A downtrodden man struggles to keep his head above water in this video for “I Don’t Know” by BADBADNOTGOOD (previously featured here). Directed by Will Mayer of Stink Films, and made in partnership with WeTransfer and Among Other Things, the visuals offer an exploration of the grieving process inspired by Samuel T. Herring’s lyrics for the song and the loss of Mayer’s father. The protagonist’s struggle is the physical manifestation of the emotional battle waged within oneself following the death of a loved one, as the Los Angeles-based director explains:

“This film was more or less a ballet to the five stages of grief. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Our protagonist fights the battle that we have all fought, only to come out the other side. He ends neither free nor victorious….but alive. Because overcoming grief is never about victory it’s about perseverance.”

Watch “I Don’t Know” above and see full credits below.

Writer/Director: Will Mayer
Executive Producer: Kosta Elchev
Producer: Brendan Garrett
Actor: Michael Piccirilli
Cinematographer: Ian Rigby
Editor: Nick Rondeau
Colorist: Greg Reese
Production Designer: Carson Giles
1st AC: Allan Chavaria
Gaffer: Derek Robinson
Steadicam: Parker Brooks

This is just one of the wonderful submissions we’ve received in the past week. Consider participating here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

Director Aleksander Hørup Gislason harnesses the energy of two 90s teens hopped up on MTV, boredom and Bacardi Breezers in this video for Danish duo Farveblind’s track with Paul Stephan.

A charming portrait of a father by his son. Directed by Huse Monfaradi, “A Life Like Water” captures the mundane beauty of 80 year old Hasan Monfaradi’s daily routine and his simple yet sincere reflections on life and what it is to be human.

Love the Black Mirror-esque twist in this video for Rone’s track with Noga Erez. Directed by London-based artist Greg Barth, “Wave” explores the glitches of modern romance.

Director: Greg Barth
Executive Producer: Bart Yates
Producer: Selena Cunningham
Production Manager: Laura Jenkins
DoP: Annika Summerson
Makeup Design: Susana Mota
Art Director: Nigel Howlett/Greg Barth
Studio: Nan Studios

1st AD: Amelie Guyot
Focus Puller: Laura Dinnett
Gaffer: Ben Manwaring
Electricians: Charlie Doe & Chris Rawthorn
DIT: Keir Garnet-Lawson
Set Construction: Nigel Howlett, Chris Webb
Art Dept Assistant: Margaux Hendriksen

Cast: Naomi Weijand & Callum Sterling, Maggie Day
Casting: Nana Klimek at Headnod Agency

Post Production:
CGI Supervisor: Peregrine McCafferty
Editor: Nick Armstrong at Cut & Run
Look Dev and Grade: Glassworks
VFX: Static FX
CGI: Aaron Smith, Phillipe Medina, Peregrine McCafferty, Greg Barth
Compositors: Shahin Toosi, Alina Simion, Felip Docolomansky, Quentin Vien, Sandrine Jimenez, Grzegorz Zolnowski
Post Production coordination: Alexandra Oprea
VFX Supervisors: peregrine McCafferty, Liviu Dinu, Alin Dumitru
Houdini: Ronen Tanchum @Phenomena Labs
Music: Rone
Sound Design: Nookaad Studios

This is just one of the many fantastic submissions we’ve received in the past week. Click here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

Some wonderfully silent moments in this beautiful short written and directed by Daniel Daly. Shot entirely in 35mm on location in New York City, “Dress in Black” tells the story of a young woman who struggles to get out of bed as she dwells on memories of her sister.

An isolated cacti farmer searches for an elusive axeman in this experimental short by Sam Lane, currently studying animation at the California Institute of the Arts.

Something very enjoyable about this low-key video for The Saxophones by director and editor Connor R. Burke from Richmond, Virginia. As Burke describes the project:

“‘Mysteries Revealed’ has a youthful and cheery exterior with a deeply personal interior. This helped stage the video in such a way that Alexi sings to his wife Alison with Richard in between as they each perform in separate rooms.”

This video was submitted by Connor Burke and selected by our team. Click here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

A quirky short by writer-director Jeremy Foley. “The Faceless Man” follows an unemployed man whose daily routine of feeling sorry for himself is disrupted when he wakes up one day without a face. Starring William O’Leary (Home Improvement), the success of the project relied heavily on practical effects including custom SFX makeup and an inlaid two-way mirror that would allow O’Leary to see out without being seen himself. Learn more about the making-of below and check out the final result above!

The replanting of a tree becomes a metaphor for the difficulty of adapting to big city life in this video for singer-songwriter Dawid Podsiadło by Polish director Tomasz Baginski. Cinematography by Warsaw-based DOP and analog photographer Kajetan Plis (previously featured here).

Video for DeJ Loaf and Leon Bridges’ track “Liberated” by Los Angeles-based filmmaker and artist Calmatic (previously featured here).

Nice 60s-inspired sci fi visuals for Houndmouth’s track “This Party” by director Kristian Mercado Figueroa aka Kris Merc (previously featured here). See full credits below.

Directed by Kristian Mercado Figueroa
Director of Photographer: Geoffrey Taylor
Edit Creative Direction: Michael Reuter
EP: Avtar Khalsa
EP: Andrew Nisinson

Starring
x-351: Matt Myers
x-443: Zak Appleby
x-003: Shane Cody
The Silver Champion: Robert Rexx
The Supreme Leader: JJ Beasley

Workers:
Monica Cho
Thomas Carney
Eric Warwick
Jeffrey Boone
Aaron Valnezuela
Paris Edly
Gerren Hall

VFX:
Rafatoon
Andres Garcia
David Betancourt
Trung Bao Nguyen

Producer: Dustin Highbridge
Prod Manager: Deryck Highbridge
Prod Coordinator: Ivette Anthony
1st AD: Tiffany Stephens
1st AC: Brent Johnson
2nd AC: Megan Johnson
Gaffer: Gordon Hale
BB Electric: Ivan Herrera
Electric: Max Sanchez
Key Grip: Steven Forbes
BB Grip: Henry Martinez
Grip: Mike Madrid
Prod Designer: Miles Mullin
Set Dressing: Per Miles
Wardrobe Stylist: Shelley Caudill
HMU: Sakura Sugihara
HMU: Hannah Schenk
PA: Sam Schneider
PA: Richard Monteiro
PA: Chris Sinclair

This video was submitted by Kris Merc and selected by our team. Consider participating here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

A catchy video for Los Angeles-based duo LUC by New York-based artist and animation director Vincenzo Lodigiani of Dress Code (previously featured here).