Black bars blotting out the naughty bits have largely been replaced by the kinda/sorta/not really more subtle practice of pixelating whatever shouldn't be seen on TV. The black bars were cooler. Remember the old R.E.M. video for "Pop Song 89" where frontman/video director Michael Stipe decided to use exceedingly obtrusive black bars to make a "tits are tits" statement for topless equality (or something)? Director Keith Schofield takes things to the next level and has way more fun with these relics of censorship in this clever clip for producer Norman "Fatboy Slim" Cook's new musical endeavor, Brighton Port Authority. Styled to look like an odd artifact from the porny '70s, "Toe Jam" spotlights a group of randy guys and gals who strip down for a bit of harmless fun. The black bars that are strategically placed to cover anything with the potential to offend may be a buzzkill if you were hoping for some cheap thrills, but fear not: The black bars are way more thrilling. The gang arranges themselves in various (chaste) positions that allow the black bars to form everything from shapes to letters and even a recreation of a classic video game. As if that's not enough, the song also features vocals by David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal, while the video has what may be the greatest cameo yet by the impressively endowed Cook. --> watch "Toe Jam"
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BPA "Toe Jam" (Southern Fried)
Keith Schofield, director/editor | Marisol Aragon, producer | Streetgang Films, production co | Free Agent (UK) + Lanette Phillips Mgmt (US), reps | Brett Juskalian, DP | Caviar -Belgium, post production
