Xixax Film Forum

Creative Corner => The Art Gallery => Topic started by: pete on April 04, 2011, 12:52:03 PM

Title: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 04, 2011, 12:52:03 PM
hey guys
this is the first of my three hip hop videos I'd done with these West Coast dudes, Zion I and the Grouch.
least amount of effort was put in this one.
then we have another one that's really crazy and another one that's live in the streets with a mardi gras band.

here it is, "drop it on the 1"

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5253%2F5589678764_e31767c93a_z.jpg&hash=6c492d45484647a625cc285ec085e9c935e25260)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S20wBvKcObI
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on April 04, 2011, 01:33:49 PM
Nice job with the video... It has a lot of energy.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: RegularKarate on April 04, 2011, 02:13:46 PM
I like it.  It's got that rhythm and a fitting visual voice.  I don't know which one is which, rapper-wise, but the first guy to rap seems to lack a personality in his delivery... like he's reading.  That's the only thing that slowed it down for me... otherwise I really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on April 04, 2011, 02:28:33 PM
thanks everyone!
I showed up at the studio to shoot a video for them, and then the manager said "we've got another hour in this studio, lets make a second video" then they put on this track and we got busy with the cameras.
it was a lot of fun in that thrown together kinda way.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: polkablues on April 04, 2011, 02:34:47 PM
Yeah, that was really fun. I'm looking forward to seeing the other videos.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on April 04, 2011, 03:10:03 PM
thanks you guys.

frame grab for the next video, dropping in a few weeks:

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5146%2F5579150544_5670bf8a8b_z.jpg&hash=9748e0c115b9c9fbb1da9908dc5b57d085c6a509)
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Reel on April 06, 2011, 06:14:00 PM
I guess Zion 1 and the Grouch are gonna be playing here in a few weeks. I might go, some of my friends will be opening for them. If I hadn't seen pete's videos I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Looking forward to some more videos pete!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Pubrick on April 11, 2011, 09:04:42 AM
man if this was the thrown together video the ones "dropping" soon (did i use the lingo right?) will be seriously off the hook!

takes some special skill to make good hip hop videos, you captured the energy of the track really well and whether it was planned or just put together it's not something that could easily be explained in formulaic terms of knowing when to cut and not being afraid of innumerable fade outs! you know dance and movement well and it shows.

congrats.. i'll save the best compliments for the next one, i'm sure.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: md on April 11, 2011, 11:45:51 PM
Quote from: Pubrick on April 11, 2011, 09:04:42 AM
man if this was the thrown together video the ones "dropping" soon (did i use the lingo right?) will be seriously off the hook!


u make it sound easy
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Ravi on April 12, 2011, 06:18:55 PM
Good job, I look forward to seeing the next one.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on April 28, 2011, 12:30:40 PM
here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G746d_1ZgWM
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Reel on April 28, 2011, 12:43:10 PM
that song was way better. That video was way better. mad grimey.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: RegularKarate on April 28, 2011, 01:18:02 PM
Pete!  You did it!  Fantastic job!

Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: polkablues on April 28, 2011, 05:04:27 PM
The energy of these videos (especially this new one) is amazing.  Perfect editing.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on April 30, 2011, 12:45:34 PM
http://enterthehero.com/post/5041034200/zion-is-healing-of-the-nation-music-video-directed-by

little bit of production notes on the music video; omitting the stuff that might get me in trouble.
part 2, on working with kids and all that, coming up soon.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on March 25, 2012, 04:28:37 AM
I'm in the midst of finalizing a 7 and a half minute-long music video called "If I Be Wrong (http://wolflarsen.bandcamp.com/track/if-i-be-wrong)" by Wolf Larsen (http://www.wolflarsen.bandcamp.com). It was a really hard shoot. The concept is to project images of a dancer onto different antique pieces inside this really awesome antique space, as if she was a hologram dancer in a music box, inside some woman's memory. I hope the concept shows thru in the final edit. In the meanwhile, here are some screen shots.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F430779_10151299755810542_10150108293015542_22945776_629522706_n.jpg&hash=e72f0a454e6d617c7dad094c6f95c98362fc532f)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F432024_10151275987030542_10150108293015542_22873082_1743451386_n.jpg&hash=8113c40af9f4e036987909ddc37fe630597cacd7)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F417468_10151275986595542_10150108293015542_22873078_852535905_n.jpg&hash=5221107f128422e588463f335b7df2845e6343eb)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F401041_10151275986070542_10150108293015542_22873072_1310774191_n.jpg&hash=a521120d4d246505bcb3068e55edb4a52b59a23f)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F425048_10151299755645542_10150108293015542_22945773_6664764_n.jpg&hash=132c92cd329295fc8ba487feef84596ff583aaa5)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F432300_10151299755375542_10150108293015542_22945772_534982730_n.jpg&hash=447662c373967963684b4189628b3116d788dc6c)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F431435_10151299738825542_10150108293015542_22945647_385669626_n.jpg&hash=92d62849480944da37c4de427d98bffd288de011)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F399895_10151275987340542_10150108293015542_22873084_390689441_n.jpg&hash=d24d888d308b15650afac30b19a6fcbda12172e0)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F425398_10151275987765542_10150108293015542_22873089_396269114_n.jpg&hash=d03254dbeb7b75df7f9faefb2ce24d0a6129f440)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi95.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl131%2Fnomoretitanic%2F432344_10151275988295542_1722652094_n.jpg&hash=4f075d0c16d37e52ca484ba0e4be7468288ce674)

Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: matt35mm on March 25, 2012, 11:11:57 AM
I enjoyed her album and this looks like it'll be real good. I look forward to it!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on June 26, 2012, 07:51:50 PM
So, this is the thing 72teeth came to help me out on. Here is a trailer. It's a kung fu movie.



The real thing drops in three days. If you got MTV I think it's gonna be on there.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: matt35mm on June 26, 2012, 08:05:22 PM
Looks like it's gonna be awesome! Is the full thing gonna be posted online at the same time it airs on MTV?
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on June 26, 2012, 08:28:34 PM
yes. MTV's got the clean version, and we'll post an explicit version online.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: MacGuffin on June 27, 2012, 12:30:43 AM
Quote from: pete on June 26, 2012, 07:51:50 PMThe real thing drops in three days. If you got MTV I think it's gonna be on there.

So, there's a Teen Mom or Jersey Shore castmate in it?
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: md on June 27, 2012, 08:41:59 AM
That was dope Pete!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: RegularKarate on June 27, 2012, 11:12:55 AM
Can't wait! This thing looks great!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on June 29, 2012, 12:31:34 PM
boom

Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: polkablues on June 29, 2012, 06:25:53 PM
That was badass as all hell.  Nice work!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: matt35mm on June 30, 2012, 09:11:05 AM
GOD DAMN! That was so fucking fun. Great, great job!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on July 03, 2012, 01:51:41 PM
thanks, two people!
I'm working on his next video, if anyone's in SF, come check it out. 72Teeth did and he did not seem to not enjoy it.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: 72teeth on July 03, 2012, 04:59:17 PM
WHAT! What the hell you smoking Pete, i had a great time, loved the video, and said i'm your man anytime any place!


Ha! NVRMD, just re-read your comment and i totally didnt not read it wrong







Im in love with pete just to clarify
and you will too if you join pete's wild bunch!

Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: RegularKarate on July 03, 2012, 05:53:28 PM
Pete, I was in NYC for a festival when this came out Friday and even though I was mega busy, I remembered to come here and check out your video and while I was watching, everyone that was in the hotel room with me gathered around the iPad and watched it too. Everyone loved it!
Random comments from people included:
"dope"
"that looks expensive!"
"Why isn't this guy making videos for us?!"

Anyway, great job, Pete!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Neil on July 03, 2012, 07:56:31 PM
Stellar job pete.  Love the use of light around the 2:30 mark.   The knife catch was fuckin' boss.  Such a great idea.

I wish i knew more about fighting and martial arts films, because i'd like to know where you're coming from, but for what it's worth, it works for really well for me and i have no frame of reference for this genre, so i think that's a really effective.

congrats man. 
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on July 03, 2012, 08:37:41 PM
Pete, how much work did you do on this? Direct/cinematography/etc.?
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on July 04, 2012, 03:35:33 AM
yeah I was the director, producer and editor - didn't really do any cinematography, and for this one I actually got a stunt coordinator so I wouldn't have to do that much work on the day of shooting. The stunt coordinator is this crazy russian dude (the big dude who took three knives early on in the fight scene) name Vlad who is 28 but looks 40 and just has insanely great ideas:



I shot a tiny fraction, but the cinematography was handled by a long time collaborator who's really good and hopefully one day soon he'll get discovered. he's truly versatile and has rocked everything I've thrown his way- from narrative to lifestyle ads (one that paid ridiculous amount of money but I'm too ashamed to show here) to food product shots to fighting. this was my most conventional directing gig so far, in which I didn't have to wear my usual hats as shooter or stunt coordinator or whatever else.

Aesop Rock and I met on the set of his last shoot and when he found out that I did action movies he asked if we could do one 'cause he wanted to take a break from rapping to the camera. We're doing another one in a week (gulp), and I hope I can handle a more conventional music video.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Sleepless on July 04, 2012, 07:34:08 PM
That was awesome Pete. Congrats and well done.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Reel on July 07, 2012, 03:57:38 PM
my brother went down to Harlem today to help on production of a music video with Vast Aire from Cannibal Ox, and featuring some of his friends who live up here. I'm not jealous in the slightest, I don't wish I had skills like Pete so I could offer my contribution. Nope, not at all.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: diggler on July 07, 2012, 07:33:06 PM
These are really great, very well edited too. If you don't mind my asking, what camera did you use?
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on July 08, 2012, 05:05:42 AM
hey thanks you two. that was a year ago but felt much longer. They asked me to direct three videos for them, each time with a super rushed schedule and no budget, I did them and though they were conceptually very run-of-the-mill (literally they'd call and give me a day's notice and a deadline and I'd have to scramble for some kinda setting and piece things together) but these got played in a few places and gave me the credential to direct the other music videos with much more ease. Here's the third one that I didn't even bother to color-correct:



and, not sure if you'd seen them already, but hop over to this thread for the Aesop Rock video:
http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=12225.0

and there's this one that's 7 and a half minutes long that I finished a few months ago that I really liked that should be released soon. I'll let you know when it does. that's the best thing I've done.

