tech LED bars.

Romanek's celebrated videography includes Jay-Z "99 Problems" and Johnny Cash "Hurt."

artist: Coldplaysong: "Speed Of Sound"label: Capitoldirector(s): Mark Romanekproduction co: Anonymous Content

NEW RELEASE: Mariah Carey "It's Like That"

Mariah Carey "It's Like That" Island Def JamBrett Ratner, directorRon Mohrhoff, producerHSI, production companyDescription: Mariah Carey turns heads at a swanky masquerade ball she attends with track producer Jermaine Dupri. Especially taking a shine to Mariah are a masked gentleman and a mysterious, yet clearly evil boss figure played Eric Roberts. Look for the story to fully play out in the pop star's next video (also directed by Brett Ratner).

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