Cathy Pellow has just awarded another video to herself.   Her 10 month total is:

Cute Is What We Aim For  -  Lex Halaby The Killers - Tim Burton These Arms Are Snakes - Artificial Army Bloc Party - Aggressive Hoobastank - Lex Halaby Under The Influence Of Giants - Artificial Army Hoobastank - Aggressive Thursday - Artificial Army

Does anyone care to figure out the percentage of videos that Cathy has commissioned to Refused TV to the videos that she commissioned to outside directors?  Does anyone care?

         

... because nobody else in this industry does favours for their friends or themselves.

         

hey who's deleting comments?

is this the most dangerous post in antville?

it's one thing to dis directors but commissioners... ballsy.

         

hakai, chime in.

         

what do you expect, it's like saying hey those guys at the white house are pocketing all the contracts and dough for their own companies, we're surprised???@!#$%^&* it's video haliburton.

         

Hakai here. Speaking for myself... The 3 bands listed here that I made a video for actual liked my ideas. Thats why I got the videos. This is a stupid post. I love how the poster doesnt reveal themselves.

         

Yeah, this seems a little silly. Is this someone who got some treatments shot down? Or just a concerned Hoobastank fan?

         

Her directors getting these videos may have more to do with her confidence that they can actual deliver these promos on budget, on time and just reasonably well. This confidence may manifest itself in her going that extra mile in her pitch to the band. Hakai is right though, the bands have to first like the directors idea. It could be less a really corrupt/obvious scheme to jack videos and more confluence of circumstances. I will say it doesn't look that good though.

Are their other commissioners who run production companies, and if so what are their track records like?

Come on though Hakai who would openly criticize a person like this. Its rough out their. One can't be burnin bridges.

         

I say reveal themselves. That will show the motivation behind this post.

         

i put my money on a bitter director who would rather blame a commissioner than admit their ideas suck. hakai is right, bands choose the idea they like best (especially those bands listed above who are pretty hands-on with creative decisions). i say reveal yourself or else don't bother making baseless accusations. my 2 cents.

         

Oooh we're so close. Now we just need a few more key ingredients:

anonymous poster revealing identity + Cathy Pellow signing in and defending herself + Someone posting an inappropriate photoshopped picture of Cathy with a funny caption + Cute Is What We Aim For chiming in with their own opinion = Antville classic post.

Kev, please keep tabs on this.

         

Yep, have been. Someone deleted the 'nepotism' comment, maybe the poster, maybe someone else? The intrigue!

         

Ha we could narrow this down. Must be another director who wrote on Cute Is What We Aim For. Just a guess...

         

Video Haliburton - classic

Its quite true about Cathy. Nice post for discussion.

         

if anything, the scenario comes off more like a conflict of interest. hard to win videos when the commissioner has a group of directors at her disposal to put the hard sell on the bands and labels.

it's speculative to say she is hoarding, but the evidence is strong in favor of it.

my two cents.

at the same time, i don't want to take anything away from the directors and their treatments. often times if a band doesn't like the video, the band doesn't shoot it.

         

Video Tag Bangers - even better

         

Well, everyone's been talking about Cathy Pellow awarding herself videos. I think it's interesting that someone's finally putting it out there!

The point is, she has all of the inside knowledge to give to her directors. She talks straight with the band and gives that unfiltered and very helpful information to her people. That is completely unfair and gives her directors an advantage that the other directors writing don't have. It's not like she's eager to give loads of really helpful information to all of the directors writing on her projects.

Also, I'm sure she comes in on budget as well, since she can afford to get paid as a commissioner--she can cut back a little on the production fee-although still getting paid on both ends.

         

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the two videos listed next to my name above were gotten because the band liked my idea the best. I got the same brief as everyone else did. But no, it must be some kind of conspiracy, right? I mean, hakai and I couldn't possibly get a video because we wrote a good treatment! haha.

The sad part is that if you knew the budgets on some of those projects you'd know it's not in her best interest for her company to do them.

