Film And Music Video Director

Some people (like probably six people) read my post regarding my previous blog, so I felt it necessary to clear up some confusion. Please also know that my beef is not with the band, but with the band manager. As I know right now, my relationship with the band members is strong. At least I hope it is.

I am someone who is passionate about writing and directing films. My mind is cluttered with visual story ideas, and occasionally I’m able to put some of the films I direct on the internet. Will this make me famous? Doubt it. Let’s face it, the short films I direct do not get a lot of views (apparently, the music videos I direct don’t get ANY views at all).  I do my best to promote myself by sending out messages on all kinds of forums, even Friendster…wait does anyone even use Friendster anymore? Now I doubt any movie studio is gonna knock down my door while I’m on the toilet, and offer me a movie deal so fast I don’t even bother wiping. Still, that doesn’t kill my drive from making and posting online the movies I direct…and this is where my gripe with the music video comes in.

The band has a good local following (way beyond what I could reach all by my Vimeo lonesome), so why not help each other out by releasing the video? The band gets to reach other folks through video forums normally not accessible to them, and the crew and I get to expand our internet viewing average from 30 views to 40 views…maybe 45. Pleasing people and expanding horizons (with probably a lot of nasty comments along the way cause that’s how the internet works). Apparently the band manager has other ideas…I wish I could tell you what that plan entails. MAYBE he does have a surefire way of promoting the band, if so, I do hope it works out.

My producing partner and I produced the music video out of our own pockets cause we loved and believed in the band (we still do), which means the manager of the band did not provide a cent to the production. Maybe he couldn’t spare any, and I understand what it’s like to be low on cash. At least offering would have been nice! To this day, we have yet to be paid back for the music video.

Now, I’ll take SOME heat for not contacting him, and not telling him my plans for the music video. However, pre-production started June 19, 2009, and we didn’t shoot the music video till November 2009. That’s five months of pre-production! Meaning he had roughly 150 days to call me, e-mail me, Facebook me, or text me. I chalk that up to laziness. Why didn’t I contact him? Well, I was always talking to the band about the plans, and I was sure that the band told him about our process (which I am sure they did). Treatments were e-mailed to the band, meetings with the band were had outside a coffee shop, casting took place with the lead singer, we even had a boxing rehearsal! We took a lot of time and care for this music video, and now it might not see the light of day because supposedly the music video is all wrong for the band. Last time I talked to the band, they liked the music video (well, they did want less Trixie).

I know I am making a big fuss over this, but this just goes to show how dedicated I am to the craft (even if I am a horrible director). I probably burned a bridge with him, and most likely with other connections he has. If that is the case, then so be it. I am a nice guy, until my niceness gets abused.