got one more aesop rock video coming, shooting this weekend.

oh I shot on a Canon 60D with some 5D stuff mixed in.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on July 11, 2012, 07:47:24 PM
Mod did you have something to do with this?

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/videodrome-the-best-recent-music-videos-featuring-aesop-rock-family-band-caveman-a-band-of-buriers-20120711#
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 08, 2012, 02:16:45 AM
whoa, months later, this is gonna debut on NPR's music page tomorrow.
will link soon.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 08, 2012, 12:57:43 PM
peep it
http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2012/08/08/158207503/first-watch-wolf-larsen-if-i-be-wrong
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on August 08, 2012, 04:40:20 PM
Wow, that was great. And a really unique idea. The dancer gracefully jumping from piece to piece totally works.

I'm almost more excited that Bob Boilen wrote about you.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: matt35mm on August 08, 2012, 05:26:20 PM
God fucking damn it, Pete. I expected this to be beautiful but it was still unexpectedly beautiful. You made me get caught off guard by my emotions. UGHHHHHHH. Superb work.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Reel on August 08, 2012, 10:56:22 PM
Wow, Pete. That was awesome! I like to think of the girl as an R2-D2 projection in the beginning. Almost thought I saw some titties at 4:54 :shock: turned out to be knees. Kind of like that Land of Lakes butter trick. Pause it, you'll know what I'm saying.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: RegularKarate on August 09, 2012, 02:44:07 PM
I reposted this thing on Facebook. It's really great, Pete. Inspiring shit.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Sleepless on August 09, 2012, 05:00:56 PM
Incredible, Pete. Really beautiful. The write up is awesome too. Well done!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: InTylerWeTrust on August 09, 2012, 11:35:19 PM
What camera and what lenses did you use?..... Looks Gorgeous.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 10, 2012, 03:00:58 AM
thanks everyone.
tyler - we used canon 60D and I think most of the shots were 50mm, some 35mm and maybe some wider for the final dance sequence.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 16, 2012, 01:39:55 PM


now it's on youtube. and I think music blogs.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Just Withnail on August 17, 2012, 03:15:19 AM
Beau.ti.ful.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: diggler on August 17, 2012, 05:06:20 PM
great dolly work
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: diggler on August 17, 2012, 05:49:31 PM
I made a short post about this on my music blog. Great work Pete.

http://www.buffablog.com/2012/08/picking-up-slack-for-mtv-wolf-larsen.html
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 21, 2012, 03:13:22 PM
video number two

Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Sleepless on August 21, 2012, 04:07:55 PM
Cool. Some very nice images in there. I really like the use of multiple actions happening on different levels, that seems to be something you play about with a lot in this video.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: RegularKarate on August 21, 2012, 04:10:03 PM
I really liked it.
This one feels the most like a music video.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: 72teeth on August 21, 2012, 05:22:01 PM
Damn that looks great Pete!  :bravo:

Who knew the dungeon could look so good!?

next time even more girls!!!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Pubrick on August 22, 2012, 06:40:09 PM
Damn good. Really atmospheric. I'ma feature this one on the news ticker, peeps be sleeping on your work too often.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: InTylerWeTrust on August 22, 2012, 07:40:57 PM
Wow, man... That was excellent. I especially love how "artistic" it looks.. I could envision you working with someone like Kanye or someone like that  :yabbse-thumbup:


Could you tell us how you got in contact with Aesop? Because I've been doing some videos for local rappers (most of whom are actually childhood friends of mine), but I would love to work with a Major artist soon. Basically give us a little run-down of how it all came to be. (If you've already talked about this then I apologize........ for nothing)
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 22, 2012, 08:50:12 PM
yeah there's a slight write up about it on my site:
http://enterthehero.com/post/26163335854/zzz-top-the-aesop-rock-music-video-action-movie

and the "i apologize........for nothing" line was good. more like that buddy.
and share your music videos too man. people'd be curious.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: polkablues on August 23, 2012, 11:13:49 PM
I need to stop watching these, because comparing what I'm capable of to what you're pulling off with the same camera is too depressing.  All of these videos are really, really good.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Pubrick on August 24, 2012, 01:27:00 AM
Quote from: polkablues on August 23, 2012, 11:13:49 PM
I need to stop watching these, because comparing what I'm capable of to what you're pulling off with the same camera is too depressing.  All of these videos are really, really good.

