Don't let the name put you off. The creative duo of Alex Topaller and Dan Shapiro — aka Aggressive — is mostly just tenacious about pushing themselves and some overclocked hardware in order to create striking videos. And they're nice guys. But, Aggressive is a better name than Affable for a directing team, so you can't blame them for going with something a bit harder.
Director Lex Halaby (third from left) with the extended family act The Bridges at the pre-war (Civil War, that is) house that served as the set for "Pieces."
artist: The Bridgessong: "Pieces"label: Verve/Universal director(s): Lex Halaby production co: The Valencia Co. rep: Lanette Phillips Management
note(s): Lex Halaby is signed with Refused TV. Photo by Johnny Ching
To support the solo album debut from the chief Wallflower...
artist: Jakob Dylansong: "Something Good This Way Comes"label: Columbiadirector(s): Josh & Xanderproduction co: Streetgang Films rep: Lanette Phillips Management / Free Agent UK
Winch+Pulley director Josh Forbes (center) and Boys Like Girls on the set of "Thunder." The video supports the band's self-titled Columbia Records debut. Forbes is repped by Lanette Phillips Management.
Charlotte Sometimes learns the proper way to poison apples on the set of "I Could Just Kill A Man."
artist: Charlotte Sometimessong: "I Could Just Kill A Man"label: Geffendirector(s): Scrambled Visualproduction co: Refused TV rep: Lanette Phillips Management
Director Josh Forbes is the kind of guy who uses an opportunity for self-aggrandizement like this to instead give shout-outs to other directors he respects and lots of the folks who have helped him create a whimsical and sensitive music video world full of lifesize puppets, spellbinding animation, homey production designs and a whole bunch of heart. In short, he's good people and a good director who's just now coming into his own.
artist: The Kookssong: "Do You Wanna" label: Virgin (UK)/Astralwerks (US)director(s): Charles Mehling production co: Streetgang Films rep: Free Agent UK / Lanette Phillips Management