Story by Jerry Howard
Remember all the hoopla over those MTV film shoots that took place around town last summer. The shoots were for an MTV project called $5 Cover which featured and followed around many of Seattle's most loved bands of the moment including the Moondoggies, The Lights, Thee Emergency, The Spits, The Maldives, and a slew of local hip-hop acts as well. Directing the project was Lynn Shelton, the director responsible for the absurd yet totally watchable Seattle based indie film "Hump Day". Well, this $5 Cover business is finally screening on Monday at SIFF cinema, and some of the particulars of the what turned out to be a 60-minute film have just come to my attention. Sorry I'm not in the loop, but I just wasn't that enthused about MTV coming in and putting their shitty spin on a music documentary about Seattle bands. So basically I have ignored the whole thing.
Turns out its not a music documentary at all but a dramatized story following 13 Seattle bands during the course of a weekend. WTF! Of course there are brief snippets of the performances that were filmed at such places as Easy Street Records, The Blue Moon, and Chop Suey but it also includes a series of highly dramatized vignettes involving prominent members of our music community and actors. I am happy for the bands who are getting wide exposure with this thing, but the tactics are just way too questionable. I don't know, I keep flip flopping on this one. I guess the trailer grabbed my attention, so here is the info on the screening as well as the known info on the after party at the Tractor.
$5 Cover: Seattle shows Monday at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $15 ($12 for SIFF members). An afterparty at Ballard’s Tractor Tavern that includes yet-to-be named bands featured in the film begins at 9 p.m. The cover for the afterparty is of course $5.
Here is the trailer for the Seattle $5 Cover, and for those who have seen "Hump Day" notice actor Joshua Leonard part way through. Seriously?
This brings me to the actual meat and potatoes of this post. SRG contributor Jerry Howard had a very interesting experience while doubling as an extra at the Blue Moon $5 Cover shoot for one of his all-time favorite bands The Spits back in August. Jerry's first hand account gives an interesting perspective of one of the events that led to the now finished product that is $5 Cover: Seattle.
Note: This account was written shortly after his experience in August, 2009.
--
I arrived at the Blue Moon tavern and everything seemed a bit disorganized. The crew scrambled, busy for the upcoming shoot: adjusting lighting, blacking out windows, all the fun things that go into making a video or film.
Good times.
A woman approached me asking if I was there to be an extra. Spot on lady. She then requested that I report to the RV for wardrobe inspection.
Wardrobe inspection? Seems like an innocuous request, so I obeyed. Immediately, all eyes were on my t-shirt, which is all black and, thanks to loud white font, screams "Technosucks."
Another member of the crew asked who the shirt represented? Is it a company? A logo perhaps? No need to fear, man. Technosucks represents the cool, relaxing sounds of Pure Filth in Nottingham, UK. Actually, they are a hardcore techno crew who are anything but relaxing. I explained that they are my friends and my buddy Ian actually created the shirt and would be proud if it showed up in a Spits video. I ensured there would be no lawsuits.
"Sorry, it's an MTV thing." He informed me.
The "Technosucks" t-shirt needed to go. Wardrobe offered me a variety of other black, logo friendly shirts. Seriously, it must have been bands who MTV was cool with. I did not recognize any of them and started to feel a bit self-conscious. What if I wore the equivalent of a Warrant shirt? How about Lincoln Park? Nope! That was not going to happen to me. The "Technosucks" shirt would be worn inside out, proudly of course and with a hint of discontent.
Next, the MTV guy branded me: a sharpie blackened "X" slashed across the back of my hand. Immediately, I connected the black "X" to straight-edge and chuckled while entering the bar thirsty for Manny's. The bartender refused to serve me. What? Do not infer that I might get rowdy when I have not even received a fair chance to get out of hand. I demand booze. Another extra washed his symbol off - smart move! Another crew of neatly groomed punks declared they would no longer "extra" and drinks were served all around.
I did not display such bravado. A crew member from MTV kindly informed me that there would no drinking and proceeded to herd me into a roped off stage area with the rest of the sober people, away from the bar flies, away from the ten varieties of tasty goodness hovering inside those magical taps. Screwed, I stood there alone - a poster boy for conformity with my inside out "Technosucks" shirt. I had chosen television over beer - a clear indicator my brain had been scrambled at some point by network TV. At that moment, another MTV crew worker handed me a bottle - a bottle of beer! I smiled. She didn't.
"It's only water." She apologized.
Damn! She wasn't messing with me. The label claimed a Cobb Nobbler IPA. Liars! Hey, the water tasted good. It was hot inside the Blue Moon.
