IN DEPTH: Teddybears "Cobrastyle"

Not even the mighty Led Zeppelin can hold a candle to Teddybears in terms of the debauchery and sheer excess on display in this parodic video. Director Ace Norton and crew use the framework of a documentary to show the band's fictional rise and fall, all the while poking fun at some classic rock 'n' roll footnotes (ie: The Riot House on Sunset, The Beatles "Bigger Than Jesus" press conference and the time Led Zeppelin fucked a groupie with a mudshark.)

As with any good documentary, the camera doesn't shy away from the "truth," no matter how ugly it gets. So, be prepared for a good amount of nudity, drug use, honey binging, vomiting and much more in this director's cut of the video.

Ace Norton tells us the who's who and a whole lotta dirt:

The label gave us these three ridiculous bear masks and basically told us to make a music video.  We took a renegade "run and gun" approach to the entire shoot, mimicking a documentary.

The entire crew doubled as actors. The three Teddybears were actually friends of mine — one of whom was the editor on this project. My producer, Charles Spano, played the role of the rock journalist, the gaffer played the role of the tour manager, and I played the role of egomaniac director "Dallas McBride".

The bears never broke character and for the entire shoot had themselves convinced they were the biggest band in the world. When they got interviewed at KROQ by DJ Jed The Fish, the actors had him convinced they were the actual band. Jed took them around the studio and introduced them to everyone; he even bought them lunch.  When they broke the news, Jed couldn't help but laugh. (see photo with Ace Norton, Jed The Fish and the "Teddybears")

--> watch "Cobrastyle" (Director's Cut) in Quicktime, Real or Windows Media

Teddybears "Cobrastyle" (Big Beat/Atlantic)
Ace Norton, director | Charles Spano, producer | Partizan, production co
Steve Drypulcher and Hiro Murai, DPs | Brandon Driscoll-Luttringer, editor

SHOT: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Nick Wickham, director

Director Nick Wickham helmed a multi-camera shoot at the Red Hot Chili Peppers two-night stand at The Meadowlands in NJ for the band's "Snow (Hey Oh)" video. In an added twist, concert attendees were given penlights to hold aloft during the song, while cannons shot out paper snow.

artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers
song: "Snow (Hey Oh)"
label: Warner Bros.
director(s): Nick Wickham
production co: Anonymous Content

SHOT: Gigantour 2 DVD - Michael Sarna, director

Director Michael Sarna oversaw a shoot at the Gigantour 2 stop in Sunrise, FL for an upcoming DVD which will feature performances from tour headliners Megadeth, Lamb Of God, Arch Enemy, Opeth and other metal acts. Sarna also directed the recently released Gigantour DVD, which included Megadeth, Dream Theater, Fear Factory and Life Of Agony, just to name a few participants.

Sarna is repped by Heidi Gregory Management.

BOOKED: Black Stone Cherry - JB Carlin, director

artist: Black Stone Cherry
song: "Hell & High Water"
label: Roadrunner
director(s): JB Carlin
production co: Collaboration Factory
rep: Laure Scott

BOOKED: Landon Pigg - Steven Murashige, director

artist: Landon Pigg
song: "Can't Let Go"
label: RCA
director(s): Steven Murashige
production co: The Artists Company
rep: Laure Scott

SHOT: Teitur - Kevin McVey, director

Singer/songwriter Teitur and director Kevin McVey on the set of "Hitchhiker." The video supports Teitur's album Stay Under The Stars — recorded for his own label Arlo And Betty, and slated for North American release by Equator Music.

artist: Teitur
song: "Hitchhiker"
label: Arlo And Betty
director(s): Kevin McVey
production co: Propeller Productions

NEW RELEASE: The Streets "Prangin' Out"

Even casual followers of UK rapper The Streets aka Mike Skinner know better than to put anything beneath him. Drugs, sex, laziness? Yep, all previously covered. "Prangin' Out" takes things to another level by setting Skinner up in a Shining situation where he realizes that he may be a psychopathic killer. The uncertainty stems from the phrase pranging out, which is apparently slang for having drug induced paranoia. Cool. -- watch "Prangin' Out" in Quicktime or at YouTube 

The Streets "Prangin' Out" (Vice/Atlantic)
Dawn Shadforth, director | Sally Llewellyn, producer | Black Dog , production co
Tat Radcliffe, DP | Richard Orrick/Work Post, editor

BOOKED: Blue October - Zach Merck, director

artist: Blue October
song: "Into The Ocean"
label: Brando/Universal Motown
director(s): Zach Merck
production co: @radical.media

SHOT: Pretty Ricky - Syndrome, directors

artist: Pretty Ricky
song: "On The Hotline"
label: Atlantic
director(s): Syndrome
production co: Robot Films

BOOKED: Kristoffer Ragnstam - Nick & Ben, director

artist: Kristoffer Ragnstam
song: "Breakfast By The Mattress"
label: BluHammock
director(s): Nick & Ben
production co: Seaworthy Films