Rich Hall via Riff Raff Films directed this Depeche Mode music video, “People Are Good.”
“It’s equal parts an honor and daunting when making a video for Depeche Mode,” said Hall. “Not only do they have music video royalty behind them, but even Riff Raff have churned out some outstanding videos themselves for the band in recent times (Personal Jesus, Wagging Tongue). Throw a world class DOP like Martin Ruhe into the mix, 8 days prep and 1 shoot day then you’ve got a real mind f***. I wanted to make an idea that changes multiple times during the video, as if unraveling with the song and our understanding of it. The song reminded me of the fragility of human relationships, how easy we forget, how easily we’re misled. So, I came up with the idea to somehow immortalize those every day, human interactions, in front of a white wall and heighten them to the extent that they feel like art (well, sort of).
“It wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of Riff Raff, Black Kite, and the good people at Columbia US,” continued Hall. “Not to mention the amazing crew, especially the ones who were unloading dirt into a fake grave at midnight–you know who you are.”
