If this music biz thing doesn't work out for Katy Perry, I'd say she could probably made a decent living by performing at birthday parties — so long as she doesn't use this video as her work reel. The video for "Birthday" operates in the tradition of Bad Grandpa and Punked, with Katy in serious disguise as horribly incompentent birthday entertainers. We get the animal expert who likes to eat mice and let the animals crap all around the kids, an elderly stripper who makes Robin Byrd look hot, a Bar Mitzvah comic who makes Bruce Vilanch seem cutting edge (I kid), and much more.
And lest you're worried that Katy ruined all these parties, I'm sure they're more than thrilled to be involved in what's likely to be a smash... and those kids with the awful facepaintings don't seem so annoyed when she reveals her true identity.
After discarding some weak treatments — surprised there wasn't one with David Ortiz in it — JLo and her galpals decide to imagine a turnabout video, where they're surrounded by mancandy that's on par with the video vixens who ornament most rap videos.
PS: That is indeed actual Capitol Records SVP of Creative & Video Danny Lockwood in the intro. Now word, however, about whether any of the ideas they run through are actual treatment submissions.
Update: The Katy Perry "Dark Horse" video has been quietly revised — and made a bit more fabulous — in response to the criticism about the burning man wearing an Allah pendant.
Now, the pendant has been erased and he undergoes a more glittery destruction.
If only world peace could be achieved as easily...
At 01:15 into the video Dark Horse; a man is shown being burned, whilst wearing a pendant (also burned) forming the word 'Allah', which is the arabic word for God.
Such goes to show, that blasphemy is clearly conveyed in the video, since Katy Perry (who appears to be representing an opposition of God) engulfs the believer and the word God in flames.
Got that?
Three thoughts:
1. If you have to cite timecode and circle the object in question (see above) to make people notice, then you're likely calling way more attention to it than necessary.
2. Have Rick Ross and the Maybach Music Group also started a peition since their medallion is also clearly present?
3. There are 1.6 billion Muslims around the world. 50,000 is less than .004% of them.
If you're going to trudge into the jungle and challenge some of the most iconic film motifs ever, there's probably not a better choice than the Motion Theory creative team, which has previously tackled the high seas, candyland and way more over the course of many music videos.
Directors Grady Hall and Mark Kudsi — two independent directors at Motion Theory who collaborated on this project — took Katy Perry's "Roar" as a call to empowerment, leading the pop star on a journey from damsel in distress to queen of the jungle.
We recently chatted with the directors about everything from how.PETA recently hijacked a press cycle by questioning the treatment of the many animals in the video, and the general usage of animals in film production — claims which were rebutted by Katy in a statement and further countered in our interview — plus film inspirations, art directing nature and the truth about Junglescope.
It ain't easy being a zebra, even here in civilization. "Kangaroo Court" imagines us all as animals living in harmony, so long as the zebras are kept out. You'd think a little dye job could let a zebra masquerade as a horse, but this surreal clip shows that the consequences are dire.
PS: Look for both members of Capital Cities in the video — they also co-directed — in addition to parts played by Glee cast member Darren Criss and actress Shannon Woodward.
The easy description is "Katy Perry as Queen of the Jungle," but that doesn't really capture how massive this production is. Elephants, monkeys, tigers, oh my. A lush tropical practical set — complete with waterfall — and just enough vfx magic to make things sparkle. And then there's Katy, who's got solid comedic timing and looks to remind you of Bettie Page in her jungle finest.
Plus, it was filmed in Junglescope, which I wouldn't be surprised to learn is an actual registered trademark and product from the geniuses at Motion Theory.
An older man drives of being young again in this fantastical (and fantastic) video for Elton John. It's not the kind of sentiment that will resonate with the kids and the snarkers, but it's a video that deserves attention thanks to director Brent Bonacorso's flawless execution.
