Here’s the music video I made and directed for “Everybody’s BITCHIN’ about AL”, the first original song I wrote.

I decided to use my directing toolkit (which was developed and created through a collaboration with RAWD) on this music video and perform in it myself to authentically portray the main character. I asked Hayley to feature again, alongside some puppeteers (Em Wills & Mollie Macpherson) and local performing arts students (Cara Cassidy, Libby Cornes, Bethany Rice & Thomas Unwin). I also had additional support from RAWD; I collaborated with Alice Lapworth (Creative Producer/Director) and Andrew Sinclair (Access Coordinator/Director). They allowed me to plan the storyboard, be creative, run away with my ideas and direct the way I wanted. I wanted to tell a story the viewer would easily understand and grab their attention from the start. I’ll let you be the judge of that!

I decided to use puppets to represent a group of society (who discriminate or prejudge disabled people) to keep the theme constant throughout the music video and the 2 scenes  (I wrote and directed) as part of my Arts Council sponsored project. With a limited budget, it seemed the most efficient way to get the main message across without offending anyone.

Rehearsals didn’t go as planned, with a last-minute venue change eating into how much time we had to practice. The students were uncertain whether I could direct them at first, having not come across a disabled director before. They were quick to gain an understanding and respect for how my directing toolkit worked. We grew a fast rapport and they later told me they found the process fun and enjoyed my sense of humour. Hayley even said my way of directing using the toolkit was “more helpful than some directions she’d had from experienced directors!”

Shooting the video was hectic and ambitious; the venue again changed at short notice and we were racing against the clock on the day. We only had a few hours to fit everything in! Despite having the storyboard and everyone giving 100%, we missed a few parts we planned. Hayley and I had to be ‘one take wonders’ right at the end of our scheduled timeslot at The Quarry (which was freezing).

Despite the chaos, I really enjoyed the whole experience even though I was frozen to death!

Editing the video didn’t turn out the way I planned, due to the missed parts that weren’t shot, and I couldn’t physically use the software by myself using my chinswitch. I was still involved with the editing process but not the way I initially intended. I hope to create more music videos in the future, it’s exactly the type of thing I love and think I’m showing promise in.