Shortly after filmmaker Francisco Campos-Lopez moved to the D.C. area in early 2009, he got the idea to create music videos incorporating local artists. About a year and a half later, the result of his inspiration debuts at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel this week.
On Wednesday, Campos-Lopez screens five new music videos featuring local acts Flo Anito, Alexis George, Modern Thieves and Practically Einstein, followed by live performances by the featured artists. Proceeds from the event will go to Toys for Tots.
“I was looking for good performers,” Campos-Lopez said. “The camera loves these people.”
| Frankie’s Factory |
| » Where: Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE |
| » When: 8 p.m. Wednesday (doors) |
| » Info: Featuring Flo Anito, Alexis George, Modern Thieves and Practically Einstein; $10; rockandroll hoteldc.com |
After the Chilean-born Campos-Lopez relocated to D.C., he researched area artists online, checked out shows in person and approached the four acts he finally ended up working with.
“We occasionally get random e-mails from people, which is great,” Brad Pugh of Practically Einstein said. Though the band exercises caution when approached by strangers, Pugh says Campos-Lopez’s “interest was genuine.”
“It made me take notice immediately,” Pugh added.
After deciding on which song to use for a video for each act, Campos-Lopez created a treatment, and he and the musicians ironed out the deals. Ultimately, the director created the concept, with input from the bands.
Shooting varied for each piece, running from single-day marathons to multiple-location setups that took many days, and editing took between two and three months.
Campos-Lopez shot George’s video in a studio, Anito’s in a diner, Practically Einstein’s at a high school and military base, and Modern Thieves’ out in Virginia’s Rappahannock County.
George said she’s happy with the result.
“I’m a straightforward kind of girl,” she laughed. “The video is straightforward. I never envisioned I’d have backup dancers in the video.”
“He definitely proved himself worthy and was very adamant about doing this,” she added.
While the distribution model of music videos has evolved from praying for rotation on MTV or VH1 to getting views online, the purpose remains the same: gain exposure for the song and band while entertaining.
“I think it’s definitely coming back in a big way,” said Pugh, who expressed his excitement at creating a scripted work as opposed to a live video. “It adds a more personal touch.”
Campos-Lopez hopes the videos start something new in D.C. and build buzz for the local music scene.
“My goal with the videos is … to go viral,” he said. “My goal is to create a movement.”
For Campos-Lopez and the bands involved, that movement begins Wednesday.
“It’ll be the kickoff,” he said. “It’ll be like the year zero.”
