Yusuf/Cat Stevens has released a 2020 reimagined rendition of his 1970s’ classic ecological anthem song, “Where Do The Children Play?”–a first glimpse into the forthcoming album Tea for the Tillerman2 (scheduled to debut Sept. 18 on the UMC label).

Fifty years after it first made waves, “Where Do The Children Play?” still depicts a chilling reality of modern man’s disregard for nature and it’s disastrous implications for our future on this precious planet. Its original release on Tea for the Tillerman–Stevens’ multi-platinum selling album–made a giant imprint on the consciousness of the ‘70s generation and is set to do so all over again, this time accompanied by this allegorical and visually moving animated video by director Chris Hopewell of Black Dog Films. Production companies on the video are Black Dog Films and Jacknife.

Hopewell said: “The song has a strong environmental message, so we wanted to make a video that mirrored that. We decided to make the props and scenery from recycled materials wherever possible, to minimize the production impact on the environment. We did a beach clean in South Wales to gather plastic debris and used it to make the ocean you see in the video. Our sea scenes were made from waste plastic washed up on our shores. All of the sets and practically all props were made from recycled repurposed and up-cycled materials. I’d say that 90% of what you see on screen was made from recycled materials, even the rostrum the sets are built on were recycled scaffolding planks and sets painted with paints from a local charity store. All materials used were then re-purposed or recycled when the video was finished. It was a slightly longer process than usual, but fun!”

Credits

Client/Label UMC Production Black Dog Films, bicoastal/international Chris Hopewell, director; Martin Roker, exec producer; Jon Davey, DP; Rosie Brind, Andy Stewart, producers; Tom Weller, editor. Visual Effects/Animation Jacknife, Bristol, UK Cadi Catlow, key animator; Jacky Howson, Paul Couvela, animators; Philip Powell, secondary DP; Harry Louie Jenkins, DP and lighting assistant; Stephen Ryan, After Effects; Holly Jo Beck, key puppets, props & scenery; Siobhan Raw, Joshua Hughes-Games, sets and scenery; Becky Prior, Louis McNamara, Chris Addison, Alex Kolodotschko, Jonathan Minto, Chloe More, Spike Hopewell, Jo Garland, Bill Brind, puppets & props; Elaine Andrews, Lucy Roberts, costume & puppets; Henry St. Leger, storyboard artist. (Toolbox: Dragonframe, After Effects, Premiere)

Cadi Catlow, key animator; Jacky Howson, Paul Couvela, animators; Philip Powell, secondary DP; Harry Louie Jenkins, DOP and lighting assistant; Stephen Ryan, After Effects; Holly Jo Beck, key puppets, props & scenery; Siobhan Raw, Joshua Hughes-Games, sets and scenery; Becky Prior, Louis McNamanara, Chris Addison, Alex Kolodotschko, Jonathan Minto, Chloe More, Spike Hopewell, Jo Garland, Bill Brind, puppets & props; Elaine Andrews, Lucy Roberts, costume & puppets; Henry St. Leger, storyboard artist.

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