Haha I recently got a 60D too and have been fuggin around with some vintage nikkor ais primes, but I translate my lack of skill as potential so I'm finding these videos inspirational. Though if I'm not mistaken Pete has moved on from amateur hour and nowadays shoots with the 5D mk II and also the camera Kubrick used to shoot Barry Lyndon. He got it off Vincent Gallo in exchange for tips on how not to be a douche.

Tip # 1 was: give that camera to someone who deserves it.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 24, 2012, 04:15:01 PM
that's really nice. thanks buddies.
I still make most of my meager living shooting food and drinks and chefs. so these words really hit the spot.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: picolas on August 24, 2012, 04:50:37 PM
really really pretty. what did you shoot it on exactly?
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on August 24, 2012, 05:22:55 PM
we shot on Red with zeiss primes. the camera stuff was shot on fs100, just like the ZZZ Top music video.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on September 02, 2012, 12:43:25 PM
can I beg somebody to consolidate all of my music video threads from the summer? I'd linked this one on a page elsewhere, but here it is again - The Coup's "Magic Clap". This was with a tiny budget shot over a day and a half: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/premiere-the-coup-the-magic-clap-20120830

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8031%2F7897914346_c4ec5bf855_z.jpg&hash=16deb9f3c1e79e24dd903523845d30e278eb0c02) (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/premiere-the-coup-the-magic-clap-20120830)

And unfortunately this came out right after The Rolling Stone debuted Bob Dylan's music video that also involves a van kidnap and torture.
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: Pubrick on September 04, 2012, 08:08:06 PM
Quote from: pete on September 02, 2012, 12:43:25 PM
can I beg somebody to consolidate all of my music video threads from the summer?

i don't know about your summer (opposite world) but do you mean everything from here:

random stuff (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=6075.0)
I directed a series of hip-hop videos (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=11496.0)
Wolf Larsen - "If I Be Wrong" music video using projections and holograms (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=12128.0)

let me know and i'll lump them into one huge thread..
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on September 04, 2012, 09:36:20 PM
everything but the random stuff thread. that random stuff goes back too far and has kinda become a thread for everyone to post his work.

please and thanks!
Title: Re: I directed a series of hip-hop videos
Post by: pete on September 04, 2012, 09:50:10 PM
thank you so much. wolf needs all the push she can get. as a songwriter dealing with a debilitating disease, it's hard for her to do any kind of extended promotion efforts by herself. I mean it's hard enough for most musicians, nevermind one who is battling an unknown disease day in and day out.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on September 08, 2012, 03:59:46 PM


youtube version
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on December 11, 2012, 09:49:19 PM


a remix of the Cycles music video, with just the shadow ballet footage.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on December 22, 2012, 05:39:10 PM
I got interviewed by an online publication everybody:

http://imvdb.com/blog/2012/12/video-chats-ben-fee-and-pete-lee-on-cycles-to-gehenna-by-aesop-rock
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: Alexandro on December 23, 2012, 10:08:47 AM
loved the videos. great interview too. you hit my g spot with ballet dancers in a hip hop video. I think I could see four hours of that.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: jenkins on December 23, 2012, 01:27:39 PM
ok, the guy who made the 'cycles to gehenna' video can give luhrmann lighting tips, no sarcasm. great job.

i like your interview, i like "it was an old naval castle training ground thing that's been there as long as san francisco has" and other interesting background details about the location.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on December 23, 2012, 03:45:41 PM
thanks guys!
I feel like Noisey fucked up the color balance of the video and the label's channel has a better version of the video where everyting is not so milky:



got a new one I'm working on, this time just for a local singer songwriter but it was a lot of fun shooting, here are some screencaps:

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8072%2F8292533933_55ba3af40e_z.jpg&hash=a5da448982479358a83aee9e51dc9d5ce18c2c51)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8076%2F8292533745_c28e5c1376_z.jpg&hash=a009c389e96a937559fc97bf1566c2a4b1178876)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8493%2F8292534999_091b63257f_z.jpg&hash=35455361b1e437e693467dd5fa7067be143cdf89)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8077%2F8293589030_ca84d6a46e_z.jpg&hash=84545130260378ebff7043c24e391baf48957868)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8353%2F8293589450_5756590050_z.jpg&hash=b4883f6dbdb81e721cc27239d0ec2859bd2ea97a)
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on February 10, 2013, 03:29:59 AM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgurufoto.smugmug.com%2FDance%2Fvictoria%2Fi-NfXsfrt%2F0%2FXL%2F_MG_4557-XL.jpg&hash=8d9c4ea255741e24bd6d5f609d8a5dd99a603e3b) (http://vimeo.com/59168132)

http://vimeo.com/59168132
an armenian ballet piece that I got to make with a photography buddy of mine.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on March 26, 2013, 12:39:32 PM
I did something for The Uncluded - a duo comprised of Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson. It was a music video for a song called "Delicate Cycle", which I co-directed with my best friend Ben Fee - best known for directing The Lumineers' Ho Hey video.

