So remember when we called out TPC for obviously not being into their latest contest to Direct Their Video? Well, here is the result of that unenthusiastic effort by the band and guess what? We like it!
Directed by University of Memphis student Olan Rogers we get a pretty cute concept that looks cheap on the outside, but has a hard working inside. With a budget of 10 grand, it’s obvious Rogers had to work with a less than limited scope, so we’ll forgive this for not being pitch perfect. You’d also think with a Solo Cup-centric shot, it wouldn’t be that much of a chore of a shoot. Look below and see if there’s anything about this idea that looks like a walk in the park:
I have no real complaints about this video, but as a reviewer critiquing this young man’s foray into the mainstream I do have a few things that I either would’ve liked to see or tips that could further enhance the lad’s work.1
Aside from the cup plot, the cup wall is probably the best prop in this video. I would’ve saved it until a little later in the clip, just to give it that extra gravitas or build it up. Also, as not everyone is the sharpest tool in the shed, so i’d have been a bit more obvious about the whole “cup-phone” idea. Love it or hate it, you could’ve used this as an opportunity to show the back of the “cupwall” with all the different wires and make some interesting shots out of it. I know you were probably strapped for time (amongst other things) so it’s no big deal.
Stick with your humor and ease off on the out-of-focus transitions. Like with cooking any decent recipe, you want to pepper the spices (or in this case, effects/tricks) throughout without taking away from the entire platter. Keep the fast cuts and location shots, as they mixed things up and kept those with short attention spans in the action.
Your humor is one of your best traits. My favorite part of the video was the guy kicking the cup instead of listening to it. Borderline genius. Watching your catalog of work it’s apparent, especially in certain episodes like Fergie, You are My Halo Game Fuel, I’m Listening To My Radio, Derrick, and Hip Hop. You’re buddies crack me up and your ideas are plentiful. Keep them coming, and you’ll fare better than most directors out there. Which brings me to Balloon Shop. Glad you’ve got your production group going and it’s good to see you give it a shoutout within your first major project.
In the end Olan, good work my friend. Sorry TPC was a little boring on the performance part of it, but that’s not your fault. Like all the great directors though, you not only managed to put yourself in your own shit, but you managed to give yourself some onscreen action in the process. Well played Rogers, well played.
