019 Rapid Cities
video by: Skyla Pojednic
"We're a good group to do experiments with," said John of Rapid Cities after we suggested filming on a bus, "especially if they involve drugs or alcohol." All jokes aside, everyone was serious about the idea after filming a great take of "It's Not Easy Being Green" under the George St. bridge.
With the non-stop monsoon we'd been experiencing the past 30 hours, I was only half expecting to get a phone call from John confirming we'd be shooting right on schedule an hour before our meeting. I was really excited about the challenge...the challenge being to shoot in awful weather without hurting equipment/the band's equipment, and to get good footage. I'm happy to report no damages to Amity (Kevin and I named the camera "baby" from Elliott Smith's "Amity" of course) or mics. HOORAY!
A lot of times, it's the small parts of moments during shooting that strike me most. In the filming of "It's Not Easy Being Green", it was how the surroundings and processes happening around the band felt, looked, and sounded so great in cooperation with the music. The rain was trickling on the ground non-stop, and as Shaun played his xylophone the notes and raindrops met. Greg's drumming matched the beats from the car horns on the street, the overpassing trains. It's when the music hits me and falls within the moment so nicely that I remember what we're all here for.
I'll summarize filming on a bus in about 3 words: fun, scary, and difficult. It was a unique experience, hard to get my bearings (since buses are such awesome shock absorbing vehicles as they are), but great. Rapid was loving it, and so was I. Most of the passengers had headphones in, which was a little ironic to me. I kinda wanted to yell, "Hey! You're getting a live show right here, c'mon!", and rip them out of their ears. But not really. You get it.
Being a photographer first and videographer only recently, I accept the fact that I'm learning about video from a beginner level. As I continue to get some more Wanderer Sessions under my belt, I'm kind of like a fish out of water being told to walk. Taking baby steps, but enjoying it all. Meeting bands is awesome, musicians being a special kind of artist, and bringing a special kind of viewpoint to the sessions. I haven't expected anything going into a shoot. But I know meeting the guys of Rapid Cities who were joking and open to the experience of the WS made it all the more fun.
