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FreeAgent now representing Doomsday Entertainment directors for UK

Tuesday, 11. June 2013 - 1:15 pm | No comments »

Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK is now representing leading US production company Doomsday Entertainment for the UK, adding the outfit to the list of British companies repped by Free Agent, including Chief Productions, Luti Media, Able & Baker (formerly Shameless) and fellow American company Vision Film Co., as well as several directors independently, including Jake Nava, Vincent Haycock and BRTHR.

Founded by Danielle Hinde, Doomsday was initially known as a director’s repping agency itself, but has become a major player in US music video production in its own right, with a roster that includes Hiro Murai, Carlos Lopez Estrada (director of Reptar’s Houseboat Babies, above), Isaac Ravishankara, Ace Norton, Dugan O’Neal, Daniel ‘Cloud’ Campos.

“I am very happy to announce that FreeAgent will be now representing Doomsday Entertainment for the UK,” confirms Alexa Haywood. “Danielle and I have been wanting to work together for ages and now that Doomsday is a force to be reckoned with we couldn’t think of a better time to work together. Looking forward to building the bridge between UK and LA even stronger!”

Categories: News
Tags: Alexa Haywood, Danielle Hinde, Doomsday Entertainment, Free Agent UK

We Show Up On Radar ‘Hands Up If You’re Lost’ by Tom Walsh

Tuesday, 11. June 2013 - 12:00 pm | No comments »

Tom Walsh swaps the sci-fi trappings and special effects of his last video for something a little more homespun for folk-rockers We Show Up On Radar – his third for the group.

The immortal and welcome influence of Jim Henson puppetry is apparent here as a group of forest dwelling oddities put in a grand performance, replacing the one-man band of producer Andy Wright. Tom Walsh and crew have aptly captured the naive and forlorn sadness found in so many iconic puppets.

Says Tom: “The initial reference was Kermit The Frog singing ‘Being Green’ on The Muppet Show. But in fact the main inspiration for the video came from Jim Henson’s puppet epic, The Dark Crystal. That film pushed so many boundaries at the time, and had such a big impact on me as a child that I wanted to make something that paid homage to it in some way. So our initial design reference was the Podling characters.”

Well, we’re always happy to see Kermit’s influence on the music video world.

We Show Up On Radar
Hands Up If You’re Lost
Director: Tom Walsh
Production Company: Polymath Pictures
Production Designer: Amy Nicholson
DoP: Neil Johnson
Gaffer/Lighting Designer: Cullum Ross
Editing & VFX: Nicolas Pylypiuk & Tom Walsh
1st AC: Chris Wetton
Studio Technician: Adam Davies
Set design and construction: Charlotte Ball and Sophie Wheat
Puppet design and construction: Inma Cook and Emma Terrell
Puppeteers: Amy Nicholson, Else Bua, Inma Cook, Emma Terrell, Sophie Wheat, Emily Croxford
Production Assistant: David Buckell
Runners: Adam Wiklo and Kathryn Smith

Categories: Alternative, Animation, Folk, Promos, Puppets, UK
Tags: Hands Up If You're Lost, Polymath Pictures, Tom Walsh, We Show Up On Radar

The Maine ‘These Four Words’ by Daniel Gomes

Tuesday, 11. June 2013 - 9:30 am | No comments »

Documenting the end of a love affair, Daniel Gomes directs this emotional promo for Arizona five-piece The Maine, taken from their album Forever Halloween.

Shot in one take and graded in black and white, Daniel finds an ‘honest, unedited look for a single moment at the end of a relationship’ played out by Margaux Brooke and The Maine’s frontman John O’Callaghan.

