WATCH IT: Cage The Elephant "Shake Me Down" (Isaac Rentz, dir.)

Isaac Rentz on set
Regardless of the content, it's only a good dream if you wake up from it. That's the conumdrum in this gorgous and gritty dreamscape of a video for Cage The Elephant. --> watch "Shake Me Down" [MTV premiere]

Isaac Rentz, director (pictured at right, on set): "The band wanted to create a video that dealt with mortality and pain, but in a creative, hopeful way. Matt [Shultz, lead singer] and I talked for hours about what it would look like to have your whole life flash before your eyes: relationships, scary memories, regrets. By the time we cast our lead, I felt like I'd already known him his whole life.

To create the tunnel sequences, we built a 50 ft. long fort out of bedsheets and antique furniture. We spent an entire day hunched over, crawling around, bumping into one another. The saddest part of the shoot was wrapping that day and realizing that we'd have to tear the whole thing down. It was a room full of grown adults who all looked totally crestfallen." --> watch "Shake Me Down" [MTV premiere]

Cage The Elephant "Shake Me Down" (Jive/ZLG)
Isaac Rentz, director | April Dace, producer | More Media, production co | Laure Scott, rep | Roger Pistole, DP | Mandy Brown, editor | Jeff Dotson @ Dot & Effects, fx | Amanda Sears, stylist | Marshall Plante, colorist | Steven Buchanan, exec. producer | Max Nichols, commissioner

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Comments

chris's picture
after watching the video along with shake me down maybe 50 times so far i still get chills,i really do appreciate how much work went in to it, the combination of the song and video is amazing, the camera work, the editing etc etc is excellent, to me it really is a work of art that tells a story that we can all relate to one way or another, very well done to all involved, great work guys
Erik's picture
this has to be one of my favorite songs and my favorite music video ever! great work. nothing i would change about it
Michael's picture
wow. before this music video and the release of thank you happy birthday, i used to listen to this song hundreds of times a day since the day it came out. i hated the unofficial music video. once i saw this i saw the song in a new light. this director did great justice for this song. i cant wait to buy this on itunes. CTE should keep this director around for the next music videos that are made (hopefully Always Something)