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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

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Credits

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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
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

Casting

Casting director
Ami Keita
Casting director
Gem Faces

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

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