This is the only way to deal with a red eye flight from Los Angeles to Havana via Toronto. Sweet Canadian Jesus.
I was in Cuba to shoot the video for Paolo Nutini's comeback single 'Candy'. Nez from Colonel Blimp was directing and Georgina Filmore produced it.
We were all staying at the Hotel Nacional. While you're there it's hard to escape the feeling that at some point Buster Keaton, Errol Flynn, Marlon Brando, Ernest Hemingway, or another of the Nacional's many famous guests, was probably doing some deviant, heretical, but fun shit in a room not too far away.
This was the view from my room:
Here I am in the lift:
Neil from Big Balls flew out to shoot B-roll and stills. I found him hard at work sitting by the pool with Paolo supping Pina Coladas.
(Funny. I only just noticed the weird guy to their left with the really erect nipple.)
Later we segued into a few tins of Bucanero, which along with 'Cristal', is one of Cuba's local beers.
Shooting in Havana was a wonderful experience; the warmth of the Cuban actors, extras, crew and production was enough to make you well up. Arriving on set in the morning was one of those overwhelming moments when you remember why do this shit in the first place, why you put up with the management crackheads and label diddlers, for scant remuneration or thanks, and why making music videos is still a vital, invigorating experience full of adventure, comradeship and most importantly fun, a unique form of film making that is basically well buzzing.
Paolo couldn't get enough of the yellow breakfast rolls:
D.O.P Eric Maddison came on all Chuck Norris in the back of his Escalade. Check the raggo grip steez: blanket gaffer taped to the bumper.
Nez took refuge from the merciless sun:
Paolo watched the sun set:
Good times.
No comments:
Post a Comment