This one is sunnier and cuter than usual, per Kimya's request. It's also on MTV2/MTVU all day todaY:



clean version:
http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-uncluded/891791/delicate-cycle.jhtml

it's got Lil Bub the internet cat in it.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 72teeth on March 26, 2013, 01:27:07 PM
nice cameo, hitchcock
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on June 04, 2013, 01:27:52 PM


my latest. a remix video for The Coup's Magic Clap (the original for which I also directed), starring that guy from Magnolia.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.staticflickr.com%2F2885%2F8951532976_d22a79921d_c.jpg&hash=d271fd25796fa141505ebeda532ff35268fc2edd)
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: Reel on June 05, 2013, 12:05:56 AM
Oh my god. That's so funny! I'm gonna have to pause it like a million times to get all the wordplay jokes. Did you write it and the coup and Patton gave you input on it or were they just down with the idea?? AND HOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET PATTON OSWALT!?!?!?!? Incredible. It looks like the funnest thing to shoot ever. Great job man, I thought it really elevated the song even though your original video was AWESOME too. I like how simple yet intricate the visual style is, putting the song in a lighter context that I honestly can't say I've seen in many artist approved hip hop videos ( a good example would be Zach Galifianakis' hilarious version of 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' by Kanye West). I hope this gets you a lot of attention to do more stuff with artists you admire, I'm sure it will because it shows real talent. I'd love to know a little more about how this came together and what kind of hijinks you got into with Patton. Ahhh what a great dude.


Congrats Pete!
















I caught the magic clap from Ricky Jay once

Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on June 05, 2013, 07:20:26 AM
wow. that was amazing.
i can say without a doubt that this video will be viral within a week.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: ©brad on June 05, 2013, 10:08:08 AM
That was freakin awesome Pete. I want to know everything Reelist asked when you have the time. Congrats!
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: modage on June 06, 2013, 05:07:33 PM
Super awesome. Saw this yesterday. Great job, dude.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: Sleepless on June 07, 2013, 11:31:54 AM
I just now clicked through to watch this. Awesome. Sharing on FB.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on June 07, 2013, 06:03:57 PM
Thanks buddy. And thanks everyone else too!
Boots Riley's Magic Clap started picking up momentum, especially in Europe (also ads wanted to feature it...etc.), so the label's asking for him to push it again, to prep for maybe a run on the radio stations. Boots didn't want to do another music video, but he was thinking about getting somebody he knew to endorse the song. He had a few fans in high places - Patton Oswalt being one of them. Patton was more than down to do some thing for Boots, though at first they just thought Patton would just record something off his webcam or something. He did something really weird and silly for Wholpin once. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwaujgtW47M) I assumed that was what they were working on. A few months later, while chatting about other projects, Boots brought up that they were still trying to come up with an idea. I asked him if I could be in on it. He said sure, and asked me on the spot what I wanted to do. I said fighting, he said no.

then in April, Boots asked me again if I could do it and what I had in mind. I wanted to do it more than anything, but to cook up an idea that would be quick, goofy, non-location specific, and still allowed Patton to do his thing and, most of all, free- was really hard. I pulled my muscle one evening producing a shoot. It was a stupid way to go too - I lifted something extremely heavy just to show the crew guys that I was one of the guys. The next day my back gave out completely and I was in a lot of stupid pain for the next three days. Then there was a date change, and I had a huge rent-paying shoot that would coincide with Patton's new availability. I panicked, and tried backing out of my first-committed project. My buddy freaked and said I would be throwing him under the bus.

That night I had two backstage passes to The Lumineers, who're old friends - and it'd be one evening this year where I would be the coolest guy in the world to whoever my date was going to be. I couldn't move and had to let the passes go to waste (similar thing would happen to an Aesop Rock show two nights later). I was just in bed, sweating, knowing that if I were to ask Patton to change his schedule, I better have a pretty good fucking reason - like a good idea or something.

Patton's surrounded by very talented and funny people, and it was the week where he wrote the Boston bomber response and improvised that mesmerizing monologue on Parks and Rec, I knew he could've gotten any of them Funny or Die guys to do something way funnier and cooler than anything I could come up with. I knew he liked my first Magic Clap video and he trusted Boots, but aside from that, I still needed to deliver.

Then it just kinda came together - I sent him and Boots an email, citing viral videos Hyperactive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9698TqtY4A) and this Natalie Imbruglia video where a guy did a good mime dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWx3hJpBUyM). I came up with many of my ideas - I'm not kidding - while taking a piss. A lot of the times I would have a thought on the tip of my tongue, and then I would take a piss and it would articulate itself. Then I crossed my fingers.

A very long night went by where my buddy was thinking about not working with me again, and finally in the morning, I got an email from Patton that just said "THIS one I like!" and it was a huge relief. I then asked Patton to move his date, he quickly agreed. Now I was able to shoot both projects, though by the time I flew back up after Patton and drove three hours from the airport to begin a 14-hour shoot immediately (with one hour of sleep in a hotel room), my body was in so much pain. It became the most physically punishing shoot I'd ever been on, but that's the price you pay when you wanna meet Patton and make rent at the same time.

