Since its release a couple of days ago, the Internet has been sufficiently spammed by the latest Library Voices video for “Be My Juliette Gréco, Paris 1949”.
Combining cute, whimsical paper doll-like animation visuals with the band’s sunny-sweet harmonies and indie-pop hooks, Library Voices have essentially been captured in what is essentially their natural habitat – even the drunken letch is non-threatening.
Filmmaker Andrei Feheregyhazi has been in the music video game for not even a year and he is already kicking major ass. However, he says he has been making videos since 2000, including the amazingly titled “Millennium Fist 2000 To The EXTREME!”
He has been screened at several festivals across North America, worked on a Gemini-winning TV series “Hell on Hooves” and been featured on CBC’s ZED.
Ominocity: What inspired the animation visuals in the “Be My Juliette Gréco, Paris 1949” video?
Andrei Feheregyhazi: The visuals were inspired by the lyrics, the music, and some things I’d already been working on. When [Library Voices’] Michael Dawson told me what the song was about I had some ideas of how things would work, then once I heard the song I thought “No! This needs to be jerky-stop-motion-y,” and thus the style was built.
Om: So how exactly did you achieve the visual effects?
AF: I met with the band and actors for about a seven-hour shoot and shot the video and took about 3000 photos of them doing things. Then in Photoshop I cut out each photo – using the pen tool – that I used in the final video. After that I took it all into After Effects and combined them together. I had to use a friend’s 3D tracking program called Boujou in order to get the live footage and the stop motion footage to sit together properly.
The short answer? Lots and lots of hours in front of a computer.
Om: How did you get into making music videos?
AF: I actually always had a soft spot for what was possible in a music video that wasn’t possible in traditional film, so it wasn’t a huge leap. However the catalyst that started the whole thing was around November last year when I got into an Australian DJ by the name of POGO. I approached him and asked about the possibility of using some of his music in one or two of my videos. I shared my recent Anglerpod animations to show what kind of thing I would do with them. The response was basically “Yes! Also how much would you charge to do a music video?” So I made the music video and decided to make more.
Om: Any projects you have coming up?
AF: I’m currently working with Slow Down Molasses on a video. I’m also in the works on a longer animated narrative about the Anglerpod.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJrXTX4urt0&w=425]