​Gen’s ShotGlass Review of MKE Film Fest

A shot glass is symbolic. It tells you what it is quickly and direct.

Since the MKE Film Festival has come to an end, we would like to reflect on the festivals take on the music/film mashup and just the greatness that the MKE Film Fest represents. Showing love to the Milwaukee film scene from every aspect possible.

As you all know a good music video can make (and sometimes) break a song.

So we asked are homie and CW Connect Genesis Renji of The House Of Renji to let us know his ShotGlass thoughts on The Milwaukee Music Video Show, "a celebration of the myriad art talent our community has to offer."

Read Gen's honest and lit descriptions of these videos then watch the videos and listen to some of songs below (if the video were unavailable).

& if you know Gen, he suggests you read these reviews in his voice. #OohYeaYea


1st Video – From The Drowning Dreamers Band - Frayed Bridge to Dying Star.

It had a dope acoustic vibes to it. The video itself was reminiscent to a Nat Geo documentary/ commercial for Earth’s hidden oases. Music is hypnotic, a growing trance.

2nd Video – “Roaming Empire” by Maritime.
Donuts. Reverse bubbles. Jamming at work. Boss yelling at you. Story of my life. This video had a 70’s Show vibe to it, especially with the solo car scene. The signature style was slow motion through real time speed. Long story, short: the Roaming Empire is oblivious to the worl

3rd Video – Trapper Schoepp’s “Settlin’ or Sleeping Around”.

First, coldest name I’ve ever heard in ever. Secondly, the songs sounds like a secret track to "Back To The Future"; it was one of the more cinematic feeling videos that showcased the duality of life.

4th Video - Rio Turbo “20/20 (Dashcam Remix)”. This is when DRIVE meets PBS on LSD. Electric soul sonics, paired with cuts of nature, the 50s and cells. Literal cells from science and shit. Ooh cheetah.

 

5th Video – Fox Face – “Teenage Wiccan” Scenic. Silhouettes. Fortune cards. Random cuts and twitches like animorphic book covers. Fingers put out fire from candle. Badass.

6th Video - Lorde Fredd33 “S.O.S”, mama there go that man again!!!! One of my favorite videos and songs. Conceptually dope; black yakuza. Hari-kari.

7th Video - Devil Met Contention’s "Used To Be" sounds like the Kill Bill 2 B Sides and looks like the best of Dancing With The Stars. If Uma Thurman made it to the wedding reception and didn't get murdered at the rehearsal, that’s this visual. Beautiful blend of western and Latin sounds and visual elements, especially the use of lighting.

8th Video - WC Tank "27th and National" is eerie as hell. Like if the Purge started a record label, this would be the first release. The slow motion shot of the skull faced skateboarder with the red cape is insane. Skateboarding devil. Upside down rain. Breakdown of song leads to visual evolution of edits and 360 camera flipping and rotated panning. Kelly Anderson got his shit off.

9th Video - Webster X’s "Lately", the grand design of Damien Blue and Cody LaPlant once again. This video is the like part 2 to Web’s “Doomsday” video. Some similar visual signatures, but the overall essence is a feeling of death and rebirth. The passing to forever.

10th Video - Direct Hit’s "Was It The Acid". Dude trips balls and sees dancing turkeys. Everyone becomes a turkey. Shot on Farwell. At the end of the video he is the rooster or turkey or whatever. I didn’t care for this.

11th Video - Group of the Altos "Coplights". This was edited like Tree Of Life. I’ve never wanted to understand a visual so much until I saw this. It's a collage of vintage photos and scenes mixed with modern memories and experiences. Great use of color for stage performance shot. Geologist. Typewriter. Domestic violence clip. VHS tapes. Campers. "Is this the past?". State Fair "is this the future?" "is this now?” Now read all of this backwards and that’s the video..

12th Video - Busdriver "Much". Dope ass song with a clean and simple visual. Straight shot with a seemingly vintage filter over the edit. It reminded me of Crooklyn. Shoutout Domo and Mykal with the cameos!!!

13th Video - Fabian James & Treyy G’s "See You". Nick Jonas ass video; Close-esque vibes. Shot like Nickelback’s "Hero" with the warehouse setting; the dancing and break dancing is so fire. Shot like an Apple/H&M commercial. Crazy dope, definitely one of my favorites from the night, don’t let the opening comments fool you.

VIDEO UNAVAILABLE TO STREAM

14th Video - Serengeti "Doctor My Own Patience". Bad memories. Empty house. Disco in the dresser, though. Cray. Roller rink. This was the most interestingly edited video. Another 70’s Show-esque visual.

VIDEO UNAVAILABLE TO STREAM

 


CREDITS:

WC Tank – “27th and National” (USA / 2016 / Director: Kelly Michael Anderson)

Busdriver – “Much” (USA / 2015 / Director: Dan Peters)

Canopies – “Getting Older” (USA / 2015 / Director: Ryan Reeve)

Devil Met Contention – “Used to Be” (USA / 2016 / Directors: Jessica Farrell, Ehson Rad)

Direct Hit – “Was it the Acid?” (USA / 2016 / Directors: Bobby Ciraldo, Andrew Swant)

Fabian James & Treyy G – “See You” (USA / 2016 / Director: Quinn Hester)

Fox Face – “Teenage Wiccan” (USA / 2016 / Director: Mitch Rasque)

The Drowning Dreamers Band – “Frayed Bridge to Dying Star” (USA / 2016 / Director: Sean Kafer)

Group of the Altos – “Coplights” (USA / 2016 / Directors: Heather Hass, Shawn Stephany, Sean Williamson)

Lex Allen – “Cream & Sugar” (USA / 2015 / Director: Cody LaPlant)

Lorde Fredd33 – “SOS” (USA / 2016 / Director: Kiran Vee)

Maritime – “Roaming Empire” (USA / 2016 / Director: Erin Elders)

Rio Turbo – “20/20 (Dashcam Remix)” (USA / 2016 / Director: Dan Boville)

Serengeti – “Doctor My Own Patience” (USA / 2016 / Director: WC Tank)

Trapper Schoepp – “Settlin’ Or Sleepin’ Around” (USA / 2016 / Director: Caroline Jaecks)

Webster X – “Lately” (USA / 2015 / Directors: Cody LaPlant, Damien Blue, Sam Ahmed)

WebsterX - Everything (prod. by Q the Sun)

It’s Earth Day so we thought we would share this extraordinary and unworldly video.