Lots of logistics had to be figured out. I wanted to find a place in LA, but couldn't depend on the label or some of my film acquaintances, because I didn't want people I didn't know to come in and schmooze on our very limited schedule. Eventually my favorite porn star (whom I've became friends with) is married to a guy who recommended a little comedy studio to me. Hot House Comedy - and the producer's got this loft that would satisfy all my requirements (quiet, even lighting, access to props and equipment, away from "film people"). We drove down to LA, did the LA thing that night (kinda famous people sitting around and trading stories about REALLY famous people), went to bed at 3, woke up at 6. Patton was already there, an hour before call time.

He was really cool. He sent me funny texts, I was running late, and he didn't seem to care. He had to be out by 6pm, so I blocked out 11 hours to shoot this with him. We were all exhausted just an hour in, from all of our collective lack of sleep.

One thing I noticed was that, on set, nobody was laughing outloud. We would giggle - but really it was just a matter of fact running down of the list. We had however many words we had to get through, and we just did that one at a time. Sometimes we would argue over how to best act out the words (for example, I wanted to break up "last kiss martin ever gave to coretta", but Patton insisted that we would lose the audience if he came off as disrespectful to them, which would betray the spirit of the song. He was right. We didn't have the photos, so held up two empty frames, and digitally inserted the photos later.) That became a little bit of a crutch too - knowing that if we had nothing, we could depend on CGI to help us. We all made suggestions to each interpretation, and Patton would decide ultimately what he would do. I was actually just nervously trying to keep everything in order at the time, and my AD/art director - this goofy girl from Portland who recently got into art direction full time - was somehow just very funny and charming and developed a rapport, which made everyone at ease. I don't know, for me it was a blur. We were funny and happy, but all very, very tired.

The whole thing only took 3 hours though, in the end. 8 hours before the estimated schedule.

I know that's not the most exciting story, but that's kinda what happened. I find it really hard for me to be funny in front of professional funnies. I became much more self-conscious. We kept in touch during the post process though, and Patton just can't be a nicer guy. He's supported the project the entire way through, and was excited by everything I've shown him. I hope I get to work with him again.

got two more music videos getting released. not sure how I'd ever top this one again. ha.


Quote from: Reelist on June 05, 2013, 12:05:56 AM
Oh my god. That's so funny! I'm gonna have to pause it like a million times to get all the wordplay jokes. Did you write it and the coup and Patton gave you input on it or were they just down with the idea?? AND HOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET PATTON OSWALT!?!?!?!? Incredible. It looks like the funnest thing to shoot ever. Great job man, I thought it really elevated the song even though your original video was AWESOME too. I like how simple yet intricate the visual style is, putting the song in a lighter context that I honestly can't say I've seen in many artist approved hip hop videos ( a good example would be Zach Galifianakis' hilarious version of 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' by Kanye West). I hope this gets you a lot of attention to do more stuff with artists you admire, I'm sure it will because it shows real talent. I'd love to know a little more about how this came together and what kind of hijinks you got into with Patton. Ahhh what a great dude.


Congrats Pete!
















I caught the magic clap from Ricky Jay once
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: Pubrick on June 07, 2013, 08:55:12 PM
wow that story had everything, porn stars, scheduling details, setbacks, missed connections.

thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on June 08, 2013, 12:42:13 PM
that story was amazing, that literally answered everything.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on June 13, 2013, 11:12:30 PM
new one!



I became obsessed with Sherlock Holmes 2's forest chase scene, and kinda made a music video just so I could do some dolly moves thru the forest.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on June 14, 2013, 12:36:10 PM
that was really great dude.
the kids were awesome. the shots were real pretty. you chose some nice forest.
ive actually gotten out of the woods by finding powerlines before, that was cool.

ps edit:

i dont know how much you can talk about something like this pete, but has aesop ever mentioned doing a video for 'gopher guts'? its in my top 5 favorite songs ever, let alone his, or hiphop in general. i think you would be perfect for it and would do crazy things with its vibe.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: jenkins on June 14, 2013, 05:39:47 PM
Quote from: pete on June 07, 2013, 06:03:57 PM
I was actually just nervously trying to keep everything in order at the time, and my AD/art director - this goofy girl from Portland who recently got into art direction full time - was somehow just very funny and charming and developed a rapport, which made everyone at ease.
people come from portland, but this sounds like grace. did you use grace? i should text her and ask, maybe

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5363460/
she's done other things. her imdb lists are funky. she don't make the imdb lists
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on June 19, 2013, 02:18:07 PM
hey - unfortunately I don't know this talented Grace person. the art director I use is named Margaux Rust.

