Inspired by the idea of utopian landscapes, Nexus director Roel Wouters has devised a unique concept for Hot Chip‘s latest single, "One Life Stand". Roel created an ‘experimental’ environment in which the band were left alone to explore and develop their own music video.
With the rest of the crew closed off from the set, the band became director, cameraman and even choreographer to create a promo that is nothing but ‘Hot Chip‘.
The band had a minimal set-up to play with of just one fixed camera, one handycam and their instruments. A silver sphere was also suspended in the middle of the room (inspired by Roel’s daily gaze into his silversphere teapot!) giving the band further creative scope to experiment with different perspectives. The constant revolutions of the band, the sphere and the cameras moving around each other all work to create a surreal and almost trippy experience for the viewer.
The band members took it in turns to film three separate types of footage, the shaky handheld camera moves and unusual framing contrast effectively with the precise documentation of the fixed camera – a perfect juxtaposition of reality and unreality. With these visual elements together with the experimental nature of the video and the band’s spontaneous input, the track’s hypnotic rhythm is given a perfect visualization.
Roel says, "Hot Chip have created a machine that transforms a small rehearsal space into a planet – a mini utopia. Isolated from the crew, they could do whatever they wanted and they came out of this magic box and created a real virtual reality!"
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Credits:
Artist: Hot Chip
Title: One Life Stand
Length: 3:26
Record Company: Parlophone / EMI
Commissioner: James Hackett
Production Company: Nexus
Director: Roel Wouters
Executive Producers: Julia Parfitt & Cedric Gairard
Producer: Isobel Conroy
Director of Photography: Adam Frisch
Editor: James Rose @ Cut & Run
Post Production / Grade: Rushes
About Nexus
Nexus is an independent production company and animation studio based in London, with a worldwide reputation for creative storytelling across a range of media. Our work includes an Oscar nominated short, Grammy nominated and MTV Award winning music videos, and Cannes Grand Prix, Gold Lions, and Black D&AD pencil winning commercials.
Nexus is dedicated to the development of unique voices in filmmaking, with a roster of directing talent working with multi-disciplinary skills in animation, live-action and interactive media. The studio’s production, animation, post-production staff and facilities support them, with Nexus being a home for both the people and the technology to create some of the most innovative work in entertainment and branded content.
Nexus brings together artists and technical talent to work in a collaborative atmosphere to make exciting, talked about creative content. For more information, please visit www.nexusproductions.com
