Perry keeps it controversial
People here at Fanshawe are pretty familiar with Perry - a former student herself, Perry has a history with the college that includes nearly five years writing for Interrobang and the experience of filming her first music video within these halls. Far from the rocker chick that fronted Anti-Hero, Perry has matured into an artist who is much more socially aware.
“The song that I'm releasing as my single is called Mad World. Definitely not the
catchiest thing that I've ever written, but that's not the purpose of anything that I'm
doing artistically at this point,” she told me. “I'm really trying to head more in a social
awareness, political direction because I feel that music is an amazing medium through
which you can not only inspire people ... but it also has the amazing capacity to change
people's minds, and to get them to spread awareness.”
Though she wouldn't let me in on the secret of the concept of the video, Perry was
seemingly confident that I wouldn't put it all together while on set. Perhaps this was due
to a slight suspicion in her mind about just how controversial the video may be seen to
be. “I may or may not be sued,” she laughed. “It's got a very, very strong political message
to it, and it might piss people off.“
“I want to do something cool, and I want to do something meaningful and powerful
to both myself, and to people who are music listeners and music lovers,” she explained. “But essentially, the whole video is about contrasting two worlds, two completely different
perspectives, and then asking viewers to consider them both, and not be blinded
to what's going on.”
Though it seemed vague, she did talk to me about all the work that goes into organizing
and filming a music video. For the video she made with her old band, it was a different
story - she had three other people to help her with arranging production, casting
roles, and building props. This time, in true DIY fashion, Perry was the sole captain of
the ship — one that included London-based Wreckless Crew Productions, a video production
company that films and features artists who share their passion.
“Well, the first thing, obviously, was trying to find a videographer I felt was competent
in bringing my very, very specific vision to life, but also that could do it within an
affordable DIY budget,” she said. “Then obviously I had to storyboard the whole thing,
talk about what I actually wanted in the video, come up with the concept, and listen to
the song repeatedly [with the videographer], basically second by second to allocate to it
which scene would go where and how much time would be devoted for each scene.”
Those decisions made, it came time to scout locations in London to find which would
be best suited for Perry's specific vision; of the four required to execute the concept, two
locations will film with extras. Perry kept details vague, but she did reveal the first location
was at Richmond and Fullerton, downtown. The second location was a vacant lot at
Adelaide and Hamilton.
Perry plans on going viral with the video once it's filmed.
“I'm going to do it all online,” she said, of her plans to release the video worldwide.
“If people are willing to broadcast it on air, like a conventional TV, I'm not opposed to
that, but judging from the controversy that may or may not erupt from it I'm not sure
what the likelihood of that is.”
Watch for Rose's video to appear online when it's completed - though there is no
official date for its release, it will be published on her website RoseCoraPerry.com and
Youtube channel when it is finished.
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Day in the life of a video extra
Bobby Foley's daily diary as an extra in
Rose Cora Perry's video for her song, Mad
World.
DAY 1
11:48 a.m.: Though I was told to be here
by 11:00, Rose and the crew just arrived.
My first thought? Seems like a very modest
crew. I don't see any of the music
video standbys here - where are the
expensive cars? Where are the women and
piles of money? Where is the all-white
background and accompanying swing
dancers? I fear that every preconceived
notion I have of this industry may be
dashed.
12:02 p.m.: The Good News: I have
obtained the role of Principle Number 6.
This means that I will appear to be in the
band for the filming of the video. The Bad
News: I have no instrument to play, so I will have to clap my hands instead. Rose
has a pile of signs that she is dropping as
an homage to Bob Dylan, but you and I
both know that I have it way harder.
3:00 p.m.: My hands, red from clapping,
have just been filmed in the behind the-
scenes documentary being shot by the
crew. We were all instructed to show more and more enthusiasm as the day wore on, so naturally where I began by simply clapping
and swaying, I am now deep into a
full-on impression of The Temptations. I
wouldn't lie to you, sugar-pie honeybunches.
4:12 p.m.: Filming resumes tomorrow
near Adelaide and Hamilton. I am to be
dressed conservatively, which I understand
is indicative of the inverse nature of
the shoot. Where today was peaceful
protest, will tomorrow be violent? Where
today I had to dance and clap, will tomorrow
I be throwing haymakers left and
right? Where today Rose and the crew
were close to an hour late, will tomorrow
they be early?
DAY 2
11:31 a.m.: It seems as though my
hopes that we would begin on time have
been dashed. I'm standing in an empty
gravel lot holding a suit and wondering
where everyone is.
1:43 p.m.: Rose is continuing the theme
of throwing cards in homage to Bob
Dylan. Today my role is that of a photographer/
reporter who scraps with security,
throwing haymakers. It's going to be an
interesting day.
2:22 p.m.: Rose just let slip that these
two days' footages are going to be split
screened, shown at the same time. She's
going to be showing contrasting worlds,
at the same time.
4:04 p.m.: Just preparing the final shot,
the CEO getaway - Rose gets rushed into
the BMW and driven away by security.
She's all concerned about getting dirty.
"Sometimes even CEOs get dirty getting
away," I told her. "You just gotta jump in
the chopper and not think about it."
4:23 p.m.: Wrap for extras; what a crazy
two days this has been. Hot as hell, but
very fun. Watch for this video, it's going
to be huge for me. Oh, and maybe also
Rose.