         

lex, hakai, i agree with your points. i mentioned that it's not fair to take credit away from your creative proposals. as far as getting the same brief as all the other directors, probably also true. but.......you have a commissioner in your corner whether you admit it or not. that gives you an edge. and while not financially beneficial every time for her, that's not always the case. and it's obviously beneficial to you the director, and in turn reflects well on her, right?

you guys do good work, and you have a good cheerleader =)

         

I'm guessing here:

Cute Is What We Aim For (Super-low budget) The Killers - (Doesn't really count cause it's Tim Burton) These Arms Are Snakes - (super low budget) Bloc Party - (Probably a decent enough budget, plus hi-profile act) Hoobastank - (Decent budget) Under The Influence Of Giants - (Low budget) Hoobastank - (Decent budget) Thursday - (Low budget)

So when it come down to it, there are two Hoobastank videos and a Bloc Party video that are really "sought after" jobs on this list of 7 videos. I don't have a hard time believeing that these were won legitimately.

         

Seriously, I wish I got inside info. Like Lex says we get the same breif everyone else gets. The first thing Thursday told me about my treatment was that it was what they wanted to do. They thought the ideas were very simular to their ideas they have had for a while. It was coincedence we were thinking about almost the same thing. If i could talk directly to the band like I'm doing now with my friends band it would be awesome. I've written on tons of videos that have been rewarded to other directors because the band didn't like my idea. I'm pretty sure the band has the final word in most cases.

         

i agree spit and lex,

But, i bet a lot of other directors would love to win even the cheap ones, and im sure they spent a ton of time writing? Maybe thats why people are so bitter? Cause its a waste of time to write?

The small videos build reels, and it is better than no videos. Also in a small production company like refused, those eight videos count. Its probably a big percentage of videos the company has done during that time.

Its kind of like when Ad agencies are forced to bid other companies, even though they are going to award to their A company regardless.

         

Well this kind of stuff happens all the time. Free-lance comissioners also work for prod cos and even as line producers at times. Does that mean the process is corrupt? Well, define "corrupt." Almost every comissioner has a prod co or director or exec they hate (or love, or sleep with). If that comissioner doesn't consider a particular director because of some personal issue, they might be missing out on a good video. Oh well - that's life.

Like spit said, I don't have a hard time believing that these jobs were awarded legitimately. But I also don't wonder why others involved (directors or production companies) might question the motivations.

That hakai wrote this "hakai, Monday, 6. November 2006, 21:07 I say reveal themselves. That will show the motivation behind this post" boggles my mind. The "motivation"?!?!? What might hakai's motivation be for denying the jobs were awarded because his rep is the commissioner?

I have no info at all on the why and wherefore of these jobs getting comissioned. I am in no way suggesting anyone at Refused doesn't deserve the jobs they get. I am saying this, directors at Refused should NOT be shocked when other people wonder. If the other people questioning it bothers you, lex and hakai, just be happy that your prod co is the connected one. Smart move signing there.

spit listed the jobs and called many of them super low budget - like that meant no one else wanted them. In my experience people are still fighting over these cheapo jobs - 30frames.blogspot.com.

This is a discussion about jobs being comissioned in way that might "seem" less than above board. Not 100% real conflicts of interest but situations that might look that way. Seems like a very reasonable discussion to be having here on antville. Kanye hasn't said anything dumb today, what else will we post about?

What about the jobs where it is a known thing that the comissioner wants $5k hidden in the budget for them? If every prod co does it (or at least offers to) is THAT corruption?

         

it's a hustle.

I think an EP landing a commissioner job is the coup of a lifetime. It's like a band manager being given the job of radio programmer.

But for anyone (or the label) to assume that this EP would treat rival directors equally is completely naïve. Why would they? Why would someone not take advantage of an advantage?

Just admit you're mad jealous someone is hustlin' better than you, for'real, yo.

         

Yo, I used to work with Cathy... well work for her and I have witnessed her as a Comissioner. She offers a number of directors the chance to write treatments for these so-called bands... and YES, her directors seem to get a lot of the jobs she offers. It's not her, or the label, the band is the primary factor in this whole ordeal. The band basically picks the best idea, and crazy enough, Cathy's directors usually have great ideas. I always thought this was kinda odd as well, but Cathy sure knows how to pick em.

         

Im sorry, do you know what "The Dallas Diaper" is? Oh nevermind...

What bothers me is the hidden identity. Iv'e never liked people who talk smack behind a mask. I do understand the allegation but the truth is that I write on things all the time that get turned down. I feel your pain. You lost a video at some point and your crying like a baby. Grow up or go home to mommy...

         

"I feel your pain. You lost a video at some point and your crying like a baby. Grow up or go home to mommy..."

Easy to say for the guy who's Mommy is the one handing out the jobs.

