IN DEPTH: Jakob Dylan "Something Good This Way Comes"

This optimistic acoustic gem from Jakob Dylan serves as the perfect soundtrack to this meditative video about the underlying similarities in everyplace, everything and everyone. In this case, it's an unyielding and fixed horizon — be it natural, or artificial — forming a surprisingly straight horizontal line running through every shot captured in this ten day journey through America.

Josh & Xander, directors: "We think about still photography a lot in relation to our work, and we’ve always wanted to do a non-narrative road-trip project that was more like a book of photographic stills than anything else. The idea was to use a graphic constant, in this case the horizon, to bind the images together, but other than that, to basically go out into the world and approach the video in a completely experimental and free-form way, as if we were shooting stills for a book. We were interested in creating a filmic portrait of America that was by its nature fractured and idiosyncratic, and that would only be tied together by the fact that we found/chose to shoot certain shots, and that those shots were framed in a certain way to a certain song.  The experiment of the concept was to go out and react to the world photographically, without much preplanning, and have faith that in the edit, we would be able to find/create an internal logic for the video from all of these moments that somehow made sense on a visual, thematic, and emotional level. To be honest, we had no idea whether or not it would work, so we have to give a lot of credit to Columbia commissioner Bryan Younce for supporting this project on pretty much blind faith.

We shot for 10 days, all over CA. Originally, the idea was to go cross-country, but we realized early on that with the price of gas these days and the limited time to deliver forced us to stay pretty close to home. That being said, CA is an infinitely weird, diverse, and mysterious place. We never felt like we were missing out on things to point the camera at. The people you can meet and the moments you can find with no money, no crew and a little bit of enthusiasm are pretty limitless.

We used an Arri super16 HS camera, mostly on the new Canon super16 zoom lens, though we also brought a set of master-primes for some of the interior and low light stuff. We barely lit anything, but for the few scenes where we needed something extra we had a small kino and a set of LED lights. We had a great crew to whom we’re infinitely grateful for roughing it out with us for a string of 20-hour days, grungy motels, and the most disgusting roadside food imaginable. The grading was done by Marcelo Aprile at Riot, who did a beautiful job nailing the look we were after, and managed to keep a smile on his face (and ours) while we were nit picking over every photographic detail for what turned out to be an epic 4 day telecine session.

We normally cut our own videos, but in this case, we worked with Akiko Iwakawa at Final Cut, whose contribution to the project was huge. With around 10 hours of footage and seemingly infinite options that we had become emotionally tied to (in the most unobjective way, of course), someone had to bring the hammer down and make sure the thing got delivered on time, and Akiko really rose to what was, by all accounts, a serious challenge. It was definitely not an easy edit and it was tougher than it normally is to leave some of our favorite moments on the cutting room floor, but such is the nature of the beast…

The online and effects were done at Method, who we work with a lot. One thing that was interesting about finishing this project, is the amount of digital manipulation we ended up using to help clarify the horizon-line. Probably two-thirds of the shots in the video were significantly painted in the flame in some way or another to make the horizon more defined, accurate, or simply to make the shot look better.  We were laughing at the simple truth that there just is no 'real' anymore".

--> watch "Something Good This Way Comes"

Jakob Dylan "Something This Way Comes" (Columbia)
Josh & Xander, director | Jenna Felling, producer | Streetgang Films , production co | Lanette Phillips, rep (US) / Alexa Haywood, rep (UK) | Max Goldman, DP | Akiko Iwakawa, editor | Marcelo Aprile, colorist

SHOT: Jack's Mannequin - Noble Jones + Stephenie Meyer, directors

Jack's Mannequin frontman Andrew McMahon (center) on the set of "The Resolution" with director Noble Jones (left) and Stephenie Meyer, who co-directed and wrote the video treatment. Meyer also wrote the bestselling Twilight series, which is set to for a November 21 release on the big screen.

artist: Jack's Mannequin
song: "The Resolution"
label: Sire/Warner Bros,
director(s): Noble Jones and Stephenie Meyer
production co: Revolver

NEWS: New Red Van Directors Signings

Red Van Directors adds two more directors to its roster...

Elliot Dillman — directing credits include:

• Pennywise "Western World"
• Stung Out "Calling"

Endeavor Media — directing credits include:

• The Devil Wears Prada "HTML Rulez D00d"
• Jet Black Stare "Ready to Roll"
• Inhale Exhale "Its Myself Vs. Being A man"

Red Van Directors is an offshoot of director Shane Drake's Red Van Pictures with RVD rep Geoff Clark ...