The AD started instructing us regarding our placements. Some dressed up punks would hover in the front corner where they would be the focus. I believe they were actors, which meant they were probably getting paid! Therefore, they would receive screen time. Their dance moves would be on display for the behemoth MTV public. To the shadows for the rest of us, providing a nice back drop for the beautiful. Need to ugly it up a bit. Contrast is nice. I was in the back.
The Spits came out and blasted through three live songs for the crowd. It ruled. I love this band. I was here for the band, not anything else, but a beer would have hit the spot.
After playing a few songs, the production crew prepped for the next shot. A few other extras started to ask one another if The Spits were a real band. What? It dawned on me that some of the extras did not know The Spits. TV had called and they had answered - a chance to be somebody. Maybe get noticed. The spirit of LA rifling its way into Seattle.
I needed a beer in the worst way.
The video focused on one of my favorite Spits' tunes, "Witch Hunt." We heard it over and over again, which didn't bother me. At home, I listen to "Witch Hunt" over and over, so it felt right, except that no beer was involved - damn you MTV! The Spits had fun with it, displaying their usual energy that contributes to their greatness. They joked. They didn't seem bothered.
Overall, it was an interesting experience. On past productions I have worked on, people generally seem stressed out and treat each other like shit. Not the case here. Lynn Shelton, who directed (Hump Day), created a stress free set and it was cool to watch her work. Back in 1996, I worked for Marty Calner who is responsible for crimes against humanity, puking out cliched infested videos from lame bands such as Aerosmith, Poison, and White Snake. This jerk off would scream at everyone and once told me that I would, "Never work in this town [Hollywood] again!" Homie was a walking cliche. He treated extras like dirt and always left the set before everyone, peeling off in his Mercedes. He still owes me $200. Punk ass. Happy to say this shoot did not resemble any of that crap.
After The Spits wrapped up, I was fortunate to meet Sean and thank him for allowing us to use the song "Rat Face." He was cool. We had a nice chat.
In the end, I scored my beer and enjoyed it while watching an old flick titled Vice Squad in the comfort of my own home. Although MTV had sunk its claws into me for a short time, after I was able to proudly display my "Technosucks" shirt to whomever I wanted. Compromises had to be made. The afternoon was about supporting one of my favorite bands who had been good to the Taco Cart. If you ever get the chance to see The Spits, you should do it. You will not be disappointed.
I leave you with our trailer for "Vampire Hunter Hank" that includes The Spits song "Rat Face."
Turns out its not a music documentary at all but a dramatized story following 13 Seattle bands during the course of a weekend. WTF! Of course there are brief snippets of the performances that were filmed at such places as Easy Street Records, The Blue Moon, and Chop Suey but it also includes a series of highly dramatized vignettes involving prominent members of our music community and actors. I am happy for the bands who are getting wide exposure with this thing, but the tactics are just way too questionable. I don't know, I keep flip flopping on this one. I guess the trailer grabbed my attention, so here is the info on the screening as well as the known info on the after party at the Tractor.
$5 Cover: Seattle shows Monday at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $15 ($12 for SIFF members). An afterparty at Ballard’s Tractor Tavern that includes yet-to-be named bands featured in the film begins at 9 p.m. The cover for the afterparty is of course $5.
Here is the trailer for the Seattle $5 Cover, and for those who have seen "Hump Day" notice actor Joshua Leonard part way through. Seriously?
$5 Cover: Seattle Trailer from MTV New Media on Vimeo.
This brings me to the actual meat and potatoes of this post. SRG contributor Jerry Howard had a very interesting experience while doubling as an extra at the Blue Moon $5 Cover shoot for one of his all-time favorite bands The Spits back in August. Jerry's first hand account gives an interesting perspective of one of the events that led to the now finished product that is $5 Cover: Seattle.
Note: This account was written shortly after his experience in August, 2009.
--
I arrived at the Blue Moon tavern and everything seemed a bit disorganized. The crew scrambled, busy for the upcoming shoot: adjusting lighting, blacking out windows, all the fun things that go into making a video or film.
Good times.
A woman approached me asking if I was there to be an extra. Spot on lady. She then requested that I report to the RV for wardrobe inspection.
Wardrobe inspection? Seems like an innocuous request, so I obeyed. Immediately, all eyes were on my t-shirt, which is all black and, thanks to loud white font, screams "Technosucks."
Another member of the crew asked who the shirt represented? Is it a company? A logo perhaps? No need to fear, man. Technosucks represents the cool, relaxing sounds of Pure Filth in Nottingham, UK. Actually, they are a hardcore techno crew who are anything but relaxing. I explained that they are my friends and my buddy Ian actually created the shirt and would be proud if it showed up in a Spits video. I ensured there would be no lawsuits.