         

I feel a war starting...

Just reveal yourself dont be scared...

         

30f, oh snap!

but he makes a point, hakai. Why would this person reveal themselves? Why would they make enemies with a commissioner?

sometimes things need to get said anonymously. thus, your antville.

and the post has been deemed classic! we need some pictures....

         

You two need to cage fight... I know the perfect location! The strip club PEEP SHOW room where Lex Halaby shot the Hoobastank video!!!! ahahahahahahahahahaahaaaa

         

oh shit that was good...

No body is crying, it's a legitimate conversation. Why are you getting so defensive?

And for the hidden identities, i just signed up.

         

Im not deffensive. I'm actually speaking truths here. This is fun for me. Im gonna find out who you guys are. Its fun!!!

Hey 30f do you do wardrobe?

         

Jeff Seibenick here- one of Refused's directors. Just thought I'd clarify some things:

Cathy is fair when she asks other directors to write. BUT she makes sure to wait a few days; giving the directors here at Refused more time to prepare. And when she recieves an outstanding treatment from a rival director; she makes sure to conveniently lose it. How will a director know if a band doesn't read their treatment? They don't. And to top it off she can always reply "yeah, they weren't interested."

yeah it's not fair but neither is life. So fuck off, ya fucking faggots.

         

Thats not Jeff. I just asked him. See how immature you are. You lie and make more lies... pathetic!

         

I just talked to Jeff Seibenick and he did not make the post above...oh and he's pissed that someone is using his identity to spread lies....you don't want to piss off Jeff...trust me, haha.

         

Someone (maybe Prog?) clocked this, as, er, Michel pointed out.

         

ahahahaha... Jeff, that was funny! And true. I really want to see this cagematch fight between 30f and Simon. Oh well, I gotta get back to pretending to work. Fill me in on the gossip guys... toodles! Quote of the day "quit worryin' about me and mine, and get yo' own shit!" There's plenty of production co's out there... quit picking on this one little iddy bitty one and the "so-called bands" they deal with. Peace and unity, YaLL!!!!!!

         

Where did u go 30f?

         

Yeah, this is Jeff Seibenick. Not sure what all the hub bub is, but... I didn't post that, I don't know who did or why, so try not pretending to be me, unless you wanna start paying my bills. Oh, and my parking tickets.

         

Do you know what "The Nevada Nugget" is?

         

I'd advise Hakai and Lex to stop posting on this topic before every dude with a rejected treatment for the new Cute Is What We Aim For video shows up at their doorsteps with sharpened c-stands. And yes, this did just enter "classic" zone. Congratulations to everyone involved.

         

it's an incredibly hard market frankly with too many directors to feed...the bands AND management AND other departments in labels ALL have a hand in awarding the jobs so to think that cathy had managed to circumvent that process is insane. i believe the issue should be more of a concern in terms of fiscal responsibility to the labels. cathy has a good roster of directors...if she "sways" it in anyway..don't we all do whatever we can if we believe it to help us get a job? it's always been a dubious business in terms of it's overall business practices and we've come a long way to finally be recognized as a legitimate business. to think that there is no nepotism or favortism...umm have you looked around at who's related to whom in the business recently.

         
nuckles83 revealed!
         

(lex, jeff, welcome to the crowd [kgk?])

         

Wow. classic status.

No cage match for me. I was busy pretending to work.

I will fight that old guy though. Is HE Nevada Nuggets?

         

no? howa bout "The Reno Wrinkler" ???

         

Thanks Kev. Glad my first posting on this site could be part of a "classic." Hopefully many more to come...with friendlier undertones, no doubt. haha :-)

         

Similar tactics seem to occur at a well known UK company with a commissioner at the helm. Any guesses, folks? Be interesting to see if anyone else has noticed...

         

Precisely what I was wondering. Is this an issue that is only relevant to Cathy? Britons may be sleeping at the moment..

         

I am not, and will never be a director. I just used to work for a production company... and that production company swayed me from ever wanting to be a director. Good times, kinda like a sweat shop! No, it was fun, kinda..

         

Hakai,

you can try and find out these peoples identities, probably wont happen. But they all know you now. This industry is super small, and most crew members would love nothing more than to fuck with a cocky director.

         

Of course this isn't isolated... it's how it works. How do you think bands often get signed to labels? Or art shows given to artists? Articles written? Interviews offered? Jobs secured? The funniest part about this is that anyone is surprised (or thinks a process like this could/will be any different).

