Declan McKenna faces off against his doppelganger, Alex Lawther, in this video by London-based director Will Hooper (previously featured here). Loosely based on the short story “William Wilson” by Edgar Allan Poe, “The Key to Life on Earth” pokes fun at an opinion long-held by internet commentators. As Hooper explains:

“Declan’s likeness has always been compared to Alex Lawther’s — and the comment section has always been quick to underline that fact. So with this vid we’re really leaning into a big internet meme that’s plagued Declan for all eternity. Declan came to me like “wassup we’ve got Alex Lawther to do a movie and I want to fight him” and I was like “wassup ok hold by beer” and then I went away and wrote this daft little idea”

Starring Declan McKenna & Alex Lawther
Director: Will Hooper
EP: Laura Northover
Producer: Rosie Brear
Prod Co: Blink
Commissioner: Michael Lewin
PM: Harry Hardwick
PA: Rachel Bashford
1st AD: Ty Hack
DoP: Ruben Woodin Dechamps
1st AC: Marcus Albertsen
2nd AC: Klara Rychtarcikova
Loader: Saskia Dixie
Trainee: Josh Ighodaro
Gaffer: Esteban Gimpelewicz
Spark: Jerzy Gudjonsson
Spark: Cameron Smart
Art Director: Zoe Klinck
Set Dressing: Lili Abraham
Art Assistant: Tea Mulabdic
Art Assistant: Pedro Reis
Sylist: Suzie Walsh
Styling Assistant: Jade Hennessey
Make up: Jackie Tyson
Flight Choreographer: Dan Styles
Runner: Linda Dorigo
Runner: Elle Dolan, Tara Sadeghi
Security: John Wild
Set Medic: Gary Darling-Parkes
BTS: Ben Hennessey
Stills Photographer: Joe Magowan
Edit: Sam Allen @ Stitch
Post Producer: Kirsty Oldfield
Grade: Richard Fearon
Flame/Online: Jack Stone
Post Producer: Tamara Mennell
Sound Designer: Alexander Wells

Special Thanks to:
One Stop Films
GreenKit Lighting
Frame24
Kodak
Cinelab
The Frying Squad
Zebrafish
Get Set Hire
Katinka & Locationworks

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

Nice video for Alex Nicol’s track “Trust” directed by Toronto-based filmmaker Paz Ramirez. While the song is about appreciating mundane tasks and striving to be a more ecological person, Ramirez took the image of clothes hanging out to dry and developed it into the concept of airing dirty laundry by placing a clothes line in absurdly public places:

“The production process centered in a long scouting to find the perfect spots in Montreal, city in which I lived for a year, and in my opinion, is highly photogenic. In the end of the video the decision of having Alex naked at an art gallery putting on the dry outfit is a metaphor of artists exposing their intimate feelings through their art.”

Directed by Paz Ramirez
DOP: Jay Boivin
Producer: Nada Temerinski
Edit: Benjamin & Paz Ramirez
Color: Sergio Bejares

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

French-Gabonese hip-hop artist Ibekelia brings “Tempête” (storm) to the streets of New York — the place he now calls home. Directed, shot, and edited by David Findlay (previously featured here). Colour by Sam Gilling.

Great look and energy to this spot for bespoke motorcycle company Gas&Oil by Prague-based director Igor Zacharov and cinematographer Tomáš Kotas (previously featured here):

“You can tell what a motorcycle has been through from the first moment you see it. One can only imagine what the machine has seen and who’s ridden it. If taken good care of, they age like a fine wine. And that’s exactly how I felt when seeing motorcycles by Matěj from Gas&Oil. His machines have a character of an old, weary traveler you’d see on the road from your car, leaving you wishing you could switch places with him or, at least (?), stop and listen to his stories. Rebuilding and keeping these old bikes alive and kicking is a trade deserving of respect. I only wish I was brave enough to take one of them down a dead end road just to see how far it goes.”

Made for Gas&Oil
Director: Igor Zacharov
DP: Tomáš Kotas
Editor: Filip de Pina
Colorist Yerlan Tanayev
Produced by Creative Embassy
Gaffer Tomáš Voltér
1st AC Ondřej Kudrna
2nd AC Matyáš Hroch
Music by Cubby and Lazer Viking
Captured on KODAK

We love branded content when it’s engaging, funny, innovative, beautiful or anything in between. Consider participating here if you have a project you’d like us to check out!

A tree monster embarks on an unexpected journey in this charming video for Camel Power Club’s track “Change it All” by Los Angeles-based director Adam Rose-Levy.

