Category — Music Videos

Each invisible prayer is like a cloud in the air
Tomorrow keeps turning around
We live and we die, we know not why
But I’ll be with you when the deal goes down

- Bob Dylan

If ever there was a paean to the handheld camera in a music video, this is it. Bob Dylan’s “When the Deal Goes Down,” a philosophical countrified waltz from his 2006 hit album Modern Times, and then released as a music video, was shot like a home movie on 8mm film by the celebrated director of “Capote,” Bennett Miller. Featuring starlet turned star Scarlett Johansson (you remember, Barack Obama’s erstwhile pen pal) in a series of nostalgic vignettes, this one is unlikely to interest hip hop fans. Baby Boomers will dig it, though, and fans of Bob and Scarlett.

As someone commented, “That song would bring a tear to a glass eye.”

“I Like to Move in Here” by Moby:

From YT synopsis: “An octopus disguises himself as a human and wanders around New York City looking for a club.”

This awesome music video was directed by puppeteer extraordinare and creative visionary, Toben Seymour. I wonder what camcorders they used for this shoot that captured the low light club atmosphere so well. I myself find it hard when shooting indoors for live music or in a club environment to duplicate the color and light levels. Sometimes the lighting scheme on stage enhances your video, while other times I’ve ended up with bad sound and dark blurry amorphous footage. Thankfully, Toben and his team actually know what they’re doing and created a fun and entertaining music video for Moby.

Helpful links for Digital Camera/Camcorder Indoor Shooting Advice:
“Frequent Photo Flbs: 15 Picture Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them” (Cnet)
“Sound Advice: Live-performance Audio” (Videomaker)
“Top 10 Things You Should Know When Buying a Camcorder” (EasyCamcorders)

Check out the latest video from Bloc Party for “Mercury”. It was directed by my schoolmate, Ace Norton. That dude can do wonders with a digital camcorder.

Beware of the apes.

This guy, Toben Seymour, is doing some cool stuff these days. He’s directing the next Kanye video for the song “Champion” and just finished up a Will.i.am video. And yeah, Toben is/was part of Commondeer with another pal, Ace Norton that I also blogged about last year.

Get to know Toben in just 60 seconds!

He loves to do puppets and special effects, and sometimes all that by shooting with a compact camcorder. I think I have to say that he’s sorta a big deal now. But it’s all good, cos he’s just having fun and making awesome videos, which is proven so creatively with his video bio.

Check his latest music video:
Louis XIV - “Guilty By Association”

Credits
Producer: Justin Benoliel
Director: Toben Seymour
Cinematographer: Harris Charalambous
Editor: Ryan Bartley
Color: Ghost Town
Production Design: Ayse Arf
Wardrobe: Liberty Yablon
Assistant Director: Nathan Lackie