IN MEMORIAM: Ish Muniz, Highway 114

Director's rep Laure Scott has passed along the sad news that Ish Muniz has passed away after an illness. Ish had been the executive producer and owner of Highway 114 Pictures, executive producing numerous videos, including:

• Nickelback "Rockstar" — Dori Oskowitz, director
• Dresden Dolls "Shores Of California" — Andrew Bennett, director
• Jonas Bros. "Year 3000" — Andrew Bennett, director
• Madina Lake "House Of Cards" — Nicholas Hill, director

BOOKED: John Butler Trio - Dori Oskowitz, director

artist: John Butler Trio
song: "Used To Get High"
label: Lava/Atlantic
director(s): Dori Oskowitz
production co: Highway 114
rep: Laure Scott Management

IN DEPTH: Dresden Dolls "Shores Of California"

Once upon a time — well, the '80s, to be exact — there was little difference between sexy and sexist when it came to music videos. The master of the genre was David Lee Roth, who managed to come across as  nothing more than a harmless, lovable poon hound in a series of absolutely classic and campy videos. The most famous of the bunch is "California Girls," in which Diamond Dave serves as a tour guide to all the ladies one can ogle and fondle across the plains of America. If there was ever an act with a disposition that's the polar opposite to Lee Roth, it's the gay-friendly "Brechtian punk cabaret" duo Dresden Dolls. So, it's absolutely genius that the video for the Dolls' "Shores Of California" is a faithful recreation of Roth's "California Girls" clip, with singer Amanda Palmer in the starring role. What makes it work is that this isn't a parody. After all, the original video can best be viewed at this point as a parody of male sexual desires — Roth does work awfully hard to make you believe he loves pussy — so what can be better than playing it straight? Another thing in this video's favor is timing. Vh1 is in pre-production on the reality competition series Clash Of The Music Videos — executive produced by none other than Drew Barrymore and her former boyfriend, Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti — in which directors will be given small budgets to recreate classic music videos from the '80s. Something tells me they should give "Shores Of California" director Andrew Bennett a call. Speaking of Mr. Bennett, we were able to get him to share some secrets from the set and reveal some of the guest stars you might not recognize in the video.

Andrew Bennett, director: "The idea came from singer Amanda Palmer; she wanted to do an homage to David Lee Roth's 1985 video for "California Girls," but with her own Dresden style and Brechtian theatre twist. We wanted to add new characters, like Liam Sullivan, who created the you tube sensation character Kelly; David J from Bauhaus, who was kind enough to lounge in the hot sun in a suit while a bikini girl crawled over him; and Margaret Cho, who assisted Amanda in schooling some young girls in the ways of the world. Along with those new ideas, we kept true to many of Diamond Dave's original elements, like the tourists and bikini girls. I did make a valiant effort in begging at the feet of Diamond Dave to do a cameo, but to no prevail. Nice guy though, sharp dresser."

--> watch "Shores Of California"

Dresden Dolls "Shores Of California" (Roadrunner)
Andrew Bennett, director/editor | Frank Caridi, producer | Highway 114, production co | Laure Scott Management, rep | Andy Strahorn, DP

BOOKED: Nickelback - Dori Oskowitz, director

artist: Nickelback
song: "Rockstar"
label: Roadrunner
director(s): Dori Oskowitz
production co: Highway 114 Pictures
rep: Laure Scott Management

SHOT: Madina Lake - Dori Oskowitz, director

artist: Madina Lake
song: "Here I Stand"
label: Roadrunner
director(s): Dori Oskowitz
production co: Highway 114 Pictures
rep: Laure Scott Management

SHOT: Dresden Dolls - Andrew Bennett, director

artist: Dresden Dolls
song: "Shores Of California"
label: Roadrunner
director(s): Andrew Bennett
production co: Highway 114

NEWS: Laure Scott Repping Highway 114

Laure Scott is now independently repping Highway 114 Pictures. Their directorial roster includes:

• Margaret Malandruccolo
• Andrew Bennett
• Ismael Muniz
• Nicolas Hill
• Dori Oskowitz

PHOTO: Nickelback and director Dori Oskowitz

Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger (top picture) and Highway 114 Pictures director Dori Oskowitz (bottom picture) each get ready for another shot on the set of "If Everyone Cared."

BOOKED: Nickelback - Dori Oskowitz, director

artist: Nickelback
song: "If Everyone Cared"
label: Roadrunner
director(s): Dori Oskowitz
production co: Highway 114 Pictures

NEWS: Hwy 114 Signs Margaret Malandruccolo

Highway 114 Pictures has announced the signing of Margaret Malandruccolo for U.S. video work. The company's Justin Cronkite will be representing the director, whose credits include clips for Swollen Members, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Tiesto, and Dwight Yoakam.