NEWS: A Common Thread Ropes Glen Bennett

Production company A Common Thread has signed director Glen Bennett for music video and commercial representation. Bennett has directed videos for Finger Eleven, Seether, Drowning Pool and Theory Of A Deadman, just to name a few. His videos are known for combining live action with his own visual FX work.

SHOT: The Mars Volta - Artificial Army & Omar Rodriguez Lopez, directors

This next video for prog-rock act The Mars Volta was co-directed by guitarist Omar Rodriguez Lopez. It layers kaleidoscopic and hallucinatory images and effects over a live performance.

Artificial Army also directed the hit video for The Mars Volta's "The Widow."

artist: The Mars Voltasong: "L'Via/L'Viaquez"label: Strummer/Universal director(s): Artificial Army & Omar Rodriguez Lopezproduction co: Refused TV

SHOT: KillRadio - RTV/Shawn Geer, director

"Where We Go" shows where KillRadio went as they toured in support of their album Raised On Whipped Cream. This clip captures life on the road for the band, starting at the 2004 Warped Tour and ending in March.

artist: KillRadiosong: "Where Go We"label: Columbia director(s): RTV/Shawn Geerproduction co: Refused TV

NEW RELEASE: Rise Against "Swing Life Away"

Rise Against "Swing Life Away" GeffenEstevan Oriol, directorSteve Stone, producerSoul Assassin Studio, production companyPablo 2000, DPNicholas Wayman-Harris, editorDescription: Rise Against singer Tim McIllrath gets inspired with a new song while getting off Chicago's El Train. He quickly heads home to write the lyrics and record a demo. After meeting his bandmates to play them this melancholy, yet very catchy acoustic track, they all head to a bar. Unfortunately, Tim bumps into a bully who crushes the demo tape, thereby forcing the frontman to go back and re-record this hit.

NEW RELEASE: Garbage "Bleed Like Me"

Garbage "Bleed Like Me" Almo Sounds/GeffenSophie Muller & Shirley Manson, directorsGrant Jue, producerOil Factory, production companyDescription: Although Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson stars as a nurse in the video for "Bleed Like Me," fans shouldn't assume that they'll get to indulge their sponge-bath fantasies. About halfway through you realize there's a good chance that Manson is a deluded patient, rather than an actual nurse. This is a dark, sexy and clever video that lives up to Manson's equally smart lyrics.

NEW RELEASE: Muse "Stockholm Syndrome"

Muse "Stockholm Syndrome" Warner Bros.Patrick Daughters, directorKira Dixon, producerBlack Dog, production companyShawn Kim, DPGary Knight, editorDescription: Muse raise hell on a creepy talk show with a blistering performance that literally  blows away the host and everyone else on-set.

IMF ALERT: Programming from the Week of 5/16/05

Video Static will be presenting playlist samples from The International Music Feed on a regular basis. The IMF is a new music video channel that spotlights clips from all around the world. It is available at Dish network channel 157.

This week we have the videos from the channel's top Superstar Feed rotation and the prominent International Hit Feed rotation.

Superstar Feed:50 Cent "Just A Lil Bit" (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope)Audioslave "Be Yourself" (Epic/Interscope)Gwen Stefani "Hollaback Girl" (Interscope)Nine Inch Nails "The Hand That Feeds" (Interscope)Queens of the Stone Age "Little Sister" (Interscope)The Game "Hate It Or Love It" (G Unit/Aftermath/Interscope)Weezer "Beverly Hills" (Geffen)

SHOT: Kids Of Widney High - Michael Medaglia, director

The Kids Of Widney High are a group of students from a special education high school in Los Angeles with musical ambitions.

The group has caught the attention of Mike Patton (who released some of their recordings on Ipecac Records) and Howard Stern. They are also slated to appear in The Ringer, an upcoming comedy produced by The Farrelly Brothers.

artist: The Kids Of Widney Highsong: "Pretty Girls"director: Michael Medagliaproduction co: Prettypictures Watch the video at Prettypictures.com

NEWS: Nominees Set For June 28 BET Awards

Nominees have been announced for the BET Awards. Ciara leads all nominees with four nods, with Kanye West, John Legend and Destiny's Child each receiving three nominations each.

Scheduled to be broadcast live on June 28 from Hollywood's Kodak Theater, the show will be hosted by celebrity couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Patti LaBelle will receive the BET Lifetime Achievement Award and Denzell Washington and wife Pauleta will receive the BET Humanitarian Award.

The nominees for all music categories are as follows...

BEST FEMALE HIP HOPMiri Ben-AriJackie-ORemy MartinShawnna