Most videos start with a treatment, which is essentially an idea put on paper. Some treatments are incredibly detailed, some are simple. Some videos wind up looking exactly as described in the treatment, and sometimes videos morph during the production process into something much different.
As you possibly know, I'm in SXSW for a few days. As always, the surprises are the best part and Young Fathers was the highlight of night.
Young Fathers are a Scottish hip-hop group that's decidedly alternative, teetering on the edge of malice and malice. This video is more of a lyric sorta thing, which doesn't capture the band's kinetic energy at all, since these guys go from Full Metal Jacket staredowns to Basehead seizures in a matter of seconds. Somebody needs to make these guys a killer video.
Jay-Z's video for 'On To The Next One' was a game changer - taking hip-hop's affection for shiny things and moving the attention off the obvious brand names and on to post modern pop art. Director Sam Brown created a powerful clip and this caught the attention of fellow director, Trent Babbington, who has created a great series of posts about and around 'On To The Next One.'
SXSW Film is underway now. SXSW Music starts tomorrow. I will be making my annual journey, so if you're a music video person and want to meet-up, please give a shout. (Twitter works welll for that).
In keeping with the medium's bastardized nature, the Music Video Screenings take place during both the Film and Music portions. And you could argue they should be screened in the Interactive part as well.
Videostatic.com has remained largely the same since launching in 2005, bringing attention to the directors, producers and other creatives who make music videos.
Over the years we have built an amazing community of professionals and fans who realized that music videos weren't a thing of past, but actually the future of how music would be experienced. And that future is upon us.
Finally, director/writer Tom Scharpling brings us the real story of The Postal Series via these unearthed audition tapes. Aimee Mann, Tom DeLonge, Duff McKagan and other music (and some comedy) luminaries all try to impress Jimmy Tamborello and a Sub Pop weasel. Ultimately, Ben Gibbard gets the gig, but not before Moby and Weird Al steal the show.
It's not really a music video, but it's really funny and genius. Enjoy.
David Bowie's new video starring Tilda Swinton is setting the internets a-twitter, but the gloriously awesome tumblr Tilda Stardust may have actually been the forefather (foremother? foreDuke?) of the video.
The interface for this interactive Tanlines video by OKFocus will be familiar if you've ever fumbled around with Photoshop. Insert layers, swap backgrounds, use filters and futz about to your heart's content. Ever time you add or subtract a band member or instruments it affects the track, which basically means you can remix the audio/video in real time. Cool.
If I was a radio guy, I would be very worried about the new Hot 100 chart formula. But everyone should take notice.
Billboard's Hot 100 has long been the barometer used to judge the country's biggest hits — incorporating radio and sales data. Want to top the charts? Get your ass on radio and sell some records. And to do that, you need supporters, a team and the ability to wage a proper promotional campaign.
All us music video nerds are a'twitter over the new Timberlake and Hova video directed by the Mara sister's favorite lensman, David Fincher. The clip is great and it definitely calls back some of the director's favorite things, all while seeming completely fresh.
"What's the difference between a music video and a commercial?"
The joke answer is it pays $300k more for three fewer minutes.
The real answer is "not much." Product placements in music videos are nothing new — all those videos with people wearing Beats and drinking Ciroc while driving a Mini aren't coincidences — and neither is having recording artists as commercial stars.
The annual MTVU Woodie Awards will descend upon Austin during SXSW to celebrate all things "indie, underground, and everything in between," with a scheduled MTV and MTVU broadcast Sunday, March 17 @ 8/7c.
There's lots of irreverent categories — ranging from Tag Team Woodie for best collabo, and FOMO for artists you may have "fear of missing out on" — and you can be there will be an impressive slate of performers.
Here are the Best video nods for you to check out...
It only sense that the Grammys serves as the new music lauch for so many artists, but the sheer number of great videos that dropped on Sunday/Monday is worth recapping. I mean, all those folks who do weekly Best Of recaps can take the rest of the week off, because these might prove to be hard to top. And you don't need to spend $1.77 to any of them.
