Introducing “Director’s Cut” my latest music video and the latest track from the electronic duo Head Like a Kite (this time featuring MC Tilson).
If you’re a photo/video lover, a music aficionado, a do-gooder or any combo therein please pass this along. We created this pro-bono and it’s my hope it’ll inspire you and your friends to pull out $7 for 30 exclusive tracks from Seattle’s hottest bands as a part of our GiveSeattle.org project. Included in this uber-affordable compilation are exclusive tracks from Fleet Foxes, Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), and many more. And a reminder that 100% of sales–every cent of that 7 bucks–goes directly to Art Corps and Seattle area food banks.
If you’re a photo/video nut like me and you want to know more about how we made this little video inside a video, complete with behind the scenes photos, hit the ‘continue reading link’ below.
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1. Concept/Treatment. Ever felt like you’re staring in the movie that is your own life? The drama, the celebration, those stranger than fiction moments. Life can be a mysterious state where you’re sometimes not sure if you’re awake or dreaming. The lyrics to this song are a stream of consciousness about precisely this. I wanted some visuals to match. Some elements to match reality, some that don’t make sense, and some that toggled Tilson (the guest MC and “star” of the vid) both IN and OUT of that state.
2. Mood. Head Like A Kite are all about a party. They’re all sorts of crazy talented, but they don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s refreshing. And it was important to them the the video reflected that. Hence the “cartoon-y” feel to the video.
3. Constraints. Given a. that we’re making this video as a part of our holiday project to raise awareness for our fundraiser; and b)that we’ve set some “loose” parameters on ourselves and other vid makers for the project that we want them to be simple enough to be shot in one take or thereabouts.
4. Mechanisms. The mechanisms we used to create all three of above are pretty simple: First, we filmed a path in an around our studio WITHOUT the lead character except for the very beginning and the very end (so he could pop in and out of his life), but WITH the band popping up in various places, timed with the chorus.
“I close my eyes so I can watch the dreams suspend night. All of this time the movie reels spin in my mind”
That was shot in 3 takes.
Second, we sewed those 3 takes together into one movie. We made it black and white and we projected it a screen, at life-size proportions.
Third, we put MC Tilson in front of that screen and filmed him “inside” the projected video while he delivered the lyrics and moved throughout the lifesized world we created according to a series of choreographed moves that had him moving in and out of doorways, up stairs and around corners. We made it just real enough to make it believable but seem to the trained eye that somethings just not quite right (ala the awake/dream state.
Hope you dig. Here’s some photos to show you our setup.
Please visit www.giveseattle.org and download our #1 selling album in Seattle right now for just $7. Help those less fortunate and get some great new tunes.
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Very nice vid. I like how your doing more and more now. keep up the good work.
Grady
hey give us foreginers – lirics for this song
please please
i can understood while reading in english
no good while hear and also write
Hey Nevton. Dave from Head Like a Kite here. Here are the lyrics:
Film with no edits Life's one take
Get a body double for the close-up
Up-close personal problem with daily's
Last minute rewrites we
wrongs casted
pre productions post production
Onscreen Love interest off screen actress stays in character method thespian theater trained thespian all lines remembered and delivered on cue motion picture debut lighting is an issue scouted location cinematic impact directors vision intact a movie made for the lead I didn't have to read but when I hears action watch their reaction Plus I'll do my own stunts what more do you want before we roll tape'n what's my motivation other than
Budget camera time and nominations or the criticism false words
from conversation
" I close my eyes so I can watch the dreams suspend night
All of this time the movie reels spin in my mind"
Feel like an extra in my own life stand'n around with no parts don't look directly in the camera when the scene starts don't look directly at anyone that has parts just stay on mark right there stay parked as I keep shooting at a clock try'n kill time me joy on cutting room floor They done killed kind tell the grip ta get a grip and anything than can lift No thanks to your support I'm making guerilla short Soon to be on IFC then pan back to me Then pan back to me Aces Deuces answer print black bag frame rate day for night depth of field jump cut shutter Gate
"I close my eyes so can watch the dreams suspend night
All of this time the movie reels spin in my mind"
With a Co star So I'm in
STAR Co -m-p-a-n-y
Dolly on super 8 emotion like emlution
Developed at the magic hour silhouette on silver screen safe area room tone work print Color temp Light so ambient Academy leader numbered down
were sidewalks float above the ground
you have to leap to meet the street street street
street car named no tires will take you on the fastest trip you've ever known
"I close my eyes so I can watch the dreams suspend night
All of this time the movie reels spin in my mind"
This video was a breath of fresh air… really dope!!!
LOVED IT! WOW that was AWESOME! That song was great and the video was very well done! Good job to all involved!