PROFILE: Scott Kalvert, Uncle

If you have any interest in the history and, quite possibly, the future of music videos, Scott Kalvert is somebody you should know. Although best known as the director of the Jim Carroll biopic The Basketball Diaries — starring some kid named Leonardo DiCaprio — Kalvert directed some of the most played videos of the '80s and '90s before settling into an executive producer role at F.M. Rocks and now Uncle.

name: Scott Kalvert
company: Uncle
job/title: President/ Executive Producer

First Video:  First real major label video I directed was "Parents Just Don't Understand" for DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince. It was fun watching Will Smith the star being born. Like now, the 30k budget was like fitting a square peg in a round hole, which caused me to really have to be creative. The unique approach got it nominated for four MTV awards and it went on to win the first Best Rap Video award ever. I did lose Best Director to David Fincher for Madonna's "Express Yourself," which probably cost like a million. But hey, you can't win all the time.

Strangest Video: It was for a guy named Webb Wilder. I will never forget it because... It was cursed.

We did a circus freak show at the World's Fair site in Flushing Meadows, Queens. We had little people, strong men, fat ladies, you name it. All under a giant circus tent.

The day starts with me getting dropped off with the crew. A PA got out of a production van on a hill with the engine in drive. We all watched as the van raced by itself out of control down the hill and over a grassy field  — almost running over half the crew. After an eternity it smashed into a giant tree. Totaled.

When the band was finally ready to leave their hotel and come to set, like five hours late, they had a fight and had to travel in different vans. As they were arguing,  a cab hit the back of one of their vans, which caused
the side door to slam shut, which in turn chopped the finger off the lead guitarist. Not good for a guitarist. Not good for a film shoot.

Finally, as we are about to shoot, a giant hurricane hit. The tent filled with water and the whole scene became a bad Fellini movie on acid. Two feet of mud, a drenched crew fighting to not drown, sex crazed midgets hitting on the women: It became total chaos as the tent started collapsing around us. At that point
my mind goes blank. It was like the worst dream ever, only it was real!!!

I will never be involved with a freak show video again.

What's next: Running Uncle and trying to figure out a way to save the music video business.

NEWS: Laure Scott Repping Mr Boomboom

Laure Scott is now representing famed director Stephane Sednaoui's production company Mister Boomboom for music videos. The roster includes Sednaoui, new signing Aaron Stewart-Ahn, Nathaniel Goldberg, Greg Kadel, Cleo Sullivan and Guzman.

PHOTO: On The Set with Megadeth and Aggressive

The Aggressive directing team of Dan Shapiro (far left) and Alex Topaller (far right) flash some metal on the set of the new Megadeth video "Tout Le Monde" with guest singer Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil and Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine.

SHOT: DJ Khaled - Gil Green, director

artist: DJ Khaled feat. TI, Akon, Lil' Wayne, Baby, Fat Joe and Rick Ross
song: "We Takin; Over"
label: Terror Squad/Koch
director(s): Gil Green
production co: Picture Perfect

Gil Green is signed with Partizan. This video was produced through production company Picture Perfect in Miami.

BOOKED: T-Pain feat. Yung Joc - Benny Boom, director

artist: T-Pain feat. Yung Joc
song: "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')"
label: Jive/ZLG
director(s): Benny Boom
production co: Uncle

NEW RELEASE: Menomena "Wet And Rusting"

Before we get to this video for "Wet And Rusting," let's tackle the band name: It's Menomena, pronounced just like phenomena, which is, of course, the plural form of phenemenon. I like to think they stole the name from some cheesy male revue, but I doubt that's the case. Now, as to the video: The men of Menomena — and director Lance Bangs — are forced to ponder their legacies when the Grim Reaper pays an unexpected visit to their practice space. They dream of getting Kanye West to produce their album, touring with Led Zeppelin and even a few things that probably aren't so realistic. Most of it is played for laughs, but there's an undercurrent of sincerity that keeps things from merely being silly. --> watch "Wet And Rusting" in Quicktime or Windows Media

Menomena "Wet And Rusting" (Barsuk)
Lance Bangs, director | Gina Bevilaqua, producer | Field Recordings, production co | TG Firestone and Greg Schmidt, DP | Morgan Dye, editor | Bartek Prusiewcz and Rudolf Bekker, stop motion

NEW RELEASE: Ben Kweller "Penny On The Train Track"

Treadmills? We don't need no stinking treadmills. Ben Kweller — or more precisely, his grandma Marilyn "Bubbie" Kweller — is poised to have the first viral video hit of 2007. Shot by Ben himself in the gym of his grandma's condominium in Florida [where else would it be?] the video is basically nearly five minutes of the elder Ms. Kweller performing a Jazzercize routine to "Penny On The Train Track." --> watch "Penny On The Train Track"

Ben Kweller "Penny On The Train Track" (ATO)
Ben Kweller, director

SHOT: Poison The Well - Roboshobo, director

artist: Poison The Well
song: "Letter Thing"
label: Ferret
director(s): Roboshobo
production co: The Revolver Film Co.
rep: Stompbox Media
DP: Don Burton

BOOKED: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Toben Seymour, director

artist: What Made Milwaukee Famous
song: "I Decide"
label: Barsuk
director(s): Toben Seymour
production co: Commondeer
commissioner: Jill Kaplan/Skyway

SHOT: Mandy Moore - Ace Norton, director

artist: Mandy Moore
song: "Extraordinary"
label: The Firm
director(s): Ace Norton
production co: Partizan