Starring
Bertrand Xavier-Corbi
Kristen Lundberg
Nita Gazashvilli
Erica Oren

Director: Adam Rose-Levy
DP: Aaron Seller
PD: Zoe Zoe Sheen
Producer: Max Ribeiro
Line Producer: Austin Wolff
Gaffer: Michael Rosner-Hyman
Practical FX: Joel David Reed
Colorist: Ryan Berger
VFX: Dane Wes
Editor: Adam Rose-Levy
Sound Design: Lucien Bramar
Song: “Change it All” by Camel Power Club
Production Company: Bluebird Day
Special Thanks: Evidence Cameras & Jeff Hinkley

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

A moving documentary short from New York City-based filmmaker Sean Wang (previously featured here). “Still Here” explores the now-abandoned village of Kaohsiung in Taiwan and the few remaining residents who refuse to leave.

Director & Editor: Sean Wang
Producers: Cynthia Lee, Pamela Li, Sean Wang
Cinematographer: Zach Stoltzfus
Composer: Breton Vivian
Production & Post-Production Sound: Michael O’Connor
Colorist: Kinan Chabani

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

A poetic exploration of themes of confinement and the need for expression by Sydney-based director and photographer Lester Jones (previously featured here). Shot in Sydney on 16mm film, “The Charge” was written in 2019 about the effects of isolation and the human compulsion to join together.

Writer & Director: Lester Jones
Producer: Benjamin Flaxman
DOP: Campbell Brown
Editor: Lucas Vazquez
Colourist: Fergus Rotherham (with thanks to The Editors)
Composer: Ryan Walsh
Sound Mix: Georgia Collins
Music & Sound Design: Electric Sheep Music
AD: Mike Green
1st AC: Jani Hakli
2nd AC: Charlie Slessar & Luke Tysoe
Steadicam: Justin Besser
Gaffer: Mat Wilson
Best Boys: Nicholas Gascoine & Nathan Grant
Grip: Moose
Rickshaw Operators: Tom Brooks & Jack Levanes
Production Manager: Leilani Tomaszewski
Production Assistants: Max Bibby, Minh Nhat Pham, Jack Rockliffe
Art Director: Ben Garvey
Art Assistant: Coen Horwood
Makeup: Victoria Anderson & Cherry Cheung
Catering: The Catering Dept
Unit Department: Cato Logistics
Attachments: Matthew Simmons, Danielle Payne

Cast
Makhosi Mpofu & Thabani Mpofu
Aiden Harmitt-Williams
Coen Horwood, Oscar Doane, Jett Farkas,
Miller Brand, Justin Lim Wei Hang, Emmanuel Peters,
Ben Mitchell, Gabe Wahl, Zac Panyar,
Mitchell Craig, Cameron Walker, Thamid Chowdry,
Joel Appleby, Samuel Passmore, Kyle Coad,
Cameron Nicholls, George Collins, Ali, Varmich Dulleh

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

Nice look to this video for Troi Blank’s track “Mango Haze” by director Kevin Clark (previously featured here). Cinematography by Hayden Mason (previously featured here).

Director: Kevin Clark
DP: Hayden Mason
1st AD: Jack Fahey
Prod Coordinator: Jessica Clark
1st AC: Jake Wolfert
Gaffer: Jakob Longcob, Ryan Wermich
G/E Swing: Chris Wohlers
Robin Op: James Teninty
Gimbal Techs: Ben Steen, Keith Hudson
Production Assistants: Emily Truong, Vanessa Brintrup
Editor: Kevin Clark
Color Correction: Jessica Clark

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

Love this whimsical short by New York City-based filmmaker Colin Read (previously featured here). “The Midas Hat” tells the story of a man who suddenly and mysteriously gains the ability to transform anything he touches into a hat — a power that slowly begins to upend his life. Driven by practical effects and dark humour, the project was inspired by Colin’s friend, Brian Downey, who creates handmade hats, under the guise of Falcon Bowse:

“We’d made a fun little short together a few years ago, in which Brian ran around Brooklyn, taking cuts out of ‘city fabric’ — caution tape, tattered bodega signs, safety vests, etc—and turned it into a cap. Last fall, Brian showed me what he was working on now: turning everything into hats. He had an entire wall already filled with hats made out of solo cups, pickle skins, pincushions, light sockets, dollar bills… They were just so insane and hilarious that I couldn’t wait to make some sort of film featuring them.

The ‘transformation’ match cuts were simple, and very fun to shoot. We’d practice Dylan’s body movements so that he could recreate them (closely enough) every try, and then shoot both takes back to back. On the cutting point for each take, in order to give his hair and clothing that little hint of movement, we would blast him in the face with a leaf blower held just offscreen! This also helped give Dylan a physical cue to work off of. During the newspaper transformation, we just stuffed the leaf blower with ripped paper and shot it up at him. For other transformations, like the beverage, money, and cereal ones, I just stood out of frame and threw stuff at his face. It felt a bit sadistic to splash a full cup of water right in his face, and lob a handful of change at him…but also very satisfying. Sorry, Dylan!”

During the current health crisis Brian has been using his skills to mass-produce thousands of face masks, which he has been giving away for free! Click here to learn more on his website and check out some fun behind-the-scenes images, shot by Jacob Ireland, below!

