Paul McCartney 'Early Days' by Vincent Haycock
David Knight - 10th July 2014
Sir Paul's reflections on the start of his relationship with John Lennon gets a thankfully non-literal but parallel interpretation by Vincent Haycock in the video for Early Days.
It captures the energy, excitement and vibrant creativity of a group of kids getting together to play music and becoming a band. The era is also the same as when McCartney met Lennon - the mid to late 1950s. But Haycock has transposed the story of the origin of The Beatles to the cradle of rock 'n roll, in the Mississippi Delta, where the director spent a month scouting locations.
He directed the performance element with McCartney in Los Angeles, where Sir Paul jammed with a group of veteran blues musicians including Del Atkins, Roy Gaines and Lil' Poochie - plus his pal Johnny Depp, appearing (very briefly) in his third Macca video. But its certainly the dramatic element, beautifully photographed by Evan Prosofsky, that resonates.
“It's a memory song for me, about me and John in the early days," McCartney said in an interview with Rolling Stone. "But Vince came up with this great idea: Instead of having young lookalikes of me and John walking the streets of Liverpool, guitars slung over our backs, and literally acting out the song, what if it was any two aspiring musicians? I thought that was such a cool idea."
VINCENT HAYCOCK:
“Their (Paul & John’s) story at its core is a universal one, two young kids who bond over their passion for music and form a band and friendship. This video is about them, and every band, and every kid who has suffered the ups and downs of starting a band, whether or not they became successful.
"The universality of their story was a big inspiration of setting the film in Mississippi during the 50s. This is a time period that inspired The Beatles – American Rock and Roll and the Mississippi Delta Blues of the 50s. Early Days is about the spirit and inspiration young musicians find in each other."
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David Knight - 10th July 2014
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Credits
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Production/Creative
- Director
- Vincent Haycock
- Producer
- Anna Rau
- Producer
- Corbett Jones
- Production Company
- PP
- Production Coordinator
- Geoff Walker
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Evan Prosofsky
Art
- Production designer
- Jay Hougaard
- Production designer
- Josiah Bultema
Wardrobe
- Stylist
- Natasha Newman-Thomas
Casting
- Casting director
- Carmela Makela
- Casting
- Lisa Roth @ HMH Casting
- Casting
- Laurel Coyle @ The Cast Station
Editorial
- Editor
- Vincent Haycock
- Editor
- Shane Reid
- Editing company
- Whitehouse Post
Grading
- Colourist
- Arnold Ramm
- Colour Producer
- Jordan Freedman
- Colour grade company
- Ntropic
Commission
- Commissioner
- Paul McKee
Misc
- Artist management
- MPL
Other credits
1st AD
Aaron Paulson
2nd AD
Chris Gonzalez
Steadicam
Ari Robbins
1st AC
David Edsall
2nd AC
Gary Bevans
Loader
Dustin Miller
Gaffer
Robert Lowe
Best Boy
Craig Molsberry
Electric Driver
Juan Barroso
Key Grip
Bodie Hyman
Best Boy
Douglas Blagg
Prop Master
John Bakken
Leadman
Chris Miller
Set Decorator
Mandy Cheng
Painter
Jedediah C Voltz
Wardrobe Assistant
Tatiana Valentin
Hair & Make Up
Lauren Cohen
Hair & Make Up
Joel Harlow
VTR
Dave Schmalz
Sound Mixer
Durand Trench
Assistant Sound Mixer
Kent Vederico
Audio Playback
Justine Marine
LOS ANGELES CREW:
Location Manager
Jonathan Lynch
Craft Services
Adam Berman
Production Assistant
Ben Westley
Production Assistant
Garret Ives
Production Assistant
Raphael Xexeo
Production Assistant
Bart Taylor
Production Assistant
Damien Lang
Production Assistant
Marcus Huerta
1st AD
Johnny Radcliff
Steadicam
Ari Robbins
1st AC
Mike Valentine
2nd AC
Alicia Fischmeister
Gaffer
Mike McLaughlin
Key Grip
Gilly Charbonnett
Art Director
Everette Eglin
Prop Master
Will Eastin
Set Dresser
Keith Wall
Car Wrangler
Blane Bernard
Hair & Make Up
Tenia Hill
Local Production Support
Sally Durkin
Production Assistant
Andrew Baker
Production Assistant
Adam Sherman
MISSISSIPPI CREW:
David Knight - 10th July 2014