Video Commentary: Ethan Lader on Tanya Morgan "We Be"

Director Jim Swaffield's 1992 A Tribe Called Quest video "Scenario" looks awfully prescient in hindsight. Not only did Swaffield take the then unique step of splitting the performance among small windows scattered across the screen, but he tied them together in a sort of computer interface that not only predated multimedia networking sites like YouTube and MySpace, but also the Web itself.

Oil Factory director Ethan Lader obviously has his video history down cold and puts it on display in the clip "We Be" for up-and-coming underground hip hop act Tanya Morgan. Lader takes the basic framework of "Scenario" and updates it to create a fictionalized version of MySpace. Performance takes place in the various photo and video windows, in addition to the advertisements you would see on a typical page. Lader even uses the textual elements of a MySpace page to hype the band and their label, Loud Minority Music.

Watch "We Be" with director commentary by Ethan Lader in Quicktime (opens in new window) or at Google Video and You Tube. And, if you're a hip hop fan, you should definitely check out the video with the original audio, which is available at Tanya Morgan's MySpace page (of course).

BOOKED: Avenged Sevenfold - Wayne Isham, director

artist: Avenged Sevenfold
song: "Seize The Day"
label: Warner Bros.
director(s): Wayne Isham
production co: Merge @ Crossroads

BOOKED: Rise Against - Kevin Kerslake, director

artist: Rise Against
song: "Ready To Fall"
label: Geffen
director(s): Kevin Kerslake
production co: Merge @ Crossroads
rep: Labuda Management

SHOT: Rooster - Charles Mehling, director

Shot at NYC's infamous Hotel Chelsea and the Unisphere in Queens, NY.

artist: Rooster
song: "Home"
label: Sony BMG (UK)
director(s): Charles Mehling
production co: Streetgang Films

NEW RELEASE: Wolf Parade "Modern World"

Wolf Parade
"Modern World" (Sub Pop)
Adam Bizanski, director | Joyrider Films, production co | Description: The price of progress is sometimes your own obsolesce. That's what happens to Wolf Parade when the invention of a ruthlessly efficient  musical machine takes their place as a factory's house band. In a sign of solidarity with the concept that newer is not necessarily better, filmmaker Adam Bizanski uses handmade models and old-fashioned stop motion animation to tell this tale. -- watch "Modern World"

NEW RELEASE: The Rogers Sisters "Why Won't You"

The Rogers Sisters
"Why Won't You" (Too Pure/Beggars)
Rob Hall, director | Kinomatic, production co | Description: This performance video by indie rockers The Rogers Sisters takes place on a series of sliding tile puzzle games. -- watch "Why Won't You" in Quicktime or download an MP4 video file (courtesy of TheRogersSisters.com)

BOOKED: Elan - Andrew Gura, director

artist: Elan
song: "Girl"
label: Interscope
director(s): Andrew Gura
production co: Partizan

BOOKED: Mr. Lif - Andrew Gura, director

artist: Mr. Lif
song: "Brothaz"
label: Definitive Jux
director(s): Andrew Gura
production co: Partizan

BOOKED: Remy Ma feat. Ne-Yo - Dale Resteghini, director

Shooting in Miami over the Memorial Day weekend...

artist: Remy Ma feat. Ne-Yo
song: "Feel So Good"
label: SRC/Universal
director(s): Dale Resteghini
production co: Raging Nation Films

SHOT: JR Writer - Dale Resteghini, director

artist: JR Writer
song: "Grill 'Em"
label: Diplomats/Koch
director(s): Dale Resteghini
production co: Raging Nation Films