Video credits:
Directed, produced and edited by Natasha Pincus
Body art by Emma Hack
Cinematographer and colourist: Warwick Field
Scenic artist: Howard Clark

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an artist as unique as Gotye (Wouter De Backer). Let me start by saying that he has been making music for more then 10 years, but I’ve only recently been introduced to him. Probably like most of you, I first heard Gotye when I was introduced to “Somebody That I Used to Know.” After Google-ing the track name, I came across it’s music video which I embedded above. Now it’s not the “coolest” video i’ve seen, but artistically and creatively, I was blown away. The video is directed by Natasha Pincus along with cinematographer Warwick Field who have worked together on many music videos. Here is a little background info about the video shoot:

The challenge of Gotye’s new music video “Somebody That I Used To Know” for Warwick was integrating complex stop-motion elements of painting with live action elements of performance. At first the video was to be shot on Red or Alexa, but the stop-motion element which required split screen compositing with the live footage, pointed the camera choice to the Canon 5D MkII. This was simply because the 5D could be controlled by Dragon software to capture the single frame animation and then seamlessly swapped to HD video capture using the same lenses and sensor. The result would be straight forward image matching between the two capture methods.

The project involves the progressive animated painting of a mural behind Gotye while he sings, and then as the clip advances the paint enveloping his body to finally show he has become one with the background. The view widens to reveal the female vocalist on the track, Kimbra who is also painted “into the background”. As the lyrics describe the breakdown of the relationship, Kimbra becomes depainted – unattached – by stop motion again. This sequence required reverse printing the shot and blending it with the live vocal footage.

The shoot took place over two very long days of painstaking and meticulous work by the crew and scenic artist Howard Clark and body illustrator Emma Hack.

This video is one of many other dope videos by Gotye. Now although he is musically talented, he’s not “the best” there is. But honestly, what makes an artist #GOLD, is the fact that they must stand out in some way. Gotye definitely surpasses many other artists in this criteria because he continuously crosses the ordinary. Check out a short documentary about the “making of” his new album below. Click here to visit his official website where you can get his music and learn more about who he is.