The Maine
These Four Words (Rude Records)
Director: Daniel Gomes
Production Company: GOODCOMPANY
Director Of Photography: Alejandro Lalinde
Editor: Daniel Gomes
Exec Producers: Brian Welsh, Jonathan Lia
Art Director: Brandon Mendez
UK Rep: Yi London
US Rep: Alli Maxwell

Categories: Promos, Rock, USA
Tags: Daniel Gomes, GOODCOMPANY, Rude Records, The Maine, These Four Words

Motel Connection ‘Less Is More’ by Leone

Monday, 10. June 2013 - 8:40 pm | No comments »

The story began with Leone’s video for Motel Connection’s Midnight Sun, which introduced a sweet young lad who endures the bullies of the playground and an uncaring mother, to engage his love of disco…

And now here’s Leone’s sequel: the video for Less Is More takes up just where Midnight Sun ended, and sees our young lad enter a club to take part in a dance competition with some eccentric competition. A small-scale cinematic piece with superb casting showcasing the Italian director’s considerable talent – with a cameo by the band too.

Motel Connection
Less Is More
Production company: k48.it
Director: Leone
DoP: Mauro Chiarello Ciardo-Luca Esposito/ 2dop
Editor: Marta Mangiucca
Stylist: Valentina Mezzani
Make up: Diana De Vita
Set designer: Amos Caparrotta
Assistant director: Patrizia Gatto
UK prod co: HSI London
Label: lp & friends
Watch: here

Categories: Comedy, Italy, Narrative, Promos
Tags: HSI London, k48.it, Leone, Less Is More, Motel Connection

Steve Mason ‘A Lot of Love’ by Greg Davenport

Monday, 10. June 2013 - 3:30 pm | No comments »

In Greg Davenport’s thoroughly enjoyable video for former Beta Band frontman Steve Mason’s A Lot Of Love, we witness the familiar scenario of a British Cabinet minister in very hot water, with his world, and a lifetime’s work to rise up the greasy pole about to come crashing down, at the hands of a fearsome, Paxman-esque TV interviewer.

If this covers similar ground to British political dramas and comedies from Yes Minister to The Thick Of It, Greg Davenport definitely puts his own spin on things, as the minister takes a course of action that would even leave Malcolm Tucker speechless….

Greg says: “It’s one of my favourite ideas this – the story is of a much-maligned, unloved and aging politican under intense media pressure in the midst of a scandal… how will he react?”

Shot by Ben Fordesman, and with choreography from Holly Blakey – who also choreographed the recent Russ Chimes video – the video hugely benefits from a great performance from Tim Heath as the doomed politician, and Jeremy Drakes as his fearsome interrogator, drawing on the poignancy of Mason’s soundtrack to brilliant effect.

Steve Mason
A Lot Of Love (Domino)
Director: Greg Davenport
Producer: Claire Adcock
Executive Producer: Oliver Hammerton
Production Company: Epoch London
Cast: Tim Heath & Jeremy Drakes
Director Of Photography: Ben Fordesman
1st AD: Ben Quirk
Production Design: Charles Whiteway
Wardrobe: Georgie Buxton
Make-up: Dominique Heslop, Annie Tage, Hannah Maestranzi
Gaffer: Yurandi Poots
1st AC: Matthew Robinson, Marcus Autelli
2nd AC: Nick Thursby
DIT: Nazmul Hoque
Spark: Joe Gainsborough, James Canavan
Choreographer: Holly Blakey
Editor: Chris Roebuck @ Cut + Run
Colourist: Edwin Metternich @ Framestore
Sound: Jon Clarke @ Factory studios
With Special Thanks to: Gwenneth Whitby and Lee Weller @ Millbank studios, Chris Anthony @ Framestore, Annabelle Dunbar-Whittaker @ Cut + Run, Graham Angus @ Panalux Nicola Robinson @ Aliashire, Daisy @ Epoch London, Elliot Dollie @ Callbox
Director’s rep: Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK
Commissioner: John Moule

Categories: Indie, Interview/Q&A, Promos, UK
Tags: A Lot Of Love, Domino, Epoch London, Greg Davenport, Jeremy Drakes, John Moule, Steve Mason, Tim Heath

The Chicharones/Samsung ‘Hi Hey Hello’ by Joseph Kahn

Monday, 10. June 2013 - 1:30 pm | No comments »

Okay this is not just a video for The Chicharones and their catchy summery track Hi Hey Hello, directed with typical verve by Joseph Kahn. It’s really a way for megacorp Samsung to promote the numerous features in their Galaxy S4 smartphone, via an innovative music video-centric digital ad campaign, out of Leo Burnett and A52.

