Paper Whistle

Eli Stonberg first caught our eye with his intensely colorful video for Daedelus’ La Nocturne.  His new video for Dublab really shows his diversity as a filmmaker.  It features beautiful imagery of astral projection set to music by Dan Deacon.

Created as an introduction for “Dublab’s Labrat Matinee VI: Selections from an Astral Projectionist”, this intriguing short makes me wish I’d been there for what must have been a very fun day at the theatre.  In Eli’s own words:  “The video includes several references to astral projection including a hat tip to Walt Disney’s 1936 Mickey Mouse cartoon Thru The Mirror.”

dublab Labrat Matinee VI intro titles by Eli Stonberg

We were interested in how he approached his work, and he was cool enough to answer a few questions.  It’s our first interview ever—hope you enjoy it.  Let us know what you think.

PW: When did you begin working with video, how’d it all start?
ES: I made videos as a kid.  I would dress up as a ninja and lip sync to Sublime songs with my friend Mac.  But I certainly didn’t know from age 10 that I wanted to make music videos.  I think it started in the beginning of high school when all of my friends were skateboarders.  I was a pretty lousy skater, but a big part of skateboard culture is watching skate videos.  So I spent a bunch of time watching skate vid’s which are essentially big music videos.  While my friends where mostly interested in which skater ollied the tallest stair set, did the most technical grind, etc.   I was more into which skater had the best song soundtracking their part.  For instance, one of my favorites is this one video called Chomp On This. It features all of these guys who usually film the pro skaters, so they are considerably worse than what you are used to seeing…  But I love that video because its soundtrack includes Gang Starr, the Knight Rider theme, Ja Rule, Daft Punk, etc.  Something about fun music and exciting visuals really does it for me.  So this interest in skate videos translated into wanting to actually make videos.

PW: Skate videos, perfect!  So did you seek formal training in video, or are you self taught?
ES: Both.  I did a few years of A/V class in high school and then went to film school at Boston University.  During that time I interned for music video production companies Ghost Robot and The Directors Bureau.  But as with anything, I learned the most from doing. I decided that instead of spending tons of money on a thesis film, I would make two low budget music videos.

behind the scenes! photos by Samara Vise

PW: Low budget…I think working that way creates serious creativity.  Agreed?  On the flipside, do you have a big budget dream project?
ES: It both creates and stifles creativity.  I wouldn’t know what it’s like to make a big budget piece because all of mine have been under 2k.  So everything has been on a low low low budget.  But the thing is that nobody will judge your work based on what it cost to make.  So you need to figure out how to make something great with no money.  It’s almost more about being crafty than creative.  One way I have done that is to make videos exist within “the black void”.  The thinking there is… if you take out the background, you save a bunch on art department and set dressing.  For this cloud video we were able to do everything with a greenscreen, a miniature cloud model, and some amazing After Effects work by Peter Sauvey.  So there are certainly ways around spending money… But yes… it really limits how big you can make things look if you have no budget.  I have lots of big budget dreams…. how about this one… an underwater epic with lots of coral reef puppets and an animatronic vampire squid.

PW: Squid!  Yes I love it.  Ok.  So who are your favorite artists in your field?  Do you have a top 5 favorite music videos?
ES: To list my favorite video directors I’ll stick to some dudes still making music videos (most of the greats have moved on to commercials/features).   Andy Bruntel, Encyclopedia Pictura, Kris Moyes, Megaforce and Jesse Ewles.  My top five favorite videos ever would be pretty tough… so let’s pick some good ones from the above mentioned geniuses.

Bodies of Water – “Under the Pines” dir. Andy Bruntel
Zion I – “So Tall” dir. Encyclopedia Pictura
Softlightes – “Heart Made Of Sound” dir. Kris Moyes
Metronomy – “A Thing For Me” dir. Megaforce
Moros Eros – “On My Side” dir. Jesse Ewles

behind the scenes! photos by Samara Vise

PW: I can’t wait to dive into your recommendations.  I read that you just joined The Masses and that you’re doing some innovative work for a new Au Revoir Simone video.  Tell me a little bit more about what you’re doing right now.
ES: I’m in post on a video for their track “Knight of Wands”.   The title refers to the tarot card and the video carries that theme.  It will be an interactive experience for each unique viewer.  In the end of the video you will be rewarded with something that you personally created while playing.  That’s really all I can say about it now.  It’s been amazing working with those girls, they are the sweetest.

PW: What artist would you most like to work with next?
ES: Animal Collective.

Thanks Eli!   For more visit:
www.elistonberg.com
www.wearethemasses.com