         

Whatever man. How am I being cocky? By wanting to call you out?

         

spiltmilk....the briton you're speaking of wouldn't be named after our feathered friends would it?

         

exactly, egos are fragile things. It's just fucking annoying when you write a treatment because you WANT to shoot a VIDEO and then suprise, suprise you find out it was made by one of the commisioners own breed! It makes you wonder why they bothered asking...

         

oldskool...sounds like bolonel climp!

         

this is getting good! I think my next treatment will be based off of this exciting blog fest! Oh shit, they are passing out beers in the office... gotta go!

         

They asked you because they thought you might write a better idea. You need to get use to it. It happens to me all the time.

         

theres your lead Hakai,

What office is passing out beers? hmmmm. maybe its an editorial house, or company 3? GO GET EM'

         

I know who k.g.k. is already nitwit...

         

100 comments... can we do it?

here's my interpretation of nuckles83:

...though at this point who is the worst offender on this thread?

         

Wow! This is getting Juicy! I can't wait to see what happens at the end!!! And it's all based on true events! Such a great plot for my next treatment to turn in for Jo-Jo!

         

I'll just help with the comment count. Seems my portion of the drama is done here. Be well...I'm a huge fan of most of you.

         

My interpretation of Cathy:

         

hakai, I would take spits advice, your not making any friends here.

         

why don't you all form a directing partnership and then you'll all be happy? Or not. But at least you'll be together!

         

That pic of that guy smoking a cigar is so funny! Jeez, u peeps got too much time on yur hands... aren't you all supposed to be directing videos??? I mean u are directors, right??

         

na, i think some of us are from record labels, and baffled by the poor showing.

         

classic, c-marc. You win. kgk: nope, just been blogging

         

i feel for the poor bastard who posted a video after this post. No-ones bloody watched it. Come on folks, time to move on before someone gets hurt.

         

Straight punk move by Nuckles83 to anonymously attack Cathy Pellow, Lex Halaby, Hakai and the other directors at Refused TV.

         

OK So I wanted to bite my tongue but having a hard time. All wrapped up in this little battle I know there are plenty of good points. Anyone with a small amount of sense could see all aspects of the conversation being somewhat valid. However there is no conversation here. It would've been an interesting thread to ask about the ethics of Producers and Commissioners being one in the same. However, that certainly wasnt the nature of the posting and therefore some annoyed responsed ensued. Would be nice to have some intelligent chat here for once. Its really disappointing that the only threads that generate so many responses are stupid battles.

         

I AGREE!!!!

It became a ego thing. The intial point was valid. Its an important point that we should all be conscious of, even the refused directors. Im sure they pitch outside of Cathy, and would be pissed if this happened to them, probably does. Shit like this happens in every industry, and maybe it was taken the wrong way, but I think the intial idea was extremly valid, and someone had to say it.

         

I expect 30f will follow up on this (no pressure).

         

You do realize that all this fighting is over a couple of Hoobastank videos. Just wanted to clear that up. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to play with their money, but still, c'mon.

Two words: The Reason.

Damn, it's stuck in my head again. Arrgh.

         

Who or what is a Hoobastank anyhow. They aren't my cup of tea and I'm not interested in commenting on the music, but I am interested to know how they arrive at that name. Its like they're driving to rehersal and one of them yells in excitement "I know....we're Hoobastank"

What is that? How do you get signed with that name and how on earth did it get marketed. Its 2nd on the all time god awful list next to Limp Biscuit

         

There's a fundemental flaw in the argument that bands pick the ideas they like. The label has influence on the decision making process as well, they are paying for half the video. Often times labels will almost tell a young band what they like.

Whether or not Cathy gives a little extra info to the Refused guys is not as much of an issue as the fact that she most certainly has pull on what treatments make the shortlist.

         

There is much nepotism, favoritism, payoffs and even sex with less than pleasing looking commissioners in the mv world that have nothing to do with talent or getting jobs fairly and squarely.

BUT, the way Cathy is currently doing it begs criticism cause it is quite a blatant use of her power. I don't blame her for doing it in these lean times, but come on, make it less obvious like everyone else.

         

It's funny, I just told my wife about this thread (because I'm a total geek and that's what I talk about, don't judge) and her response was, "sounds like a good business move to me." Which it is. We're not talking about a president starting a war so his buddies can benefit from cheap oil and government contracts.

