Albert Frost's Television featuring.....Helene!!!
19 November 20120
Okay, so when I say “Albert Frost’s
Television featuring…..Helene!!!”, I don’t mean that I’m on his actual TV in
his lounge. That would be just too
creepy for words. Or that he has a
framed picture of me on top of his TV set either. Equally weird. But in a strange way, I suppose, technically
it is possible. Especially if his new
music video, featuring yours truly gets picked up by one of the TV stations,
like MK for instance. Because, then it
could quite bizarrely really be true. And
the video aside, I think it is an awesome tune for any of our SABC TV stations
or even ETV to use as a jingle advertising their station. The song is after all very aptly named
Television. It is not one of his latest
songs, but the video itself is fresh so to speak.
About two and a half years ago, I
was visiting my Mom in Tulbagh. Also my
brother’s home town. Visiting there is
just so awesome. Aside from the whole
wholesome platteland-ness of it all, the unkempt natural beauty, wide open
spaces, clean living and fresh air, some of my very favourite people in the
whole world live there. My mom, her Daya
and my bonus sister, Katarina as well as my favourite brother, Al. Okay, okay, so he’s my only brother but
still. And on this particular visit to
Tulbagh, it was the grand occasion of doing a music video for Albert’s song,
Television. I vaguely recall that talk
of it had been in the pipeline, but hadn’t realised that it was happening on
this visit, so the timing was purely accidental.
Messages were sent to all and
sundry (mainly friends), to meet at about 7pm, after dark, in Tulbagh’s main
cultural little street, called Church Street.
Most of the buildings in this road are national monuments and it is
truly charmingly picturesque. Even at
night time. We were all asked to wear
white shirts and jeans – hardly a tough task.
The brief was simple – basic clothes, night time shoot, walking in the
road, projected images of Albert shone on to us and the surrounds, etc. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. How hard can this be? Hardly rocket science.
Yet I was amazed by the amount of
technical people involved. There were
camera’s and lights. Techies and roadies
and gofers alike. Miles and miles of
cabling. Shoots, reshoots and then re-reshoots
some more. Something I had not
anticipated at all, was the difficulty in synchronising Albert’s lip syncing
for the video to the actual track we had playing in the back ground to guide
him. He is also playing a guitar in the
video, and it was obviously equally important that his hand movements in the
video, matched those of the music that was being played. Much more difficult that I had ever thought
it would be. The sound was not that
great as it was at night, and we had to be respectful towards the locals,
especially as it was a school night. So
we couldn’t do the whole loud speaker amplifier thing. We were also on a moving set so to
speak. We tried a couple of different
ideas, with us extra’s being positioned and dotted around the road at
random. It was fun just being herded
around. No thinking involved – just doing
what we were told to do.
The creative process and vision of the director was an interesting thing to witness. Because whereas all of us, had no idea what the end product was going to be, he clearly had it sewn up tight in his mind. His instructions were exact. It had to look a certain way and he ensured that he got it just right and that we obliged him.
I am just so impressed with the video.
Condensed down from hours of footage to
a mere three minutes – amazing! I think
it looks marvellous. And the very best
bit about the music video, is that I’m barely visible – my part is but fleeting
– hooray!!! My mom looks beautiful and
quite ethereal I think. Such a
magnificent lady. I love the projected
images of Albert playing, set against the backdrop of the old buildings and the
glorious and majestic looking trees. I also
love the way, they sort of superimpose Albert’s face over ours, matching it up
perfectly to him in the end. A masterpiece
if you ask me.
I attach the Youtube link, and
urge you to have a look at it, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TPHLLYVrUAE. All I can say is enjoy! It’s a beauty.
And perhaps, just perhaps, if we
send enough requests for airplay in to TV stations, the likes of MK etc., then one
day soon, you might even be lucky enough to have your very own Television
featuring…..Helene!!! In your very own
lounge to boot. Now that is a scary
thought!
The opening pic of the video
Photo courtesy of the brilliant Louis Vorster
Albert's Movember offering - check out the stache
Loved it too! Very dreamy and different kind of vibe for a music video. Just have to say 'accidental timing'? WhatEVER!! I'm sure he waited for just the night that you were there xxxxx
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely evening. A total co-incidence, Katrine. And then Helene and I spent very special time together as Rob was in Germany.
ReplyDelete