A film by Colin Read
Starring Dylan Kammerer
Guest starring Alex Fogt & Thelma Mae Laken
Art Director: Jacob Ireland
Gaffer: Nico Tepper
Grip: Connor Kammerer
Score: Sam Perkin
Sound Design: Vince Canger
Lighting Kit: Daniel Frank
Title Illustration: Cosme Studio
Color: James Gilmore / Polka
Hats made by Brian Downey / Falcon Bowse

Colin Read’s Website

Colin Read on Instagram

Falcon Bowse’s Website

Falcon Bowse on Instagram

An homage to the variety of stories and subjectivities of the LGBTQ community by acte tm. “Solidarity Is The Only Enemy Of Misery” exhibited at König Tokio Gallery in January as a large scale video installation on three screens. The film aims to question systems that are based on binary positions and restrictive categorizations without trying to impose a “correct” way of interpretation. In utilizing a multilayered cinematic language, the aim is to present the interplay of identity and representation in modern times. As acte tm describes the set up of the original installation:

“Parallel to each other yet physically separated, the work is shown on three individual screens, all of which use their own visual vocabulary, thereby engaging in a dialogue at the intersection of ethnicity, gender and popular culture. By doing so, the film allows an insight into one of the founding houses of the Ballroom scene.

The interviews and performances that make up the film are improvised by members of the Iconic House of St. Laurent in NYC and reflect and epitomize a complex conflict between daily life and the dream world, led in order to negotiate the dialectic nature of liberty and entrapment.”

Watch “Solidarity Is The Only Enemy Of Misery” above and see full credits below!

Created & Produced by acte tm
Executive Producer: Tsellot Melesse
Directed by acte tm c/o Tsellot Melesse & Philipp Groth
Local Producer: Crystal St. Laurent, Marlon Beatt
Director of Photography: Elias Boetticher
Artwork & Graphics: ABC Dinamo c/o Johannes Breyer
Edit: Elias Boetticher
Sound Design: Marlon Beatt
Music: Alessandro Mellini, VJuan Allure
Starring: Corey St. Laurent, Pepp St. Laurent,
La India St. Laurent, Jah St. Laurent,
Joejo St. Laurent, Tez St. Laurent, Haven St. Laurent
Exhibition: Louisa Hoelker, Tatsuya Yamasaki
Thanks to: Johann König, Tatsuya Yamasaki, König Gallery Berlin,
König Gallery Tokyo, Louisa Hoelker, ABC Dinamo,
House of St Laurent New York, House of St Laurent Europe

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

Fun video for Gohu’s track “Vai ficar fixe (All will be cool)” by New York City-based director Daniel Soares (previously featured here). Shot two months ago after flying home to Portugal, Soares cast his grandparents and a few others from the village. As he shares:

“Obviously this was shot pre-corona. Since then the world changed, the borders closed, I got stuck in Portugal, Gohu had to re-write the lyrics, and now he is donating all the money he’s making with this album.”

Starring
Fernanda Soares
Augusto Soares
Rogerio Tomas
Marilia Pinelas
Jose Carrico
Antonio Pinelas
Leonel Mateus
Elisabete Pinelas
Candida Ramos

Song by Gohu
Directed by Daniel Soares
Produced by El-hey
Head of Production: Vanessa Oliveira
Director of Photography: Mika Altskan
Editors: Oliver Stumpf, Daniel Soares
Colorist: Sofie Borup, Company 3
Stylists: Maria Nobre, Raquel Guerreiro
Assistant Director: Pedro Madeira
First AC: Miguel Varandas
Second AC: Guilherme Daniel
Loader: Jose Pedroso
PA:Tiago Xavier, Nuno Marques
Musical Producer: Emerson Martins
Executive Producer: Miguel Coimbra, Antonio Selas

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

A charming piece about an empty city and the beauty of all the people who stay inside by Amsterdam-based filmmaker Danny Griffioen (previously featured here). Adding a touch of humour with the iconic Amsterdam barrel organ playing in the biggest square in the city, the film was shot on just two rolls of film — adding further to the challenge of capturing all the imagery from afar as the COVID-19 protocol in the Netherlands is to keep 2 meters distance.

Director: Danny Griffioen
Cinematographer: Simon Meesters
Producer: Anna Jordans
Production Company: Mals Media
Copywriter: Randa Peters
Voice-over: Sammie van den Broek
Translation: Isabelle Griffioen
Editor: Tim Schijf
Colorist: Ruben Labree
Filmlab: Haghe Film

Thanks to the beautiful people who stayed at home
Merel Blom & Johnny
Kelly van Kampen
Dêsa Üstebay & Frankie
Midhat Avdagic & Julia Marino
Johnathan Baena & Angelique Janssen
Martinez
Josa and Laila & her mom

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