We're talking about someone a label hires to get them a good director. As long as she's able to supply the labels with quality work, the whole thing works.

The fact is, if she wasn't able to provide what the label and band feel is the best work she can possibly find, then no one would hire her. Are there better ideas that fall through the cracks? Probably, but on the whole all those Refused cats do really rad work often with super-thin budgets. Does it work better for her and her crew? Sure. That's what being in the right place at the right time affords you.

I'm a huge whiner, don't get me wrong, but everytime someone complains about a situation because "it's just so political. It's nepotism. Blah blah blah" I call shenanigans. That's how this game is played. And as much as people want to blame everything on "it's not what you know but who you know" the fact of the matter is it comes down to your work. If you do good work, miraculously talking to the right people gets easier. Sometime's they even seek you out.

Good work speaks for itself. No matter if it's a reel, a treatment, or good social skills. Them's the facts.

         

Agreed, Otaku-House and Winchandpulley. I believe you guys have said it best.

         

i'm not playing on ya'lls level yet, but can't help but think I'm the only one NOT surprised by all of this.

         

[Winch+Pulley bends at the waist and tips his hat to Hakai.]

         

kev is correct and this topic was on my list of things to post about on the blog. I was saving it for later because thing had gotten so dark of late. i want to add in my 2c without burning up all of my limited idears on the ripe subject.

Of course good works speaks for itself. This kind of stuff happens everywhere in all industries.

What also speaks for itself is a director who is benifitting from a, um, "cozy" relationship saying "get over it." That sounds like the oft-promoted son-in-law of the boss crowing about how he deserved every raise and corner office he has received. Maybe he has earned every bit of it, maybe not, but he is certainly not gonna win any friends amongst the other employees by maintaining a "go cry to mommy" attitude. Of course he doesn't have to worry about what the peons think, just what the boss thinks - that's where the bread is buttered. Unless the boss gets reassigned - then he will be back amongst the rabble and might see things a bit differently.

The anonymous person that started this thread just asked questions. They are pointed questions to be sure - but they are not accusations or self-pitying whines. I think dude raised a good point and I am surprised that this kind of thing is not discussed more on antville. Of course, since the question raised Level Orange Hysteria - I guess it makes sense that these topics are a bit taboo.

It's nice to see otaku and kev looking out. I wonder how many label types will get this link on Tuesday?

         

The real scandal with Cathy is that she has TONS of directors write on every video that she commissions. I think it's fascinating that despite the fact that she comes from the side of production, she acts like the worst kind of production-unfriendly label person.

In some ways this isn't a bad thing -- I really can tell she ultimately has the best interests of the band and project in mind... she seems very passionate about doing the BEST idea.... and this is coming from someone who has written for her dozens of times now and never been awarded a single job.

What I don't think she really gets (or maybe doesn't care about) is that when really good directors know they're writing against 50 other directors for some moderately cool but budgetarily challenged project, they tend to not put the real effort in to coming up with some amazing idea.

When a Cathy project comes in and I've got other music to write on, I generally put her shit at the bottom because I know the budget is rough and I've got a better chance of winning the lottery than getting the job.

While Cathy's egalitarian approach is certainly admirable and I think comes from a good place, I just know I put in a better effort in writing when I know I'm one of five directors writing instead of 20.

         

I said "get over it" because it happens to me too and I'm not bitching that all my ideas dont get made. You have to expect that. If you believe that all your treatments are gonna get made into a music video then you living in a fantasy. It would be awesome but its not the reality. Believe me I'm still a peon. Also, have all my videos been commissioned by Cathy? NO! Check your facts brosif!

         

This might be a little off topic but I am wondering something. The comment counter seems to have only two digits. If this post breaks 100 will it reset to 00? I think we will find out soon, judging from the turnout. We don't have much more time to guess. Can I get a moderator to weigh in on this?

         

Lets find out... 87

         

88

         

89

         

Another thought. If we break '00' and then tomorrow someone(s) decide(s) to withdraw their post, resulting in a final sub-100 post count, will we still have broken 100 as far as 'milestones in antvillian history' goes? Just a thought...

         

I might delete all my comments that speak of weird fetishes.

         

While we're on the subject of anonymity, I'm curious who some of y'all are. So please step forward and unveil yourself. I dare you.

