This is my first blog, and I'm proud to start off my first post with the Foo Fighters music video I was fortunate enough to be give the opportunity to direct.
So the back story goes...
A friend of mine sent me a link. It was for the Foo Fighters "This Video Sucks" contest where 11 undiscovered directors would be given the chance to direct a music video for a song off of (back then) their upcoming new album "Wasting Light". With the millions of fans around the world and the potential thousands of aspiring directors all submitting their work I had little faith that I would actually win, and boy would I be wrong. Months had past when I received a little email from Sony and RCA records congratulating me that I won! Completely forgetting entering at this point I thought the contest winners had come and gone. Being a little skeptical I waited patiently for more news and sure enough, slowly but surely, the details came in and my Foo Fighters music video directorial journey began.
I immediately refreshed on past Foo Fighters videos. They have some of the funniest music videos ever so I knew I wanted to make something fun. We would be given very little time to produce the video. The winners were announced on February 28, 2011. I was sent the song for the video the second week of March to begin brainstorming ideas. Budget and other details were sent the third week of March realistically giving me 15 days to produce a great video and deliver to the record company on March 31st. In not-doing-so I would have to give back the entire budget for the video. Talk about pressure.
After tossing around a few possibilities I (with the help of some super creative people) came up with a fun, adventurous idea that could be finished on time and on budget. Working out of my apartment with the help of Jasmine and Peter, we put everything together in a matter of days. We cast the video on a Friday. Picked shooting locations on Saturday. Shot Sunday into the night on location and finished shooting in studio on Monday. Gave it the editor on Tuesday. Got the final cut on Thursday and sent that over to the VFX company. Picked up from them on Saturday. Reviewed on Sunday and Monday. And on Tuesday sent it to the record company to arrive with a day to spare. Phew.
Some anxious days followed as I waited for news on what was planned for the release of the video. Wondering if the band liked it (Dave Grohl loved it and compared it to Everlong, way generous but I'll take it), if it met television standards for broadcast (first time dealing with TV specs, HDcam transfers, etc.) or if that one shot I disliked was going to kill the whole video were just a few of the thoughts racing around my head.
Finally a few days later I received news that I would be getting hotel accommodations in Manhattan and on April 12th I would attend the tapping of "Hoppus on Music" at Fuse television network with the Foo Fighters. Little did I know, not only would I be attending the taping of the show, that I would be on the show and get to meet Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl is an oddly funny and charming dude. Can't help but have a man crush. I also met the other 10 directors and hung out with them for a bit during and after the Foo Fighters concert, which was an awesome 2 hour setlist of their entire new album start to finish and all of their hit singles. By far one of the best days of my life!
The whole experience ranged from ultra stressful (not knowing if we would finish the video on time therefore having to forfeit the other half of the budget which was already spent) to complete bliss (being asked by Foo Fighters management to come up with ideas for their next official video). It's one of those 'wouldn't trade it for anything in the world' type of experiences. The video turned out great in large part to an amazing cast and crew. Everyone with Sony/Jive/RCA and Foo Fighters treated me great, especially walking into a hotel room filled with Foo Fighters merchandise.
In summation, to have my name associated with the biggest rock band in the world, well that's something special...
There will be more to come. Thanks for reading and see you out there!
HD versions for your enjoyment :)
