1. First of all, can you introduce yourself? Can you explain why you decided to evolve with a camera in your hands? You are self-taught or have you done studies in audiovisual?
I was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and already have been participating in this world for more than 28 years! My love for producing, filming and editing started at university, not that long ago. In my final year I decided to do some ´film producing´ side-course to gain some easy ECT´s (study points). Since I studied history, my final product had to do with that, so I made a video clip for my alt/hardcore band Antlers about the WW I. I recorded my band with a simple handy-cam and collected some old BBC footage of soldiers marching to the front. The video is still online somewhere! I got the spirit then and finished this editing course in Madrid where I have been living for the last 5 years. Though, most techniques I have learned by doing tutorials on the internet. I still got a LOT to learn! I am still a rooky in this world!
2. There are some directors that you admire particularly? What are the main themes you like to deal with your videos?
Actually, I have got to be honest; I am very bad with names of directors, editors, movies, actors etc. I know that sounds a bit odd! I don’t have any favourite director either. But what I want to see and hear in both videos/movies AND music, are things that drag me into a certain atmosphere. The feeling that a movie or song can bring me is the only thing that matters to me. I like quality, but still, it isn’t the main aspect I am looking for. Recordings can have shitty quality but might still lift me up to that certain level where I think ´´That’s it, That’s good!´´.
I didn’t think I would have a main theme that keeps on coming back in what I make, but there is actually. I think it is ´´the beast that needs to escape from its cage´´; The scream of a burning wooden doll, the grief of wounded soldiers, the woman who is sick of working from 9 till 5 everyday, or the man who can’t believe his life is over after losing a game of chess. It is not the escape itself, but the emotions that go together with this escape.
3. What are the bands you like and can have an influence on your approach of the video? What are your favorite video clips?
There are so many good bands nowadays. Way more than 15, 20 or 30 years ago. The Falling Down Compilations are the living proof of it! You hear so often that music isn’t anymore what it used to be but that’s just bollix! There is more and better variety than ever. All these bands on the FD CD´s inspire me. There are so many rough and good feelings on it, that I wouldn’t mind making a video clip for each and every single song or band on the album (If I had the time and money to do that ). One of my favourite bands, Impure Wilhelmina, participated twice on both the FD I and FD II. They’d better get their asses together and lock themselves in the studio to record a song for the FD IIV compilation. As far as I know, they do not have any video clip (yet). I offered them once to make a video clip for them without getting paid for it, as I did for Tephra, but I was too late. They didn’t see the point of making a video clip for old songs. I guess I can understand. Maybe in the future…?
Video clips I really like are for example Holy Tears by Isis, Vacuity by Gojira, Friends and Traitors by Raised Fist, Split the Atom by Massive Attack but also more low budget clips like After You by My Own Private Alaska. The colours in these clips are great. I also still like many of the Smashing Pumpkins clips, they (almost) always made the best out of it. They made some shit too!
4. What is your opinion about the evolution of the video clips from metal/rock scene? There is a budget more and more important accorded by the bands to this way of promotion...
People become more creative with less money, I think. There are so many talented movie/video clip makers today. You can see a lot of brilliant work on the internet. Good and high quality cameras are becoming cheaper, so everybody can make video clips these days. You don’t need to have a lot of money to make something beautiful. Having said that, just shooting some HD images is not enough to make a video clip in my opinion. Shooting some images of a band and paste them together is not enough either. You need to have time, take your time, imagination and a bit of passion.
5. In general, do you prefer working independently or with a guideline imposed by the band?
To be honest I don’t have enough experience to answer this question. I haven’t made enough video clips to tell you what I prefer. But I do know that I like to have a lot of freedom. Actually, I think the best videos I have made so far are the ones where I did everything myself, without anybody telling me what to do. Though, I am interested in the opinion and vision of other people. If I would make a video clip for a band, it is nice to know what the band or artist wants or feels. Eventually it is their music, so the video has to fit in well. I guess it could be interesting as well to make a video exactly as a band wants. Working out somebody else’s ideas can be quiet difficult though.
6. You directed an amazing video clip for the german band Tephra: how was it to record it? Why this choice? What was your main difficulty? Are you fully happy with the result?
Tephra is a great great band and I was really honoured when they told me I could make a videoclip for them. I heard their song ´River Eyes´ for the first time on the FD I compilation. That´s the music I like. Rough, dark and deep sounds, not too many vocal parts, a lot of contrast, beautiful melodies and they take their time to give each part in their songs a lot of attention. The music hits the inside part of my bones!
I approached them to make a video for River Eyes. At that time they were about to release their new album Temple. They actually wanted to make an animated video clip. The idea was cool, but I wasn’t able to make the video they wanted. Meanwhile, I had another idea that worked out fine for their song ´Chains and Pounding Hooves´. I wanted to do everything myself; from the beginning till the end, from storyboard till postproduction. And so I did.
I remember when I told my parents I was going to make a video clip for a German Hardcore band without getting paid for it. They couldn’t understand this. ´How are you going to spend your time on that´ they said. I guess not so many people do these kind of things for free anymore. But I love the music and it was a great honour to hear that the band was happy with the video. That’s enough for me. I helped the band on a video clip and they helped me making my portfolio better and stronger. As a way to say thanks they sent me a limited edition version of their latest album Temple. You should check it out man, the artwork is fucking stunning!
When I look at the video now, there are some things I wish I had done different. But I will keep these things in mind for my next video.
7. What are your projects for this year? Are you searching new bands which would be interested to working with you or you are already so busy? Ideally, you would like to collaborate with which bands?
I have loads of time again so I hope I can make a new video clip soon! Who ever is interested can contact me!
8. Is there anything else you want say about you, your work or anything else?
I don’t want to talk more about me. I just want to thank Thibaut and Yann (The engineers of the Falling Down Compilations) for giving me the chance and freedom of making their trailers/promotional videos. I can only admire the whole concept and initiative of FD and I am happy I can contribute to it this way. It is a great joy to hear so many good bands from all over the world together on one compilation. These two guys are creating an intercontinental family! I hope to see all those bands together one day on the Falling Down Fest somewhere in the mountains of the Savoie area on a cold snowy December day. How cool would that be!?
Julius Kleipool
Bring the Lions in
www.vimeo.com/juliuskleipool
www.vimeo.com/bringthelionsin
j_kleipool@hotmail.com
Amsterdam/Madrid
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