Set on the campus of UCLA, it’s all about the likeable college boy who uses the S4′s various features (including Air View, Dual Shot, Group Play, Drama Shot and Sound & Shot) in pursuit of his dream girl.

In other words, the evolution of the branded music video…

Artist: The Chicharones
Client: Samsung
Hi Hey Hello
Director: Joseph Kahn
Prod co: HSI
DoP: Christopher Probst
Producer: Richard Weager
Producer: Keith Jamerson
Executive Producer: Jennifer Dennis
Post Production: Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Chancier Haynes
Agency: Leo Burnett USA
Digital Agency: A52
Creative Director: Shannon McGlothin
Creative Director: Brandon Rochon
Creative Director: Adam Kennedy
Copywriter: Jaysn Kim
Watch: here

Categories: Branded music video, Commercials
Tags: A52, Hi Hey Hello, HSI, HSI London, Joseph Kahn, Leo Burnett, Samsung, The Chicharones

Chase & Status ‘Lost & Not Found’ by Alex Southam

Monday, 10. June 2013 - 11:30 am | No comments »

Taken from their forthcoming third album, Chase & Status join forces with Alex Southam for the promo to Lost & Not Found – their homage to the early 90s rave culture which inspired them.

Taken from the perspective of a young cyclist, Alex’s inventive ‘fly on the wall’ one-shot promo centres around a motel and the narrative of a missing girl – traveling through different scenarios featuring a host of contrasting characters as the plot unravels bit by bit…

Chase & Status
Lost & Not Found
Director: Alex Southam
Producer: Amber Millington
Production Company: Agile Films
Line Producer for Boulevard Industries: David Cho
Exec. Producer for Boulevard Industries: Jason Valen
1st AD: Allen Scudder
Director of Photography: Pat Scola
Art Director: Chase Bryant
Hair/Make-Up: Tami Shirey
Stylist: Gabriela Perez
Cast: Emmanuel Odaibo, Officer Hunter, Officer Elliot, Officer Sanchez, Garrick Dixon, Don Lancaster, Lynn James, Alex Hughes, Mimi Frank, Darnell James, Buddy Friedman, Brent King, Chris Roche, Darcell Hoover, Virginia Collins, Terry Palmer, Andrew Kailon, Michael Klokow, Rose Guess.
Post Producer at The Mill: Luis Martin
Flame Artist: Chris Scott
Flame Assistants: Brad Wood and Alex Candish
Colourist: Houmam Abdallah
Directors Representation: Obmanagement
Commissioner: Julia Frost
Label: Mercury Records
Watch: here

Categories: Promos, UK, Urban
Tags: Agile Films, Alex Southam, Chase & Status, Julia Frost, Lost & Not Found, Mercury

Talib Kweli ft. Miguel ‘Come Here’ by Galen Pehrson

Monday, 10. June 2013 - 9:45 am | No comments »

After his work for Death Grips, Galen Pehrson brings his distinctive retro-animation style to the hip-hop-meets-sweet soul of Talib Kweli and Miguel’s Come Here.

A story of a lonely Egyptian princess about to find her Anubis – in the ‘hood…

Talib Kweli ft. Miguel
Come Here
Director: Galen Pehrson
Animator: Galen Pehrson

Categories: Animation, Hip-hop, Promos, USA
Tags: Come Here, Galen Pehrson, Talib Kweli ft. Miguel

Finalists and People’s Choice winner announced for Saatchi & Saatchi OK Go Music Video Challenge

Friday, 7. June 2013 - 6:20 pm | No comments »

Twelve finalists for the Grand Prize of the Saatchi & Saatchi OK Go Music Video Challenge, organised in association with BUG Music Videos and Talenthouse, have been announced today (June 7th), together with the People’s Choice prizewinner.

