Part way through “The Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think,” the concert film featuring the British duo, the camera pans back, revealing 50,000 frenetic fans at the Fujirock Festival in Japan. By delaying the revelation of the crowd size, director Adam Smith heightens its effect. The audience is one of the keys to “Don’t Think,” which screens at select theaters on Feb. 1.
“I always wanted that to be a major part of it,” said Smith of the many close-up reactions, as well as the encompassing wide shot, of the audience. “I thought that was a way for a cinema audience to emotionally connect with the show.”
Because of the Chemical Brothers’ strong relationship with Fujirock, Smith felt it would be a good fit. The director used 20 cameras, and Smith believes that the Japanese audience lent itself to a feeling of awe and whimsy.
| If You Go |
| ‘Don’t Think’ |
| » 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at area theaters through Fathom Events. $12.50. dontthinkmovie.com; fathomevents.com. |
“It was beyond my wildest expectations of what we actually got,” Smith said. “They’re just lost in their moment and their relationship with the Chemical Brothers show.”
This is the first full-length concert film of the Chemical Brothers. Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons have been creating their brand of electronic music for more than two decades.
“I think there was a feeling, especially from the band, to keep it as a special thing that only happens live,” Smith said. “You’re either there or you’re not there. There was also concern from the band of how you’d really capture it. How do you capture the experience of a show? Not just what you see, but what it feels like?”
“Don’t Think,” with its balance of stunning visuals, clear audio, and audience interplay, comes close to conveying the sense of the live experience.
“The challenge was how to capture in a way that the music is the script, and the script doesn’t have a straight narrative to it,” Smith added. “The music is a journey through emotions. We tried to capture that.”
Smith has worked on concert visuals and videos for the Chemical Brothers for 18 years, so he’s no stranger to the music and the vibe of the duo.
“The same time and energy that goes into the show, we needed to at least be able to do that for the film,” said Smith, who has also filmed numerous documentaries and dramas.
With many of his visual themes available for fans through “Don’t Think,” Smith is challenged now to develop new experiences for future live audiences.
“I’ll never stop doing visuals for the Chemical Brothers,” Smith said. “Like a magician, you’ve always go to have a new trick.”