         

Music video art is dead! We are swimming in a shark-infested tank. Video games are more engaging than music videos. Most of you will be obsolete in 3 years. RUN FOR THE HILLS!

I'd rather work a chain gang than make sub par visuals for crap music.

WHY DID YOU GET IN THIS BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

To push creative boundaries or fight over scraps of stale bread?

Just a thought.

         

You know, Cathy Pellow is not the only one guilty of this. John Hassey runs Colonel Blimp and also commissions music videos and guess which directors get the majority of the videos he commissions? I think it's great this is being discussed, but it happens industry wide and black balling one person for it seems unfair.

         

True but john is a champion of art.

         

96

         

Speaking of video games Guitar Hero 2 comes out tomorrow!!!

         

100?

         

All you opinionated yanks better remember to vote tomorrow (today (tuesday)).

         

Triple digit posts. Party time!

Can we make it 1000???

         

Poor Ruth Brown. Sounds like her Hoobastank treatment got rejected. On another note, we could easily make this 1000 if someone were to go ahead and say something negative about the Gorillaz.

         

cathy's too busy, erm, commissioning, so i thought i'd let her chime in by proxy: mvp interview, and talking to paste.

         

"Music video art is dead! We are swimming in a shark-infested tank. Video games are more engaging than music videos. Most of you will be obsolete in 3 years. RUN FOR THE HILLS!"

This made me smile. Just what the video game industry needs... more "directors". Keep at it, guys. Keep at it.

         

1000!!!!!!!!!!

We did it!!!! GO ANTVILLE!!!!!!!

         

For what its worth, during the 8 years of producing my regional mv show, I always checked in on Cathy's playlists. She played some good shit on there.

And hakai, you totally tagged the wrong song..

BAWWWLLLLIIIIIIIN!!!!

         

for kevathens (and hopefully others)

30frames.blogspot.com

         

I totally agree - It's obviously a topic that everyone's been talking about for months. We all know the fix is in, the fact that anyone was blindsided by this post is absurd. You guys knew you would have to pay the piper sooner or later. If nuckles83 is wrong than figure out the percentage and post it so that we can all see.

         

Thats just it! You guys don't have your facts straight. A list is coming. Hold on to your diapers!

         

Well hello everyone, this is Cathy Pellow.

I find this conversation to be very interesting. I figured I’d answer on my own behalf a few things.

1)A clarification to the original poster, you have a few videos wrong there. So below is a list of all the videos I have been hired to commission and the directors/companies that were awarded.

Gnarls Barkley -Crazy- Robert-Hales/H.S.I
Gnarls Barkley-Gone Daddy -Chris Milk- Radical Media Gnarls Barkley Go Go Gadget- Robert Hales/ H.S.I Paolo Nutini Last Request- Charles Mehling Streetgang Films Paolo Nutini Documentary Charles Mehling/ Chelsea Pictures Panic! At The Disco Lying is the Most Fun Travis Kopach/FM Rocks Hard Fi- Hard to Beat- George Vale- Spy Staind -Everything Changes- Mike Sloat/The Mine Mercy Fall I got Life - Darren Doane Paramore -Emergency-Shane Drake- Red Van Big City Rock All of the Above- Rich Lee/DNA Teddybears- Cobrastyle- Ace Norton/Partizan
Teddybears- Punkrocker-Teddybears- Black Dog/RAF Bloc Party -I Still Remember-Aggressive - RTV Jet - Shine On-Jeff Thomas-Weiland Films UK Thursday-Counting-Artificial Army-RTV
Under the Influence of Giants -Mama’s Room-Artificial Army- RTV Hoobastank-Inside of You-Lex Halaby-RTV

As for The Killers - I did not commission that video. I was asked to produce the job because we are good at making the impossible happen for whatever the budget and believe me getting Tim Burton 4 days of shooting on the budget we had was pretty hard.

These Arms Are Snakes - I manage that band. Artificial Army doing the video is because I asked him to do it as a favor to me and he loves the band, I had no money and since we are like a 'mafia' family it was an offer he could not refuse. get it. See I'm funny too. I had asked two other directors that I think are awesome to write on it as well but the band chose the AA idea, clean and simple.

The Hoobastank video that Aggressive got was commissioned by Jessica Jenkins not me.