NEWS: The Vault LA Signs Two More Directors

The Vault LA has signed two more directors to its growing roster...

Kerry Bellessa — directing credits include:

• Jessie Malakouti  "Trash Me"
• Dr. Pepper "Last Dr.Pepper"

Ahmi Manson — directing credits include:

• Halifax "Our Revolution"
• The Prom Kings "Alone"

IN MEMORY OF: Nagi Noda

It is with sadness that we relay the news that director/artist Nagi Noda passed away this weekend...

"I wanted to let you know that our dear friend Nagi passed away this Sunday at 4:18 pm. Her passing was peaceful and she was with her friends and family until the end. The funeral was on Tuesday.

In keeping with Japanese tradition, we ask that people to light some incense or a candle for Nagi.

I know this news must come as quite a shock. I still don't quite know how to deal with it, I am pretty devastated as she was a good friend and one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met.  I can tell you that she went well. She was dressed in her Mark Ryden Dress, Chanel boots, perfect make up, Viktor and Rolf black lace eyelashes." - Daniell Hinde, Partizan

Nagi Noda's best known video in the US  is probably "She's My Man" for Scissor Sisters.

SHOT: Cold War Kids - Sophie Muller, director

artist: Cold War Kids
song: "Something Is Not Right With Me"
label: Downtown
director(s): Sophie Muller
production co: Oil Factory

BOOKED: Missy Higgins - Steven Murashige, director

Missy Higgins and director Steven Murashige on the set of "Where I Stood."

artist: Missy Higgins
song: "Where I Stood"
label: Reprise/Warner Bros.
director(s): Steven Murashige
production co: The Artists Company
rep: Laure Scott Management

SHOT: Gavin DeGraw - Ryan Smith, director

artist: Gavin DeGraw
song: "Cheated On Me"
label: J Records
director(s): Ryan Smith
production co: Collaboration Factory
rep: Laure Scott

SHOT: The Love Willows - Sean Michael Turrell, director

artist: The Love Willows
song: "Falling Faster"
label: Decca/Universal
director(s): Sean Michael Turrell
production co: Partizan/Vision Film Co.

WATCH IT: Brandy "Right Here (The Departed)"

Brandy comes back after a lengthy break from the studio — and a lengthy stint in the tabloids for a car accident — with a video that positions her as the change you need/can believe in/yadda yadda. The singer looks positively angelic as she magically appears to console and give support to people who are at the crossroads. Director Lil X — whose best known work usually involves tightly art-directed sets — seems perfectly at home with the various Los Angeles locations of this video, delivering images of Brandy that paint her as a larger-than-life saint. --> watch "Right Here (The Departed)"

Brandy "Right Here (The Departed)" (Epic)
Lil X, director | Megan Gutman, producer | DNA, production co | Sugar Management, rep |  Christopher Probst, DP | Katt Brown, editor | Dave Hussey, colorist

SHOT: Hey Monday - Noah Shulman, director

Director Noah Shulman (center, hat, beverage) and Hey Monday take a break from bowling shooting the video for "Homecoming."

artist: Hey Monday
song: "Homecoming"
label: Decaydance/Columbia
director(s): Noah Shulman
production co: Sleepless City

BOOKED: Hawthorne Heights - Adam Grabarnick, director

artist: Hawthorne Heights
song: "Somewhere In Between"
label: Victory
director(s): Adam Grabarnick
production co: PandaWorks

SHOT: Saving Abel - Travis Kopach, director

Shot on the USS Hornet in San Francisco...

artist: Saving Abel
song: "18 Days"
label: Virgin/Capitol
director(s): Travis Kopach
production co: DNA

SHOT: Brother Von Doom - David Brodsky, director

artist: Brother Von Doom
song: "Eater Of Days"
label: Deathcote
director(s): David Brodsky
production co: MyGoodEye

MTV ALERT: 2008 VMA Winners

Random thoughts on the 2008 MTV VMAs:

• In a Palinesque stroke of brilliance, the Britney Spears comeback began with a coronation. The pop star collected three awards and was called upon to merely thank God, her fans and her label (not necessarily, perhaps, in that order) and be disgusted by the thought of kissing Jonah Hill. All much easier to accomplish than a performance, but a nice apology for the debacle at the 2007 Vegas VMAs.
• The host. That English fella with the peacock hair, crazy eyes and a penchant for incessant jabbering. I can't recall his name and I've decided to not look it up. Blimey.
• Although there's no category for best telecine or color correction, the many "live music video" performances on the Paramount backlot served as a tutorial to the importance of the telcine artist — and all the other post-production scrubbing that's not possible with a live telecast — in making a music video look like a music video.
• No VMA simulcast on the MTV Networks HD channel Palladia. According to the Palladia launch announcement, we may have to wait for the Best Of 2008 week — December 22 thru December 28 — for HD telecasts of the VMAs, Vh1 Hip Hop Honors and the CMT Awards — to see the show in HD.