03 - there are currently no plans to make Gopher Guts a music video; the label's only budgeted for three videos from that album. and that's awesome that you did a thing that I only theorized about. 
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on July 03, 2013, 06:43:43 PM
Jesus this video needs some love. Help me spread it around if you can - let's get at least 1000 plays on youtube. ouch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfaFEEL37mg
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: RegularKarate on July 05, 2013, 01:53:18 PM
I've been mostly absent for a while so I missed some shit, but these are some amazing videos, Pete!
You're really kicking ass.
I gave the Anastasia video some Facebook love.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 14, 2014, 06:54:27 PM
hi kids. here is my latest. it's a song called Kanye West by ATMOSPHERE. I wish it was the other way around, but the guys were cool and they just kinda let me do whatever I wanted after we figured out the premise.



For me it's like a cuter version of Takeshi Kitano, more than it is a Bonnie and Clyde type film. I've actually never seen Bonnie and Clyde.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on April 14, 2014, 08:50:42 PM
that was absolutely beautiful, pete. you have a very distinct style and its always exciting to see what you do with it.
how was atmosphere? i met him and slug and other anticon people at a show roughly ten years ago, and atmo was just a complete douchebag to everyone. he behaved like dane cook more or less. slug was cool, but i hate the way he raps. atmospheres music is pretty great for the most part, but his presence gave me a bad impression of him that effects the way he sounds to me now. i imagine he's a little cooler being older?
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 14, 2014, 11:49:03 PM
hey - pardon my ignorance at my own client - but I thought Atmosphere was just Slug and the DJ Ant. If there was an Atmo then it was before my time. Slug was nice. He showed up a few times to check out the shoot, and for the scene that he was in, but mostly we were on our own. Nice guy though. Funny.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on April 15, 2014, 12:10:26 AM
actually that was my bad in retrospect, sole was the other guy i was talking about, not atmosphere. atmosphere is slug.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: Just Withnail on April 22, 2014, 04:18:31 AM
That was funny, moody and a little heartbreaking at the end there, when she puts her hand up.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 22, 2014, 02:13:19 PM
my first time doing a commentary:
http://imvdb.com/video/atmosphere/kanye-west/commentary/8765727168
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/13976505784_b2619402c4.jpg) (http://imvdb.com/video/atmosphere/kanye-west/commentary/8765727168)
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on April 22, 2014, 03:05:00 PM
you're the coolest, pete. that was insanely insightful. i like that you spoke more like a director than just a music video director, if that makes any sense.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 23, 2014, 04:03:54 PM
that's really nice. thanks. in the week of the release, I definitely saw some really mind blowing stuffs by other music video directors, and it's a good reminder of how much further I have to go. share this thing if you can!
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on April 23, 2014, 04:26:09 PM
i share all your music videos, saying 'my friend did this' and leaving out the detail that ive known you for about a decade but havent met you. me and all my hiphop buddies are crazy obsessive over aesop, so you're pretty much a god here.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: Cloudy on April 23, 2014, 04:50:13 PM
Just met up with Pete today for some coffee (he was drinking a pink colored smoothie out of a mason jar with a straw, for anyone who's interested)...! This dude is hard at work, so many of my friends loving this video as well. Thanks again for meeting up with a fellow peon, Pete. Each video gets better.

Quoting my younger brother here: "This video is dope as fuck"
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: 03 on April 23, 2014, 06:03:28 PM
I WANNA METE PETE SO JELLY
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: jtm on May 02, 2014, 01:19:34 AM
i know i'm an xixax outsider, but a FB friend of mine in the small town hick city i live in just posted about Pete on his page and i had to double check and see if it was the same Pete. it is. small fucking world.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 22, 2015, 01:46:42 PM
hi. the technology to post vimeo links on this board either has eluded me or does not yet exist. But anyways, here is my latest.



it got a write-up in Entertainment Weekly  (http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/21/meklit-serves-brassy-office-blues-kemekem-video-exclusive)yesterday but it didn't mention me so don't worry about clicking it. There was supposed to be more push for the video today but a bunch of fucked up things happened to the Ethiopian community so there's a moratorium in promotion until Friday. Take a gander. I really like this one. It's like a dance heist of some sort. I don't know.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: polkablues on April 22, 2015, 03:04:30 PM
So damn good.

That location is amazing. Is that in LA? SF?
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 23, 2015, 04:49:10 PM
it's in Oakland - a startup office that used to be a bank.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: Cloudy on April 23, 2015, 06:17:57 PM
what a joy. what a fucking joy. so sexy, but even more human than sexy. the singer holds this all together in such a way. her energy is something really pure to witness........ i've been off media for a while, i read up on the fucked up things that happened in ethiopia after you said it did....it didn't really sober me up after watching this though, it felt entwined somehow.