A judging panel comprised of members of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Creative Board, the BUG Music Videos team, and OK Go’s lead singer Damian Kulash, came up with a set of finalists from different parts of the globe for the the Grand Prize, in which the winner will be offered an all-expenses paid trip to Cannes for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where the winning video will be screened at the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase on Thursday 20th June.

The finalists, who all created videos for the brand new as-yet unreleased OK Go song I’m Not Through, are: Eran Amir (Germany), Carolina Aguirre Barrandeguy (UK), Sara Brink (USA), Nelson de Castro (USA), Roberto Espinosa (USA), BJ Golnick (USA), Alice Lam (USA), Benjamin Minot & Jacqueline Bulnes (Italy), Shan Palmer (USA), Riccardo Salvi & Alberto Falcone (UK), Lavado Stubbs (Bahamas) and Jonah Sugden (UK).

And Fort Lauderdale-based BJ Golnick has been declared the recipient of the People’s Choice award in the competition – collecting more public votes than any other entrant in the competition for his interpretation of I’m Not Through as a fastmoving romantic thriller involving time travel.

It’s the third successive year that Saatchi & Saatchi have invited the international filmmaking community to enter the Music Video Challenge, with the help of BUG, and the objective at unearthing new directing talent. This year Saatchi & Saatchi have also teamed up with Talenthouse, a global platform for creative collaboration, and GRAMMY award-winning band OK Go, renowned for their cutting edge music videos.

The Grand Prize finalists feature an eclectic range of themes and styles – including contemporary dance, lost virginity, a Bahamian marching band, and outstanding animation. Amos Pizzey, founder/President of Talenthouse has commented: “Talenthouse was thrilled with the creative response to the Saatchi & Saatchi OK Go Music Video Challenge on our platform. The submissions came from around the world and showed the depth of new untapped talent that can be liberated online in our brave new world.”

Check out all the finalists here

Categories: Awards, BUG, News
Tags: BUG, OK Go, Saatchi & Saatchi, Saatchi & Saatchi OK Go Music Video Challenge

Joe Goddard feat. Mara Carlyle ‘She Burns’ by Soandsau

Friday, 7. June 2013 - 3:35 pm | No comments »

Directing duo Sophie Diess and Jean-Christophe Saurel – aka Soandsau – have directed a marvellous, darkly comic video for She Burns by Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard with Mara Carlyle on vocals.

A man and a woman enter a room to attend to Mara, and as she begins to sing about regrettable recent events, her predicament is soon clear: she’s dead. Injected with embalming fluid by the morticians, different parts of her body briefly spring to life.

Filmed over a day in a flat in Peckham in London for what executive producer Russell McLean calls “definitely a passion project where everyone was onboard because they wanted to be.” Produced by Kim Strobl (also 1st AD), and photographed by Olivier Cariou, the grade was by Julien Biard at Finish – and this was also a rare outing in music videos for editor Paul Hardcastle.

Sophie and Jean-Christophe previously worked with Mara on her video for I Blame You Not, and were pleased to get the chance to work with her again. “We were asked to come up for an idea to fit the track. We liked the idea of there being frozen moments throughout, that although she is dead there are bits of her that are still alive. As she gets embalmed more of her comes to life on the screen.”

Jean Christophe adds: “We’re really pleased with the ambience that the promo creates. We put a lot of thought into how best to symbolise the world of death in a way that complimented the track and remained visually interesting. This was done with the help of our brilliant cast of Tom and Janet and of course the talented team of production and post crew we had on board.”

Sophie says: “Working with Mara is an absolute pleasure. We have the upmost respect and admiration for her and her input throughout the shoot was always very positive. She is a great talent and brings with it great sensitivity.”

Joe Goddard ft Mara Carlyle
She Burns
Director: Soandsau
Producer/1st AD: Kim Strobl
Exec Producer: Russell McLean
Production Co.: Passion Pictures
DoP: Olivier Cariou
Editor: Paul Hardcastle
Editing company: Trim Editing
Colourist: Julien Biard @ Finish
Finish Producer: Justine White
Make-up & Hair: Niki Henry
Label: Greco-Roman
Commissioner: Mara Carlyle + Alexander Waldron
Watch: here