Produced and directed by Cody LaPlant and Damien Blue, Webster X brings us the next “trilogy” to the incredible visuals we have already seen for “Doomsday” and “Lately” that were released last year.

The video for “Everything” captures the essence of the song by showcasing a nontraditional path and approach to music as well as the path to sharing ones gift with the world. (Yeah we know Web is an alien but hey we get the metaphor.)

Premiered by Pigeons and Planes, Webster X told them, “This video is a testament of something I’m desperately trying to share with the world, I got a vision man, Cody and Damien allow me to share that with people. People are really starting to realize that slowly. I’ll tell them what that vision is when the world fully accepts me.”

We hear him.

Watch the video below and as we respect our living legends; listen to Ms. Lauryn Hill's, “Everything is Everything” here (because we couldn’t not mention it).

www.websterxdotcom.com Directed & Produced By: Cody Laplant & Damien Blue Wardrobe by: Amanda Mills (Sunshine Acid Designs), Jedidiah Proud, Dylan Houghton. Film Score By: WebsterX & Q the Sun Additional Camera Operators: Xinhao Liang & Kyle Kadow Production Designer: Kristina Rolander Gaffer: Jordan Hiltz (Take7prod.com) VFX: John Roberts Special FX Makeup: Austin Manchon too many thanks to the crew + extras + cast of the video for being apart of this ...

Rahn Harper - As of Late (feat. D. Bridge) [Prod. by Mic Kellogg] [MUSIC VIDEO]

For your viewing pleasure, watch “As of Late” from Rahn Harper (formerly known as RahRah The Savage) featuring the homie D. Bridge.

We can’t get enough of the quality of Mic Kellogg’s production, Rahn’s sultry voice or the consistent dope verses from D. Bridge.

The video, shot and directed by Damien Blue, tells a story by contrasting multiple scenes of vivid and bright locations with somewhat ghostly black and white visuals of a lost love. While it premiered by Milwaukee Mag, the “As of Late” video is no doubt another award winner waiting to happen for Damien (and even his partner-in-crime, Cody LaPlant who assisted on the project).

Watch the video below and if you want more from Rahn Harper check out his project, “Oh My Goodness LP” below and hear him on Pizzle’s “Grand Design” project here.  


Oh My Goodness LP Premiered by @Earmilk: http://bit.ly/1FQ2io2 Free Download: http://bit.ly/OhMyGoodnessDL Stream on Audiomack: http://bit.ly/OhMyGoodnessAM RahRah The Savage @rahrahthesavage twitter.com/RahrahtheSavage facebook.com/Rahrahfromroosevelt instagram.com/rahrahthesavage http://rahrahthesavage.bandcamp.com

Mic Kellogg - By 3 (Official Video)

With his 2015 success from his project, Breakfast, emcee and producer Mic Kellogg brings us the official video for his track "By 3". And with the help from his homies and directors Cody LaPlant and Damien Blue, you can feel the positive vibes and the hunger to do more and of course get breakfast on the way.

We think the video gives us a small take of what Mic Kellogg will be accomplishing this year and we can't wait to see what's next. Watch the video below and let us know what your eating for breakfast in the comments. 


Also we know you've listened but just in case you missed your jet, listen to Breakfast below.

Written & Composed By: Mic Kellogg Additional Vocals By: Robert Knapp, Eden McKinnie & Siren Mixed & Mastered By: Charles Mammyth Forsberg

#WeSeeYou (Official Video) LEX ALLEN - “CREAM AND SUGAR”

We've never really needed an excuse for some cream, sugar or honey.

So go watch Lex Allen's newest video for "Cream and Sugar," featuring his NAN family, Webster X with production by Q the Sun.

The sensual and beautifully documented video was created by Cody LaPlant and Damien Klaven and we personally can't get enough of it. With a little bit of creepy twist that make you ask is all that sweet stuff worth it. 

Enjoy and watch out for what Lex Allen has next for us. #WeSeeYou and your Sugar, Honey, Ice Tea. 

Respect the Shooters: Cody LaPlant & Damien Klaven

In a world where we tend to focus on the artist on the stage, CopyWrite has always appreciated the men (and women) behind the scenes. 

Which is why we will happily welcome to our spotlight, videographers Cody LaPlant and Damien Klaven. 

Photo Cred: Weston Rich // via www.westonrich.tumblr.com

Photo Cred: Weston Rich // via www.westonrich.tumblr.com

This powerful duo is a force to be reckoned with by themselves but get them together and watch out for the flames. There visuals bring together a whole new outlook onto the story-telling effects that can be seen in video. Taking modern twists on historical landmarks and creating a whole new voice to something that might have felt lifeless before. 

With collaborative videos for a list of local creatives such as WebsterX, Ish Darr, New Age Narcissism, Kiings, Antics, Job Jetson, Reggie Bonds and Milwaukee's own Among The Prime fashion collections; we understand the hype to get these videographers on your team. 

Check out there 2015 demo reels below and be on the lookout for what 2016 may bring.