Were those office shleps people from the actual start-up company? I imagine they'll never look at their office the same way again.

shit, started a new page, here's a link to Pete's recent we're talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC8feW4gomo
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: jenkins on April 23, 2015, 08:47:23 PM
pete goddamnit. i mean that's ridiculously good. could easily be a video in some "director's label" dvd. easily. plus your recent short was ridiculously good. i'd like to hear the backdoor chat that's gonna bring you to your feature, since at this point i think it's scientifically obvious you deserve one

i like how humor has been and continues to be on your core traits. 'cause you keep getting better but you don't stop being funny. respect. i laughed with and did not see coming the shot of the lower floor
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 24, 2015, 05:45:01 PM
Quote from: Cloudy on April 23, 2015, 06:17:57 PM

Were those office shleps people from the actual start-up company? I imagine they'll never look at their office the same way again.

shit, started a new page, here's a link to Pete's recent we're talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC8feW4gomo

nah they were people we'd cast. mostly musicians and artists actually. most of the startup peeps nowadays don't even look like office workers. they all wear hoodies and think they're on Silicon Valley (the HBO show). A few of them had fros that I had to hide or move the camera around because I'd decided that it was sexier if only our main characters had afros but the extras had been cast already at that point.

Quote from: jenkins on April 23, 2015, 08:47:23 PM
pete goddamnit. i mean that's ridiculously good. could easily be a video in some "director's label" dvd. easily. plus your recent short was ridiculously good. i'd like to hear the backdoor chat that's gonna bring you to your feature, since at this point i think it's scientifically obvious you deserve one

i like how humor has been and continues to be on your core traits. 'cause you keep getting better but you don't stop being funny. respect. i laughed with and did not see coming the shot of the lower floor

I'm inching towards a feature but I've come to discover that in that little world, which is quite disconnected from the music video world, people still want to see a director's comfort with dialogue and blocking and some such thing. It's something that I'm working towards and I can't say I'm near mastering it. I don't know if I like comedy as much as I like payoffs. It's actually in my way a little bit since I'm trying to write scenes that feel more organic.

here is a little ad I directed (I direct lots of stupid ones that I'll never post on here) that has some type of payoff without going for a punchline.
https://vimeo.com/124724818

but I really envy the works of Louis CK and Alexander Payne and how they're able to tell stories of "ordinary people" in a way that is actually relatable (as opposed to you know, Malick or David Gordon Green who make them poetic and perhaps inaccessible) to the masses. I suspect some of that comes with age. Either way I'm talking to a few writers I like right now about this problem. I hope to make something soon where, at my highest aspiration, Alexander Payne meets Michael Mann.
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: jenkins on April 24, 2015, 06:45:05 PM
Quote from: pete on April 24, 2015, 05:45:01 PM
I'm inching towards a feature but I've come to discover that in that little world, which is quite disconnected from the music video world, people still want to see a director's comfort with dialogue and blocking and some such thing. It's something that I'm working towards and I can't say I'm near mastering it. I don't know if I like comedy as much as I like payoffs. It's actually in my way a little bit since I'm trying to write scenes that feel more organic.

here is a little ad I directed (I direct lots of stupid ones that I'll never post on here) that has some type of payoff without going for a punchline.
https://vimeo.com/124724818

but I really envy the works of Louis CK and Alexander Payne and how they're able to tell stories of "ordinary people" in a way that is actually relatable (as opposed to you know, Malick or David Gordon Green who make them poetic and perhaps inaccessible) to the masses. I suspect some of that comes with age. Either way I'm talking to a few writers I like right now about this problem. I hope to make something soon where, at my highest aspiration, Alexander Payne meets Michael Mann.

omg get outta here!

where to begin. so ok, screencaps:

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FDbffmfW.png&hash=9b0999ffc2722275b8804deb01b49214d8787a8c)
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FvzUxtYy.png&hash=bc76d226e8d7811c67661410b1a1b48d47038e4f)

love it. the bodily cuts (match cuts or something? object cuts? ever, i'm calling them bodily cuts) are nodoubt dependent on the needs of a commercial for an orthotics company, but i'd say you make "striking" contributions that allow them to become worthwhile on their own, including with the payoff at the end. these were also in the music video and i think it's a great talent you're developing

you got all these talents! and i know you been working on them a while, like it isn't "hmm yeah maybe he'll figure things out later," looks to me like you've figured out shit, but you're telling me there're things you still need to work on and you don't feel like you're near mastery. you give me thrills and chills, i tell ya, 'cause i would give you a million dollars or whatever

then also there's some WKG Creative setup that you don't gotta tell me about but sounds like a terrific adult foothold, and your production company is named Scandinavia?? i'm like kissing you everywhere right now and thanks for the updates
Title: Re: I directed a series of music videos
Post by: pete on April 25, 2015, 01:07:25 PM
thank you very much Jenkins.
it's hardly adult. there are couple of guys on this forum who are full force in the advertising world, and so far I've only dabbled in there. San Francisco is too close to LA so most of the fun gigs get passed down there. The WKG guys are pretty young and most of their clients are startups. the silver lining to working on ad campaigns with little money is you get to try more things. so in Sols' case - I got to do a story that actually deals with death. god I hope people buy those insoles or I'm dead.