Here's my first crack at a working with a decidedly more mainstream pop artist. I really tried to spin things in a less glossy, more cute and hand crafted direction and was farily successful, I think.

Sara and the record label were pretty courageous in choosing my concept over what I'm assuming were a lot of videos involving her rolling around in a bed or riding in a car or whatever the hell 95% of pop videos do nowadays.

In any case, she's cute as a button, the song will be stuck in your head for a month and all things considered, it was pretty fun to make.

The post work was done by the mad genius who also did post for my Great Northern video, MAN VS MAGNET! Big ups to MVM.

QUICKTIME via WINCHANDPULLEY.COM VH1 You Oughta Know Sara Bareilles' website

         

just out of curiosity... are you currently repped by a prod. company or going it at it by yourself?

         

I recently signed with Lanette Phillips for representation, but am not tied to a company at the current moment. We produced it through Razor Factory--mainly in order to assure Epic Records that I'm working with a solid company--which is owned by the Craig Fanning who started F.M. Rocks, and there's a possibility that I'll join their team, but in honestly it's kind of a game of "first company to offer Josh health insurance wins!" (Or loses depending on how much you like my stuff.)

         

I think you did a fantastic job of applying an original style and vision to a mainstream song. It hits all the right notes for me: great song, great concept and execution, and a new artist for me to have a crush on. And kudos to the label for daring to define an artist's image by way of an original video.

         

thanks for the info. i really like your body of work and this video as well. cheers

         

mva, if you want to talk more about it, shoot me an email at info@winchandpulley.com. Any chance to talk about music videos makes me happy. Are you a filmmaker as well?

         

Nice job! Not bad pop though. Don't worry about the typical antvillean. What format? The efx work looks good, but what happened on the key that was pulled for the wide shot from behind? Not trying to sound critical, just want to figure it out.

         

We shot 35. Not sure what part you're talking about specifically, but we were really rushed on post. One of those dumb things that record companies do. Which is a shame because we had planned for so much more. Once my animator comes back to the land of the living, we'll more than likely beef it up for a director's cut type of thing.

All in all I'm really happy, but there are little things that we weren't able to address because they needed it so quickly.

         

Great music video. I like the singer too!

         

quite nice! great lighting + world-class keying. But I don't like the cast. The faces are somewhat average and a bit too young... only my personal opinion.

         

It's funny that you say that about the cast. With the exception of the main guy, Adam Campbell (the Superman in Epic Movie among other things), the bulk of the people we had coming into the store were foist upon me at the last minute by the label. i originally wanted an eclectic spread of people. The idea being that everybody needs a love song (or some such fruity, artsy nonsense). For instance, the old guy and the young kid were my original picks. Apparently ecclectic old guys don't buy as many girly pop records so I suppose they were in the right.

Glad you liked it.

         

This song is so amazing. I am a huge sara fan. But i think this is one of the most mediocre pop videos i have ever seen. A mento's advert has more soul and intrigue. This thread is the biggest self wank hand job (total oxymoron's moron) from a director i have ever seen on antville. And that is saying something.

Did winch invent the greenscreen>? otherwise wtf with this video? trite, cheesy and forgettable. poor sara.

blame the label for that if you want but this is a johnny one note concept and some cheap execution.

         

There we go... I've been waiting for that cheery Antville spirit.

I'm not really sure what you mean about "self wank hand jobs" but they sound pretty exciting. I'm going to have to take time away from inventing green screens and check em out.

         

twotrue is just one of those bitter outsiders who stalks commissioners begging for a treatment.

         

again thoughts about cast:

of course record companies always want to show cool, trendy young faces. and that's ok - because the videos are intended for a yong audience, which wants to see role or better to say style models for themselves. like thinking "could I wear that outfit myself when going to a club?".

on the other hand many videos feel fake because one can see right away the director has not spent enwoiugh time for choosing cast. average, boring faces. or even worse: "we need a sexbomb" "oh yeah, let's take that blonde". when that blonde is only average and you can really see she will never fit into her role. like the guys reacting on her way too much - that makes the whole video feel goofy.

basically filmmaking is about story + cast, I think. forget about camera, sound, whatever. does only matter like 20% of perception.