Review Fix chats with Elia Petridis, Filmatics, who discusses his work on the new Jesca Hoop music video, “Red White and Black.â€
Review Fix: How did you get attached to this project?
| Elia Petridis: This is my fifth video with Jesca Hoop. When there is new music to explore we tend to touch base first and foremost for me to have a listen and enjoy my friend’s new offering and hard work, as well as take it in as a music lover. Then we tend to discuss the general creativity behind the tracks and if we both get excited about a visual direction for a track we’ll explore further. Once we hit that mark on Red White and Black Memphis Industries was put into the mix. Myself and my team did a proper pitch for her, got awarded, and off we went! |
Review Fix: How did you plan out the video?
Petridis: We were inspired by one take fight scenes. I thought that approach was a cool form of broad, captivating entertainment to couple with the subtext of the song. We rehearsed the fight for a good long day in the location we chose and then showed up on shoot day and got it in the can, making minor adjustments along the way as we went. I stayed focus on keeping the scale of the fighting small, but the story and character stakes high.
Review Fix: What was the feeling like on set?
Petridis: We were all in it together. We had a diverse crew from all walks of life that gave it their all to make it happen. It was ambitious for a shoot day, so all departments really stayed focus and precise to make sure we made our day. It seems the piece of cinema and the piece of music really spoke to people as there’s a lot of heart in the video which comes from the efforts of that wonderful crew. As Jesca put it, a lot of creative energy went up on screen.
Review Fix: Why do you think the song is special?
Petridis: Great question. This is my fifth video with Jesca but I’ve been following her music since her first EP. I am a fan, a friend, and a collaborator so I cherish the music deeply as its formed me all throughout my life. I can imagine it has done the same for those who love it like me and will do that for those who discover it now along with the wealth of great music she’s made that’s prime for exploration. Each of her offerings is like a separate film to me.
Each record is a different world. There’s a really gorgeous step that happens in my humble opinion between Kismet and Hunting My Dress. On Kismet each song is a different world, on Hunting My Dress each album starts to be a world unto itself and it moves forward from there. But each of her tracks always inspires my imagination in a cinematic way. Her songs make me want to make films. From the loopy Hitchcock thriller that we tried in The Lost Sky, to this one take fight scene for Red White and Black, to the ghost story that ended up being City Bird. I have a very personal relationship with The Lost Sky which I’m sure is documented online somewhere.
Review Fix: How do you want the video to affect people?
Petridis: I’d like them to come for the fight scene and stay for the visual metaphor and the social allegory. I only cared about three things along way. The music itself and how it would bend and shape the action. What happens next plot-wise. Why do we care character-wise. Hopefully this produces that combination in a way that makes people surrender to it, let go for a little while, and then come out feeling fuller and ready to discuss and have conversations about what it’s all about!
Review Fix: What’s next for you?
Petridis: My immersive entertainment agency Fever Content is releasing a 360 immersive music video for the track Popstar by the duo Intellexual. It’s supported with AR filters. It’s a classic love story of a modern couple whose reflections step out of mirrors to help the couple rediscover their love for each other and salvage their relationship.
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