Cero Ismael 'Driving Round Looking For Unknown' by Folkert Verdoorn, Simon Becks
Rob Ulitski - 21st Jan 2025
Directing duo Folkert Verdoorn and Simon Becks direct a feat of cinematic era-twisting and genre-bending absurdity for Dutch R&B/hiphop artist Cero Ismael.
Verdoorn and Becks have set their video for Driving Round Looking For Unknown in an alternate reality, appearing to be in a war-torn town in Napoleonic times, with touches of futuristic tech. In this gritty world, Ismael is portrayed as a disfigured unfortunate, dragged along by a carriage through the streets - but which is pulled by drones, which throws the setting into the realm of a steampunk sci-fi reality.
The result is both playful and thought-provoking as we follow Cero's uncertain progress through this textured, gritty yet anachronistic, sci-fi tinged world. It's a breathtaking introduction to the fertile imagination of Verdoorn and Becks - and attention-grabbing vehicle for Ismael.
"At its heart is the idea of alienation - a monster, like an artist, often feels out of place," the directors explain. "Turning the artist into a monster felt like the perfect way to explore this theme of not belonging."
"We leaned into the absurdity, playing with humour and contrast, because why not? When we joke around, we inevitably end up with some ridiculous peepee and poopoo moments. It might not be highbrow, but it’s us, and it works.
"This video is our way of asking: what does it mean to belong? And what happens when you feel like you don’t? The answers aren’t simple, but we believe the journey should be as playful as it is profound."
Rob Ulitski - 21st Jan 2025
Tags
Popular content
Feedback
Problem with this page? Let us know
Credits
Featured here in the credits?
Production/Creative
- Director
- Simon Becks
- Director
- Folkert Verdoorn
- Producer
- Luc Hueber
- Producer
- Cleo Duijvelshoff
- Production Company
- Luc Krystof Hueber
- Production Company
- 100%
- Production Company
- Magna Studios
- Production Company
- Le Berg Gmbh
- Executive Producer
- NN
- Executive Producer
- Luc Hueber
- Production Manager
- Robbin Van Mechelen
- 1st AD
- Kim Wisse
- 1st AD
- Max Blomaard
- PA
- Nino Gimenez Miras, Newin Darwish
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Douwe Hennink
- Focus Puller
- Joey Janssen
- 2nd AC
- Martijn Martens
- Steadicam
- Tim Zentner
Lighting/Grip
- Gaffer
- Daan De Boer
- Key Grip
- Edward Biesterbosch
- Grip Company
- Gripwise
- Gripper
- Edward Biesterbosch
- Bestgirl
- Maxime Pottuit
- Electrician
- Ruben Klumpers
Art
- Art Director
- Kino Haverkorn
- Production designer
- Kino Haverkorn
- Art Assistants
- Dorien Van Zalingen, Eva Beliën, Nils Swibben
Wardrobe
- Stylist
- Anne Baarslag
- Hair
- Angelique Van Der Kaaij
- Hair
- Sylvia Porsius
- Make-up
- Minx Ijzer
Editorial
- Editor
- Milan Beltman
Grading
- Colourist
- Joppo In De Grot
- Colour grade company
- De Grot
VFX
- VFX
- Hugo Rodriguez
- Post production company
- Glassworks
- Lead Compositor
- Jim Derks
- VFX Artist
- Hugo Rodriguez
- MCR
- Natalia Bartyzel
- Producer
- Mia Krikler
- CGI
- Nervous 3D Generalist
- 3D Generalist
- Andrej Gregori, Ziga Radulj , Luka Zabret, Luka Leskovsek
- Line Production
- Vincent Boon
- Additional Clean-up VFX
- Olivier Bink
- Mixed Media Artist
- Fons De Haan
Rob Ulitski - 21st Jan 2025