BEHIND THE CRIMSON CURTAIN: Inside Film and Music Video Sets
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 by Nos
Jessie: Chad Cherry and I (respectively) have both seen our share of poo and glamor when comes to independent industry. While he is focused mainly in music, we share common ground when it comes to ye olde moving picture. Today we would like share with you some of our experience and (God help us) wisdom from working on sets.
Chad Cherry: Filming a The Last Vegas Music Video
see full size in gallery below
Chad: Working on music videos is something I’ve been doing since I started playing Rock-n-Roll. If you have a great song, you gotta to have a great video. Or just a bucket full of money to make a crappy song seem cooler then it really is on screen. Entertainment = Smoke and mirrors, so making videos and movies can get extremely expensive. After running around the block a few times, learning the ropes, and spending money on everything and everyone that has nothing to do with the project in the works (“Why did this ripped up black t-shirt cost $300 again?.. And why are there 50 people standing around on the set getting paid to look at boobs and text message their twitter friends?”), you learn fast.
I found the key to any form of good media isn’t just putting a ton of dough into an art form to make it sing. It helps sometimes (most of the time) and depends on what you’re going for, but my point is: If you have the right team that’s on the same page and believes in your vision, well, then you have a leg to stand on. Look at greats such as John Carpenter, who has used most of the same actors in his films, or amazing rock bands who have used the same producer on all their records. They all understand what needs to be done to make it happen. But here’s the bottom line. If your script or song is already amazing, your best weapon will be your imagination.
Some of the best albums and movies have been done on nearly shoe string budgets but have had phenomenal impact. Shunned at first maybe because the ideas of their creators were too ahead of their time. Then the dust settles and you have a cult classic. If you truly believe in what you’re doing, the results will speak for themselves.
This is a subject that is completely in the Nos court (She is the Goddess of Gore ya know kiddies) and I am working my way more towards the evil eye of motion pictures like she does, but I do have some stills from my video shoots from the past. I like it spooky.
We are here for your entertainment … And to scare the living daylights out of you!!! That’s the way you like it.
Nos: Filming Horror Movies
Nos: The desire to make movies has always been inside of me.
see full size in gallery below
I’m a very eclectic person and being on a film set tends to fulfill all my artistic interests at once. In my “early years” this enthusiasm got the best of me and I tended to take on more than I should have on sets. But in the end, taking on so much taught me how to really get things done and gave me the confidence I needed to do my own projects. Filmmaking is one of those things you can’t really learn in school … I mean, sure, you can go to a fancy film school and they can teach you technical things, but the real filmmaking comes from the gut. You either have it or you don’t. The only way to find out is to be on set. You’re not going to start out as a famous director, you have to pay dues. This might mean you might do unglamorous work and not get thanked. Even when you reach some level of success, you’re still not guaranteed anything.
At this point you might be thinking, “Fuck this!” or you might be shaking your head thinking that I’m over-exaggerating. But if you’re the type of person who doesn’t scare easy and this is stuff you already know … read on:
If you want to make movies (or model, or write, or make music, or go to the moon) just get off your butt and do it! Seriously! No one is going to do those things for you … and no one is going to “discover” you if you’re sitting in your room eating potato chips and playing video games all day. None of this is easy but must of it is worth it.
I’ve never once regretted any experience I’ve had on a film set. Believe that sometimes it gets rough … like when you’re shooting outside under what the weather man calls “arctic conditions” or when a lead actor bails 48 hours before a shoot and you’re the one who has to step into his spot. But these are the things that also make it fun! You never know just how something will play out and you have to be quick to think of a solution when it starts to fall apart.
Professionalism also goes a long way, too. You never know who’s connected to who or who’s going to grow and be what … so it’s not in your best interest to act like a twat. You should always seek out the person who knows more than you and learn from them. You’ll grow so much faster that way and impress people with your ability to learn new things. When their next project comes along and needs crew or talent, they’ll always remember the person who was level-headed and receptive on set.
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:
Chad: Summer time rolls and I’m happy to inform you freaks TLV will be in the studio to record a full-length album at the end of August. That’s right, you heard it here first creeps. And you’re not going to believe what we are up to. But you will find out soon …www.thelastvegas.com Oh, and buy some Lip Service clothes… You will look better then you already do… (Ya Right haha)… I didn’t write that… The Devil made me do it. Chad Cherry XXX
Nos: After a summer out on the road, I’m back at the home base and sorting through a big stack of photos for my website, GoddessOfGoreNos.com I’ve obtained a nifty new wallet AND discovered a theater that plays first run movies for $4.75. This may be the best end of summer yet …
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