Jim Pace Chats About Low Budgets, Getting Jumped & Twinkies

               

In our new series, Music & Film, directors, actors and producers will discuss their work in music videos. In our first installment, director Jim Pace discusses the band Hoodless and its video "Waiting."

Jim Pace fell in love with music early on and thought they would live happily ever after. When he met film, he was captivated by the flying car, ear slashing grandeur of it all. While studying at NYU, he was faced with an ugly truth; he loved both music and film. To this day he still feels guilty. 

Pace is currently directing a new music video and will soon begin preproduction on his first feature film, which he will write and direct. It will be released sometime in 2013. If he had one wish, he would save the Twinkie. It's delicious.

Riffraf:  How did you meet  Hoodless?  What was it like working with them?

Pace: I told a friend I was planning to direct a few videos to try some ideas, next day he sent me an ad the boys had placed, looking for a director. I contacted them. It was great working with them, we complimented each other. I encourage fist fights on the set, they enjoy having them. Everyone's a lot sharper when they know at any moment, they could get jumped.

 

Riffraf: Are you a fan of their music?

Pace:  Yes. I asked them if they did any cover songs, they gave me a dirty look. I became a fan right then.

Riffraf: Did you develop the concept for the video?

Pace: I liked the idea of a band living in their own little world, filled with light and sound, while everything else is happening outside. That's what it's really like when you're in a band. I had some thoughts for the narrative, as did the band. So we bandied about some ideas. It was a collaboration.

Riffraf: What was the biggest challenge of shooting the video?

Pace: Lack of time and budget. It was the first time I had to wear so many hats. Directing, editing, effects, etc. Not enough people to blame. I did bring a DP. So if anything is wrong with the video, it's obviously his fault. A captain goes down with his ship, but I prefer to watch it from the lifeboats.

Riffraf: What are your favorite music videos?

Pace: These stay with me: "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys. The song is great, the video makes it greater. The one that makes directors say, "I wish I made that. "Take On Me" by A-ha. Memorable images. Dated? Nope. "Jump" by Van Halen. Has a video ever reflected a band's personality more than this one? "Free As a Bird" by The Beatles. If you know anything about Beatle songs and their history, this is astounding. "Hurt" by Johnny Cash. Heart wrenching. "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan. Nothing happens, but try to take your eyes off of it. "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam. Overly dramatic? You bet. Does the end still give me chills? You bet. Oh, and the umbrella bit in "Singing in The Rain" is still the best music video ever made.

Riffraf: Who are your favorite directors?

Pace: Features? I have many. Welles. Ingenious. He went nuclear when he made "Kane." Hitchcock, Brilliant craft. THE Director. Watch his movies, better than film school. Preston Sturges. Underrated and great. Made seven crazy comedies. "The Palm Beach" story contains the single funniest line in movie history. Oh, and his screenplay for "The Power and the Glory" was the prototype for "Citizen Kane." Ernst Lubitsch. Charm. Pure Charm. Vincente Minnelli. Entertainment and Color. Visit one of his movies and you want to stay. Frank Capra. How many times can you watch his best? Over and over again. Charles Barton. He scared us... while making an Abbott and Costello comedy! I don't care if you don't put him in this company! Woody "One take" Van Dyke. Studio hack? Hardly. 75 years later, his "B" movies still hold up. Nicholas Ray. For better or worse, he introduced attitude. Akira Kurosawa. He made us think, and took us on great adventures. A giant. Jean-Luc Godard. Everyone looked so cool. His contribution to the language can't be overstated. Howard Hawks. "The Big Sleep" didn't make sense; it's still great. Quentin Tarantino. He has the Welles' syndrome. One towering achievement and a few close calls. But he reenergized movies for awhile. Spielberg. He knows how to make movies. Raiders is the best ride you'll ever go on. Woody Allen. Like him or hate him, his voice is unique. I like him. Scorcese. He doesn't hit with everything, but when he does, hang on. Also Soderbergh, Woo, Stevens, Proyas, Hughes bros, Zemeckis, Ford, Fincher.

Music Video. Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry. These two fuckers are too good.

Riffraf: What are your future plans? More videos?

Pace: I am going to make a couple more before I have to go and make a pilot. I still have some idea's I'm excited about. I'd like to experiment with movement, color, perspective. Get ready for some giant sets! Sorry, I think Michael Bay yelled that from the street. I'd also like explore some uncomfortable themes on this next one, but I'll try to keep it entertaining. I don't want to make anyone cry. Except, you know, people I don't like.

                                                         

Comments

[Colleen]

Great video, sir. I too enjoy the umbrella bit in Singing in the Rain!

[tony]

Great interview rich..seemed like it went smoothly...alot of feedback...i too want the twinkie saved...

[richie]

I'm not a fan of the Twinkie. However, if the Devil Dog had been threatened with extinction then there would be trouble.

[Leggy]

Personally I prefer the Ring Ding or the underrated Funny Bone. Looking foward to your next vision. Here's an idea. Do a documentary. The title , "The Suffering". Interview old and new fans of the Jets, Mets ,and Islanders. Portrait the differences and similarities in how the passion and love for there teams affects there lives. What keeps them loyal. Feel free to throw the Knicks fans in if you wish.