And now, the 2008 MTV VMA winners...

• Video of the Year: Britney Spears “Piece of Me"
  — Wayne Isham, director
• Best Female Video: Britney Spears “Piece of Me"
  — Wayne Isham, director
• Best Male Video: Chris Brown "With You"
  — Erik White, director
• Best New Artist: Tokio Hotel “Ready, Set, Go!"
  — Warwick & Haering, directors
• Best Hip Hop Video: Lil Wayne "Lollipop"
  — Gil Green/Dwayne Carter, director
• Best Pop Video: Britney Spears "Piece of Me"
  — Wayne Isham, director
• Best Rock Video: Linkin Park "Shadow of the Day"
  — Joe Hahn, director
• Best Dancing In A Video: Pussycat Dolls “When I Grow Up"
  — Joseph Kahn, director
• Best Art Direction: Gnarls Barkley "Run”
  — Happy & Kells Jesse, art direction
• Best Choreography: Gnarls Barkley "Run”
  — Mikey Rooney, choreography
• Best Cinematography: The White Stripes "Conquest”
  — Wyatt Troll, cinematography
• Best Direction: Erykah Badu "Honey”
  — Erykah Badu & Mr. Roboto, directors
• Best Editing: Death Cab For Cutie "I Will Possess Your Heart”
  —Jeff Buchanan, editor
• Best Special Effects: Kanye West f/ T-Pain "Good Life”
  — SoMe, Jonas & Francois, special effects

SHOT: T-Pain f/ Ludacris - Syndrome, directors

artist: T-Pain feat. Ludacris
song: "Chopped & Screwed"
label: Jive/ZLG
director(s): Syndrome
production co: Robot Films
rep: Robin Frank Management

SHOT: Lights - Sean Michael Turrell, director

Director Sean Michael Turrell and Lights on the set of "Drive My Soul."

artist: Lights
song: "Drive My Soul"
label: Warner Bros.
director(s): Sean Michael Turrell
production co: Vision Entertainment

SHOT: Livvi Franc - Laurent Briet, director

artist: Livvi Franc
song: "Free"
label: Jive/ZLG
director(s): Laurent Briet
production co: Greencard Pictures
rep: Laure Scott

SHOT: Skybombers - Lex Halaby, director

artist: Skybombers
song: "If You Want To Be The One"
label: Albert Productions
director(s): Lex Halaby
production co: Boulevard Industries
commissioner:  Jill Kaplan/Skyway Productions

note: Lex Halaby is signed with Refused TV

MTV Adds for the Week of 9/1 + 9/8/08

MTV2 Adds:

• Hinder "Use Me" (Universal Republic)
• Metallica "The Day That Never Comes" (Warner Bros.)
• My Morning Jacket "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream" (ATO)
• Staind "Believe" (Flip/Atlantic)
• T-Pain f/ Lil Wayne "Can't Believe It" (Jive/ZLG)

MTVu Adds:

• Crystal Castles "Crimewave" (Last Gang) 
• Every Avenue  "Where Were You" (Fearless)
• Grayskul "Missing" (Rhymesayers)
• Japanese Motors "Single Fins & Safety Pins" (Vice)
• Metallica "The Day That Never Comes" (Warner Bros.)
• Moby "I Love To Move In Here" (Mute)
• Paper Rival "Cassandra" (Photo Finish)
• San Quinn f/ Big Rich & Boo Banger "San Francisco Anthem" (Street Cred/Ehustle Ent) 
• Say No More "Take The Long Drive Home" (Drive-Thru)
• T-Pain f/ Lil Wayne "Can't Believe It" (Jive/ZLG)

MTV Jams Adds:

• Alfamega "Uh Huh" (Grand Hustle/Capitol)
• Consequence "Disperse" (G.O.O.D.)
• E-40 f/ Akon "Wake It Up" (BME/Warner Bros.)
• Grafh "Like Ohh" (Black Hand)
• Ne-Yo "Miss Independent" (Island Def Jam)
• Ryan Leslie "Addiction" (Universal Motown)
• T-Pain f/ Lil Wayne "Can't Believe It" (Jive/ZLG)
• Young Jeezy "Vacation" (Def Jam/IDJMG)