The third installation of our four part Owl/Zebra saga for Never Shout Never debuted at Teen.com. I’ve embedded it here so hopefully you won’t have to deal with the bright ass, tacky preteen graphics and such:

One of the live videos that I directed for Band of Skulls is on YouTube.  Check it out:

Band of Skulls “Light of the Morning”

The XX came out with such a good minimalist music video! I’m so mad I missed them at Coachella.

And Andrew did it again!   My behind the scenes look at the making of the music video for Jack’s Mannequin’s latest single “Swim” was premiered on AOL Red, Friday.  Take a look directly at their site:

http://www.bered.com/2009/07/17/video-exclusive-jacks-mannequin-the-making-of-swim/

Or below:

Let me know what you think!

Check out an awesome teaser video that my friend Nick Keating made for my sister’s new jewelry venture, de Cali.

Added to The Media Collective website!

Leanna, Andrew and I – June 5th, 2009

It’s hard for me to avoid writing about Jack’s Mannequin when Andrew McMahon is one of my favorite artists to work with.  Yesterday, I got to the pleasure to work with Andrew and the team on Jack’s Mannequin’s new video for “Swim” directed by Stephen Murashige.  It was a long sixteen hour shoot, but ended up being a blast.  Keep an eye out for the “behind the scenes” videos that I shot and will be editing.  They’ll be released in the next couple of weeks.

The Used is releasing their new album later this year and I’ve spent the last couple of days rummaging through video footage shot by the band over the last year.  I’ve never seen so much snot and blood.  These guys have no sense of fear – so brutal.  Among all of the disgusting dares, there are stunning performances in arena size venues around the world.  Best yet, Quinn (one of the band members) owns a kick ass camera and documented everything really well.  I’m looking forward to editing some videos for the band’s upcoming release!  Stay tuned, my friends.

I have this uncontrollable tendency to check up on the artists that I’ve worked with every once in a while.  Last summer, I directed an acoustic video and EPK (video press kit) for Matt Wertz, who at the time, recently signed to Universal Republic Records.  I spent a day in the studio, a day up in Santa Barbara for his album cover photo shoot and an additional day shooting the acoustic video and press kit.  He is one of the nicest, most relaxed, and genuine dudes that I’ve worked with (I say this in a lot of my posts, probably because I don’t blog about those who I dislike).  He has paid his dues; he spent years on the road, played with other musicians in Nashville, and released multiple albums himself –  which sold somewhere in the hundred thousands.

Matt’s album came out digitally a while back, but it looks like they are finally getting ready to release Under Summer Sun, his major label debut, just in time for the summer.  I have no doubt that we’ll see him all over VH1 and taking over the radio waves.  He deserves everything that is coming his way.

Though I’m a little more proud of the EPK, the acoustic video is for sale on iTunes.  Crazy seeing your work up there for sale.

I’m a huge sucker for catchy mainstream music and every once and a while I find an artist that I’m really excited to hear more about.  Dan Black is signed to Polydor / A&M and creates a culture clash of soul, hip hop, rock and electronica.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5irnmaJTWU&hl=en&fs=1]

Happy New Year!!! Looking forward to a bright 2009!