"Sorry, it's an MTV thing." He informed me.
The "Technosucks" t-shirt needed to go. Wardrobe offered me a variety of other black, logo friendly shirts. Seriously, it must have been bands who MTV was cool with. I did not recognize any of them and started to feel a bit self-conscious. What if I wore the equivalent of a Warrant shirt? How about Lincoln Park? Nope! That was not going to happen to me. The "Technosucks" shirt would be worn inside out, proudly of course and with a hint of discontent.
Next, the MTV guy branded me: a sharpie blackened "X" slashed across the back of my hand. Immediately, I connected the black "X" to straight-edge and chuckled while entering the bar thirsty for Manny's. The bartender refused to serve me. What? Do not infer that I might get rowdy when I have not even received a fair chance to get out of hand. I demand booze. Another extra washed his symbol off - smart move! Another crew of neatly groomed punks declared they would no longer "extra" and drinks were served all around.
I did not display such bravado. A crew member from MTV kindly informed me that there would no drinking and proceeded to herd me into a roped off stage area with the rest of the sober people, away from the bar flies, away from the ten varieties of tasty goodness hovering inside those magical taps. Screwed, I stood there alone - a poster boy for conformity with my inside out "Technosucks" shirt. I had chosen television over beer - a clear indicator my brain had been scrambled at some point by network TV. At that moment, another MTV crew worker handed me a bottle - a bottle of beer! I smiled. She didn't.
"It's only water." She apologized.
Damn! She wasn't messing with me. The label claimed a Cobb Nobbler IPA. Liars! Hey, the water tasted good. It was hot inside the Blue Moon.
The AD started instructing us regarding our placements. Some dressed up punks would hover in the front corner where they would be the focus. I believe they were actors, which meant they were probably getting paid! Therefore, they would receive screen time. Their dance moves would be on display for the behemoth MTV public. To the shadows for the rest of us, providing a nice back drop for the beautiful. Need to ugly it up a bit. Contrast is nice. I was in the back.
The Spits came out and blasted through three live songs for the crowd. It ruled. I love this band. I was here for the band, not anything else, but a beer would have hit the spot.
After playing a few songs, the production crew prepped for the next shot. A few other extras started to ask one another if The Spits were a real band. What? It dawned on me that some of the extras did not know The Spits. TV had called and they had answered - a chance to be somebody. Maybe get noticed. The spirit of LA rifling its way into Seattle.
I needed a beer in the worst way.
The video focused on one of my favorite Spits' tunes, "Witch Hunt." We heard it over and over again, which didn't bother me. At home, I listen to "Witch Hunt" over and over, so it felt right, except that no beer was involved - damn you MTV! The Spits had fun with it, displaying their usual energy that contributes to their greatness. They joked. They didn't seem bothered.
Overall, it was an interesting experience. On past productions I have worked on, people generally seem stressed out and treat each other like shit. Not the case here. Lynn Shelton, who directed (Hump Day), created a stress free set and it was cool to watch her work. Back in 1996, I worked for Marty Calner who is responsible for crimes against humanity, puking out cliched infested videos from lame bands such as Aerosmith, Poison, and White Snake. This jerk off would scream at everyone and once told me that I would, "Never work in this town [Hollywood] again!" Homie was a walking cliche. He treated extras like dirt and always left the set before everyone, peeling off in his Mercedes. He still owes me $200. Punk ass. Happy to say this shoot did not resemble any of that crap.
After The Spits wrapped up, I was fortunate to meet Sean and thank him for allowing us to use the song "Rat Face." He was cool. We had a nice chat.
In the end, I scored my beer and enjoyed it while watching an old flick titled Vice Squad in the comfort of my own home. Although MTV had sunk its claws into me for a short time, after I was able to proudly display my "Technosucks" shirt to whomever I wanted. Compromises had to be made. The afternoon was about supporting one of my favorite bands who had been good to the Taco Cart. If you ever get the chance to see The Spits, you should do it. You will not be disappointed.
I leave you with our trailer for "Vampire Hunter Hank" that includes The Spits song "Rat Face."
I'm not mad at The Lights or Champagne Champagne for doing this, but the whole thing makes me want to barf in my mouth a little bit.
ReplyDeleteI know, I know. I hate fake shit.
ReplyDeleteHope the Cold Lake show was good yesterday, bummed I missed it. Looking forward to the Police Teeth gig in April though. Keep SRG in the loop on both, would ya?
Thanks for the comment James!