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New Madness video starring Jaime Winstone
Posted by Eliza Williams, 28 April 2009, 10:16 Permalink Comments (13)
Dust Devil by Madness, directed by Adam Smith, production company: RSA Films
Adam Smith has directed this excellent promo for Madness' new single Dust Devil. He talks to CR about working with Jaime Winstone and Alfie Allen in the video, and how it was shot.
CR: What's the story behind the video, did you have a brief from the band?
Adam Smith: There wasn't a specific brief - it sort of came from a few pub discussions with them and then some trust on their part. I wanted to make a story based on the character that is described in the song and through this process ended up remembering a lot of nights trying to chaperone "spirited" girlfriends out of some of the situations that pop up on a night out when you are a bit over "spirited".
CR: How did you film it? Where was it shot, and how long did it take to shoot?
AS: It was filmed over one lively night in Soho (8pm to 5am). All shot solely using a body harness attached to the actress.
CR: Did you encounter any difficulties/problems on the shoot?
AS: Not really. We just embraced the chaos of nocturnal Soho. Quite a few of the local "residents" got involved and made minor cameos. Jaime was incredible at just going with whatever happened and staying in the moment. Very dedicated, hardworking and brave actress. Alex the producer, Owen the DOP, Chris the 1st and all our stripped-down crew were brilliant at just getting on with whatever minor hiccups we had.
CR: How did Jaime Winstone and Alfie Allen become involved?
AS: I asked them to do it. I had worked with Jaime before and think she is brilliant so wanted to work with her again. I couldn't think of anyone else that would play the role better and would have the guts to take on Soho on a busy night with a camera strapped to her. Luckily she loved the idea and was available. The Alfie casting was again because he is brilliant but also for the instant intimacy that you get on screen between the two of them. It was important to the story in the video that the characters really loved each other. Also because we all know each other there was a shorthand whilst working and I know they are both really dedicated to what they do so we wouldn't have any problems and that we might even enjoy the shoot (which we really did). The enjoyment of the evening was added to by Charlie Creed Miles (Nil by Mouth) and Jesse Keegan from North of Ping Pong playing the transvestites (at their own request!) and Peter Hugo Daly who has been in a lot of things I have made (from Little Dorrit to Lady Sovereign) played the mini cab driver.
CR: Did the band request not to be in the video?
AS: Three of them are in the video! Little cameos as the angry minicab punters. They had just got back from touring in Australia so there were only a few of them about. Gregarious gesticulating replaced nutty dancing for this video.
13 Comments
there's no way id rate this as excellent.
i'm getting tired of these bodycam shots and nothing else
2009-04-28 11:57:24
...with you whats the big deal been done better before no imagination, mind you it is a band thats over & out
2009-04-28 13:15:29
I agree, seen it before, boring!
2009-04-28 15:40:41
Wow, they must have worked late nights on it, because they missed ALL the episodes of Peep Show AND the re-runs of Radiohead's 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place'.
2009-04-28 16:34:52
Alot like smack my bitch up - but still I couldn't stop watching... twice.
2009-04-29 07:27:19
It's a film, the music's what we know about, the sentiment's a sweet one. I don't have a problem with "what's new about this then" - originality is overblown and entirely commodified anyway, and has only become another way of saying "Oh My GOD, Look at ME!, Look at ME! ...and BUY THIS NOW." So, I'm all for ordinary now and then.
2009-04-29 08:45:02
This is a thoroughly boring music video. Why does it exist, and why is it featured here? It is definitely not 'excellent'. Creative Review, when you show us such things you undermine the good things you do. People are tired of 'conventional'. Originality can also be quiet and magical. Originality can be so off the radar that you could be forgiven for not understanding it. This is certainly not magical, and we ALL understand this only too well. It doesn't take much to breathe new life into a tired old format, so how did this film miss? This video illustrates perfectly the old fashioned thinking that still pervades film, which is why design offers a future for 'entertainment'. Who should I invoice for my wasted time? Creative Review or the 'director' ?!? Once bitten...
2009-04-29 09:33:00
brillant. madness!
2009-05-02 13:36:31
Very nice! Madness is back! More evidence of just how bland modern pop music has become, and how poorly it holds up against authentic talent and personality (you know, the kind that isn't created by publicists and computerized voice manipulators - and the actual performer(s) are the last piece of the product to be hired). And the subtle cameo's worked swell!
Brom
2009-05-03 20:15:46
James Wong Howe did it to much better effect in Frankenheimer's "Seconds" and that was only 43 years ago. Stale. This Madness video got boring real fast.
2009-05-03 20:17:32
Not to mention Requiem for a Dream and Pi. See it at http://www.doggicam.com. Enter site and look for bodymount camera. See clips, pics, etc.
But I think it was nicely done, and the point is not the shooting mechanism as much as the intimate narrative the style supports. It's emotionally involving, a good spot, better than most every dreamy/weird mood the bodymount usually pointlessly conveys.
Boring? Never saw that term as a real commentary on anything. It says more about the commentator than anything else, and none of it good.
2009-05-03 23:30:07
I thought it was quite a tender little movie.
2009-05-04 19:12:03
I think the Madness commercial for the 'Liberty Of Norton Folgate' album is better. And I'm sure 5 1/2 out of 7 of you would agree.
2009-06-05 12:00:23
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