2. Any of the RTV directors who got jobs that I commissioned. Hmm, a conspiracy, an inside job? That’s a complete insult to them all. They wrote the best idea, their ideas were chosen by the band, label and management. Do you really think that if I was sitting there lobbying and pushing for my own directors everytime I commissioned that the labels I’m doing the jobs for wouldn’t say stop that?

3. Why do these labels hire me to commission these videos? When you look for the answer to that, you might also understand why certain bands, managers and labels really trust what I have to say. I love music first and foremost. I manage bands and I have a music television show all stemming from my pure and honest appreciation of music. Nothing in the world would ever make me want to convince a band to use a director or idea that I don’t fully believe in. The labels I work with know me on so many other levels than just an Exec Producer at a small production company. I have integrity toward the form and toward the music that no other rep or EP will ever have. I go to shows, I know these bands personally, they trust me. That is not shady, that is called building a solid reputation and yes, it does benefit the people within my company, just as all directors should hope that their Reps and Exec Producers have created and nurtured solid relationships with the labels they seek jobs for their own directors from.

4. Bitter directors and the Rep dilemma. Ok, I am a commissioner who tells Reps, NO I don’t want that director to write on this because I already know they are wrong, and because I don’t rate that director. But Reps have a tendency to get a track for one director then give it out to ALL of their directors to make it seem as though they are bringing in music for them, but if your time was wasted perhaps you should discuss it with whoever is telling you that you should write on the track. I get ideas from directors turned in that I NEVER asked for on every single job.

5. Treatments. I have gotten treatments from some of the same “write on every job, never get any job” type directors on all the jobs I commission and they are always so uninspired. To You I say, take some responsibility for why you are not getting any jobs (I’ll bet it’s not just me not giving them to you) So do the WORK! I want visual references, well written, spelled properly, the right name of the band members etc. Do you think that when you don’t even take the time to google for the bands proper names and instruments they play that it doesn’t show me something about you? It does. Also, do the research what kind of band is this? Am I turning in a Subteranean type idea for a mainstream rock band? Well then your not going to get the job.

6. What Am I Really Like? To any of you out there that actually have worked with me, you already know that I offer to speak directly to all directors that are writing on my videos anytime, so that they are privy to as much information that I can possibly give them, I’m reachable, I talk to people, I answer my own phone. My Ivory tower is in a house in Echo Park, not some office building with cappuccino girls posturing like it’s still the 1980’s. I’m the most DIY, punk rock, non corporate person in this position. and it’s about time. The smart labels are hiring people who actually know about the bands they want to make videos for. What a concept. If you’re a director and you want to start getting videos for the kinds of bands I work with, I suggest you start knowing about who they are, their music, nuances, genres, and who their audiences are.

Overall, if you want to be awarded videos, write good ideas and make good videos that get our attention.

Thanks for listening, looking forward to seeing what I said be changed into the opposite of what I just said.

Peace & Big Budgets – Neither are on the horizon.

Cathy Pellow

         

z z z z z z z z. don't lose sleep over it, we're already sleeping. this looks like an op/ed piece in a high school paper. do like the bush administration DOESN"T. Admit it and move on.

         

cathy, well put, and i don't think anyone went after your character or reputation per se. more the disgruntlement of directors being outweighed and outpointed by a commissioner who also works with a stable of directors under her wing. are you proposing directors find a production company who is coincidentally headed up by a music video commissioner? hmm.

but you left some jobs off that list i think. it's good that you at least admitted to what started this thread: that people notice you are generating videos with a great reputation, and that your directors tend to see the benefit. how many of their music videos were not commissioned by you?

i speak as an outsider who has seen friends pitch and lose, and i wouldn't say the ideas were lackluster. and to all the haters: it's not fair to downplay the RTV directors either. that isn't necessarily the case.

i don't think you monopolize cathy, as long as you are honest about giving all of the directors writing on those videos an equally fair shake.

         

Hey knuckle head. You want to fix your list on top to reflect the truth? Or are you hiding now?

         

Nicely said Cathy. I highly doubt that anyone would be able to pull off what you're being accused of when there are so many other decision makers involved. That being said, I guess you need to watch your back now, because people will most definitely be watching.

Also, Hakai, let it go dude.

         

Alright spit... was that a peace sign?

         

I don't have anything against you or Cathy. I'm just imagining you as The Punisher.

         

No no no. I'm quite the oposite. I'm just having some fun.

