Cave Singers: making the Black Leaf video

I did the art direction for the Cave Singers Black Leaf video that premiered today on Pitchfork. This past March along with a great crew I spent a few days building a monster, making a boy's bedroom and getting in the kid zone for a few really cold shoot days near Milwaukee. The video was directed by my friend and collaborator Sam Macon who I am currently co-directing the Sign Painter documentary with. I work with Sam frequently on all sorts of projects, but this is my favorite music video I've done the art direction on for him so far. It doesn't hurt that the Cave Singers are like family & I love their music.

Seeing a project like this come together feels really great when you start from scratch with story boards and a list of supplies. It takes a lot of amazing dedicated people to make even a short music video happen- this project had over 30 people on the crew all working their magic. The actual shoot days were over a Saturday & Sunday but the pre & post production both had additional days of work. Here are photos & a video I shot on my iphone (excuse the quality) and please make sure you watch the final version here.














The 16' monster had to be hauled by pieces & installed in the woods




Vinnie is to be thanked for the monster hand armature


Micaela doing paper-mache by wood burning stove


I made this little boy's room from scratch


Filming the kids riding their bikes








Getting Thurman in the harness to "sneak out" the window


Trying out the monster jaw action for the first time!!