Director:
Alex Maxwell
Production Company:
Concrete Jungle Productions
"Bottom line is this video had to be fun," says director Alexander Maxwell "fun to make, fun to watch. It's an empowered track and we had to uphold it's energy." The concept was inspired by Brooklyn's take on a West African stilt dancing tradition. "We teamed up with the Brooklyn Jumbies at the helm of its cofounders Najja [Codrington] and Ali [Sylvester] along with the sub-borough of Bed Stuy to bring this thing to life."
To capture an improvised and rebellious spirit the team shot the street parade guerilla. Armed with an Alexa out the back of an open top Jeep and another on steadicam rig at street level, they boldly took over Fulton Street in Brooklyn. "It was like releasing an uncontrollable force when those guys got out there," says Maxwell "the Jumbies feed off the the spectacle to improvise and do magnificent things. I remember Ali running head on for an NYC bus, the shot is in the cut, but what you don't see is the cops on the street smiling away. It was a shock and awe tactic and the cops didn't know what to do except enjoy it like the rest of us."
They worked with longtime Jumbies collaborator and artist Laura Anderson Barbata and incorporated some of her 'Shaggy' dress she's designed for the stilt dancers. Her work is striking and provides such an allure against the urban backdrop. Designer Abigail Stewart also created beautiful capes for the choreographed section of the video.
Production Company: Concrete Jungle Productions
Director: Alex Maxwell
Producer: Brendon Ellington
Director of Photography: Brian O’Carroll
Editor: Brett Bearden
Title Design: Matt Klein