         

someone sent me an email to check this out and i'm a little surprised i'm commenting...With all the hand wringing that goes on at the label level, the kind of conspiracy proposed here isn't really possible. It wouldn't last more than one vid. really. bottom line is lex, Simon, the others at Refused, these are good directors and a good idea is a good idea.

         

These are desperate and sad times and while Ms Pellow needs no defending we should ask ourselves what we are really complaining about...That someone was able to make a buck in a business that has become sanitized of creativity and devoid of risk taking.

Would we really be so critical of Ms Pellow if times were good and budgets were as they had been. Of course not. In many ways this is a wake up call to those about extinction. Wild animals often starve and die because they return to the same place that had been feeding them for years. That appears to be what has happened to our business.

if Ms Pello can scrape a few crumbs, then let her. Its a business that is dying on the vine.

e

         

geez... get back to work already, old news... move on! Worry bout you and yours, live life and act as if you love it. I totally admire Cathy and all of her success. You all should take some notes on what she has accomplished in this shitty industry of haters! High five, Cathy, keep up the good work. Enough already, seriously.

         

elliott: It's merely being shuffled. Seriously: blame technology. The kids (and the money) are all here, online (though in Europe apparently they're all text msging). Only the lucky (and the nerds) have figured out how to make a profit in this domain. Eventually (5-8 yrs?) the music industry/RIAA/ASCAP/BMI will benefit from new codes/programs/platforms, and video budgets will change into something a little bit more dynamic and democratic, though perhaps no less, um, interpersonal.

         

Thanks e lester ! what a great anthropological dissertation, speaking of extinct, have not seen you name in years. the likes of chris milk, mark romanek, artificial army, saline project all those dying breeds should just shovel the dirt on their grave. get a life, this is Darwinism at it's finest and you did not survive.

         

Flattery will get you everywhere. Xoxo.

Moved onto movies and am sharing in the despair that has beset the more creative end of the industry. Vids were the greatest step onto something better, now what!!!

         

afterschool specials are great.

         

So you've seen it.

A fan, I knew there was one out there!!!

         

Just when I thought this place was filled with nothing but rabid fan-boys -- some good posts down here.

         

The surface appearance of this flame appears nepotistic yet further consideration ultimately reveals a challenging dilemma for the commissioner.

Awarding "yourself" contracts may be considered a conflict of interest. Hell, it's why many companies and governments ask [usually loaded] people to put their assets in trust during their contract term.

Look at this a different way though. You're bitter but don't even work for the label... so imagine what can boil in those offices regardless of your opinion. If she can consistently pull off feats by knocking out great work then enter a new mogul. If one stinks - opportunists on the other side of her conference table will rub that sore bigtime. It could simultaneously be the end of her label position and production company.

I guess it's actually admirable business if you're willing to accept the stakes and end up succeeding over the long run.

         

Cathy, thanks so much for posting. That's hilarious. Not what you wrote necessarily, but the reaction what you wrote must've had on a good many of the above. You could almost hear the "bumm bumm BUMMM!" of tympanies and the scurry of student's feet and scraping of desks as the teacher walks back into the room.

I love what you said about writing good treatments. That's what it comes down to. The best idea and the best reel win every time. Or at least stand the best chance.

And for all you doom and gloomers out there, give me your addresses and I'll send you a hankie. Boo hoo, nobody wants to give you free money to dick around with a camera. Try that line out on every short film director out there who's maxed out every credit card, lives in a studio and just sold his car for telecine.

Getting money to make a video is a gift. Don't you ever forget that. You want a sure thing? Go sell coffins or doorknobs or socks; things that people need. Get a job teaching or go clean up shit at the zoo. There are gazillions of jobs out there where you can make more money, meet more chicks and drive nicer cars.

To me the music video world is the art world's biggest prank. Why? Because nobody plays videos right now. Why would a band spend money on a video when they can spend it on a cool website or a better van. Bands don't need us they have myspace now. So when one of us is able to sucker a band into giving us money, thank your lucky stars and try not to let them see you grin too big.

The fact of the matter is, bands want videos. Maybe it's a pride thing. Or maybe people actually watch them on the Internet (I have no idea what normal people do. Me? I'm obsessed).

In any case, in these times of doom and gloom, I've seen more great videos in the past few years than I've seen in a decade. Just as I've heard more great bands in the past few years. It's the digital revolution, baby. Evolve or get out of the way.

         

well put winchandpulley, my sentiment exactly " love it or leave it"