NEW RELEASE: The Myriad "A Clean Shot"

They say that every living creature has a soul, even the most hideous monsters. The beast that's terrorizing a forest of nice lil' creatures in this strange and surprising adventure clip not only has a soul, but flashbacks reveal a whole human-style life, complete with a wife, a job, a baby and all the others entrapments of society. That doesn't sway The Myriad, however. They show the same tenacious drive that got them 2007 MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout band competition. They get "A Clean Shot" on their prey and they take it. --> watch "A Clean Shot" via YouTube or Quicktime plus a "making of" at YouTube

The Myriad "A Clean Shot" (Koch)
Josh Forbes, director | Justin Benoliel, producer | Winch + Pulley, production co | Lanette Phillips Management, rep | Steven Drypolcher, DP | Ryan Bartley, editor | Ghost Town Media, post | Romaire Studios, puppet

BOOKED: Jack Black + Cee-Lo - Elliott Lester, director

Well, you just knew they were gonna pull out a cover of "Kung Fu Fighting" to support the star-studded DreamWorks animation flick, Kung Fu Panda... Extra points for getting the movie's lead voice, Jack Black, and Danger Mouse singer Cee-Lo to update the kitsch classic.

artist: Jack Black and Cee-Lo (from Kung Fu Panda)
song: "Kung Fu Fighting"
director(s): Elliott Lester
production co: Karma Kollective
rep: Laure Scott

BOOKED: Alanis Morissette - Sanji, director

artist: Alanis Morissette
song: "Underneath"
label: Maverick/Reprise/Warner Bros.
director(s): Sanji
production co: Gertie Productions
rep: Yell Productions

SHOT: Three Six Mafia - Dale "Rage" Resteghini, director

artist: Three 6 Mafia
song: "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)"
label: Columbia
director(s): Dale "Rage" Resteghini
production co: Raging Nation Films
rep: Yell Productions

NEW RELEASE: Hawk Nelson "Friend Like That"

Watching this video makes me think I'm not the only one to have been hopelessly addicted to the PSP game Loco Roco. Director Christopher Sims and vfx team etypical place pop-punkers Hawk Nelson in a cutesy animated world that should make fans of Loco Roco or the hip Nick Jr/Kid Robot venture Yo Gabba Gabba such shiny happy peoples. That said, the direct inspiration for the video is the album artwork for Hawk Nelson... Is My Friend. If you dig it, you should check out its designers, Don Clark and Ryan Clark of design squad Invisible Creature. In addition to creating CD artwork, posters, merchandise and a whole lot more for a whole lotta bands, they also front the metal band Demon Hunter. Neat, huh? --> watch "Friend Like That"

Hawk Nelson "Friend Like That" (Tooth & Nail)
Christopher Sims, director/editor | Mark Staubach, producer | DNA, production co | Jessica Young, DP | etypical, VFX

NEW RELEASE: The B-52s "Funplex"

Leave it to The B-52s to have way more fun than I ever have at a mall. Then again, they seem to be on way more hallucinogens than I would ever dare take before heading to Paramus or Sherman Oaks. The video is very future-leaning — Fred Schneider on a Segway seems strangely natural  — especially for a usually retro band that is in its third decade of existence. --> watch "Funplex" via MySpace.com premiere

The B-52s "Funplex" (Astralwerks)
Roboshobo, director | Chris Lauer, producer | The Revolver Film Co, production co | Labuda Management, rep | Don Burton, DP | David Baum, editor | Howard Shur, Jeff Dotson and Roboshobo, post/fx

NEWS: DNA Signs Director Travis Kopach

DNA has signed director Travis Kopach. Music video credits include:

• Thursday "Ladies & Gentlemen"
• Straylight Run "Soon We'll Be Living In The Future"
• Panic At The Disco "Lying Is The Most Fun"

BOOKED: The Red Hearts - Dylan Mulick, director

artist: The Red Hearts
song: "Let's Get Lost"
label: April 77
director(s): Dylan Mulick
production co: Bucks Boys Productions

NEW RELEASE: Dizzee Rascal "Where The G's"

English rapper Dizzee Rascal may be backed by the almighty Pound and he's certainly savvy enough to know that the bling bling lifestyle is largely a myth, but even he probably wasn't quite expecting the impoverished state of the Houston neighborhood where they shot this video for "Where The G's At." On the micro, it's a pretty simple, but devastatingly powerful indictment of the usual hip-hop video displays of conspicuous consumption; Zooming out to the macro and you realize that Dizzee and guest rapper Bun B — who hails from Houston — are looking at the economic wreckage that's all too common the South. That said, the ending section goes in an entirely different direction when we learn that Dizzee and Bun B are there to close a deal for a pair of high-tech gangster specs that let the wearer detect True G's and snitches. It's a little bit sci-fi for my taste and basically obliterates my "deep" reading, but doesn't diminish the impact of the realness that precedes it. --> watch "Where Da G's" via MTV.com or YouTube.com

Dizzee Rascal "Where Da G's" (Definitive Jux)
Tom Campbell, director | Mike Torres, producer

NEW RELEASE: The Knux "Cappuccino"

This clip serves as proof that eclectic New Orleans hip-hop duo The Knux and director Jason Bergh learned a thing or two from the school of music video. The raucous classroom setting, the fashions and the alternative sensibility are all reminiscent of De La Soul's classic hit "Me, Myself & I," but updated to the present day with a a fresh, yet retro twist. --> watch "Cappuccino" via YouTube or MTV.com

The Knux "Cappuccino" (HHH/Interscope)
Jason Bergh, director/DP/editor | Davin Henson, producer | UX Entertainment, production co