SNABBEAS (production notes)
Almost two years ago I had committed to GOTO80 that I would make him a music video. I had not made a full music video since my first one back in early 2006. I was always in doubt if I could complete another.
Originally it was to be for a song called ‘Error Energy’ from a CD GOTO80 had released at the time called ‘Made On Internet.’ I had the story concept all set in my head. And then work got in the way. Or was it simply procrastination?
The plan changed when a) making video for an ‘old’ song no longer made sense for promotional purposes b) a new release that has since just been released by BleepStreet came to my attention.
*I need to note a something very important. The only thing I do that is 8bit is the icon for my web address and the background texture you see on this page. Otherwise I consider myself a supporter and kindred spirit of what embodies the movement behind chip music. I have to further note that 8bit peoples and their associates are some of the nicest people I have come to know in my journeys through the music and visuals world.*
I selected a track and had an idea for a bit but no time to really execute what I wanted to do. Or was it just procrastination?
Then an emergency vacation came along and I was determined to use this time away from the internet to make this long awaited video.
My original idea involved lots of illustrations and as I started to work on these I realized that with my very slow paced drawing skills and short attention span for that particular approach of content creation that I was not going to get anything substantial done in the six days I had free.
The little bungalow we had rented out for that week was fairly new. It consisted of 5 rooms: Bathroom, kitchen/dining/living room, a bedroom for with a large king sized bed, entrance room and a small room with a bunk bed for what I could guess for two children. The furnishings were standard IKEA, a small color TV and a small boom box. The real treat were some of the decorations. A landscape painting of a beach with two boats and a light house. There was no frame but about a an inch from the edge the artist made it so that the image appeared to be blurred as to imply a framing. Another decoration that brought my attention into focus was a decoy of a bird. I don’t know what kind of bird it was supposed to be. It had a strange appearance about it.
As usual I talk to Tinet about my projects. I usually develop my projects best when talking to people. As I was expressing my frustrations to her about making this video I spontaneously decided that this bird should be the focus of the video. I was to be its victim. We would use my camera to shoot a lot of images that I would then sequence them to the beat of the music.
Luckily for me Tinet got swept along with my activity. She was extremely helpful not just helping me shoot the majority of the pictures but also encouraging me and adding ideas and illustrations of her own as we moved forward with the project earning her well deserved co-director credits. The above image includes an animated, bat winged, flying piggie that she drew along with a bunch of other illustrations that I animated and incorporated into the ‘flying’ sequence.
The video is now completed. GOTO80 has had a chance to absorb it and is quite happy with the results. Apparently he was rather partial about the track and the video gave it more life. At the moment though the video will remain unseen until GOTO80 decides with whom label wise he will release the track and when. So until then you will just have to wait patiently for the results. Unless of course you meet me while my laptop is open and I will be in a good enough mood to show it to you.
Tinet was really inspired by working on the video with me and we came up with another idea for a music video that I hope will come to fruition. In this case though WE are asking GOTO80 to make the track FOR the video. We have already provided him with the concept and sent him some research materials to inspire him.
