May 2014

Watch It

Ben Khan "Youth" (BRTHR, dir.)

The rule of Chekhov's Gun says if we see a gun in the first act, we better see it get used in the third. It doesn't typically apply to music videos, for lots of reasons, but most depressingly because so much imagery in our field is nothing more than simplistic posturing. Directing team BRTHR know better, and although we never see the gun go off or the knife go stab, it's very clear that they have an awful payoff planned for this twisted love story.

News

New Wyclef Jean Video Banned from YouTube for Faked 2Pac Autopsy Photo

First, a reminder of the YouTube rules:

"Sexually explicit content like pornography is not allowed. Videos containing fetish content will be removed or age-restricted depending on the severity of the act in question. In most cases, violent, graphic, or humiliating fetishes are not allowed to be shown on YouTube."

and

"If the violence shown in your video is particularly graphic, please make sure to post as much information as possible in the title and metadata to help viewers understand what they are seeing. Providing documentary or educational context can help the viewer, and our reviewers, understand why they may be seeing the disturbing content."

That of course leads a blurry area: Can your music video have autopsy photos in it? Or, more specifically, an autopsy photo of Tupac Shakur. Or, to get really granular: A recreation of a Tupac autopsy photo?

The answer seems to be "no" as Wyclef Jean found out when his music video for "April Showers" was pulled due to 2pac impersonator Richard Garcia being a bit too convincing in his role as the deceased and partially eviscerated rapper.

TMZ has the details — because of course they do — along with a prediction that the video will be back up soon.

Community / Watch It

Director David Gallardo on Mike Jay "2 At A Time"

Having grown up with a fascination for camcorders in the late 80s/early 90s I'm always looking for reasons to use one in a music video. The opportunity presented itself in the form of Mike Jay's 2 At A Time. 

Finding an old analog TV set hooked up to an already set up VHS camcorder in a room with a bed sparked an obvious next step to our hero of the story, Mike Jay. Who then decides to have some fun with two female friends resulting in "sexy results" (sorry I saw that Simpsons reference from a mile away)

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