I've done a lot of things in my life. But this would be the first time I'd ever been in a music video. I felt as if I should have mentioned to Bosley beforehand that I am a writer. Feeling as though I would have to sneak the interview question in, I dropped this gem: “Hey, you know that the folks over at 98 Rock are looking to have you on their show? Yeah, someone left a comment on your Tommy Tucker Youtube page.”
Bosley scrunched his face up as if to say, “Bitch, please!” followed by, “Meh. Tommy Tucker is dead. I've moved on. It's all Bosley now.”
Day One.
It was cold in Area 405. The ominous kind of winter cold that comes served with a side of dark and uncertainty. I was approached by a guy who looked grateful for the distraction I offered from these elements. Words spilled out of his mouth in the form of billowy breath, “Hey, I'm Bosley.”
“Bunny,” I introduced myself and performed a quick scan. I couldn't believe they wanted us to get naked in this dark, freezing building.
“Let me show you around.” Bosley, a typical college aged Baltimorean with a mature Bieber haircut, seemed warm and inviting. We walked in, where I met another girl, Patti Cake, lounging on a red Victorian sofa. She was young, slender and short with a dirty blonde bob. The three of us explored the set: a dark and drafty two room warehouse with weathered brick pillars and intimately lit areas featuring Oriental rugs, red velvet sofas, sultry satin drapery, and a piano. There was a bar and stage in the other room, designed to look very Smooth Criminal-esque. The sun was no match for the black painted windows, which only let insignificant droplets of light in.
A deceptively innocent looking woman, Stella Sweet, entered the set. Stella donned a mess of chestnut curls on her head and looked like she was ripped from a kitchen in a retro issue of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. Eventually, Paco Fish would arrive as well. Us girls (and Paco) got acquainted with each other fairly quickly after realizing a common background: burlesque.
The five of us-- Paco, Bosley, Patti, Stella and I-- worked on the first scene of the video for the next four hours. The music was catchy, and I couldn't make out what he was saying. But the melody...it sounded eerily jungle like. Similar to Outkast's B.O.B. mixed with Bjork's I Miss You. High energy, hypnotic drums and sinister horns. Then it was explained to us that the music had been sped up to twice it's speed. In the finished product, everything will be slowed down for an extra cool effect.
Neon Magazine turned out to be a sultry, jazzy song I imagine would be on Dick Tracy's playlist. The album, Honey Pig is a clever mix of raw soul, bluesy funk and crooner cool from the best each modern musical era has to offer. The feel may be vintage, but Honey Pig is more refreshing than the majority of what's repeated on the radio.
Day Two.
I arrived 30 minutes late at 9 A.M., and the set was already abuzz with actors, directors, and girls whose job it was to make you look fabulous on film. The breakfast selection couldn't have been better: an assortment of pastries, hot beverages and fruit, chocolate covered almonds, smoked salmon, and oatmeal. There were black fishnet stockings thrust at me by the costumer, along with a frilly shirt (or dress, as she called it) and beaded headband, and she asked me to go change and get made up.
After waiting a while for the only stall to open, I did what was asked of me. The fishnets had a back seam that refused to cooperate, but after about 7 minutes they were bested. I popped on a pair of pasties and slipped on rhumba panties under the shirt. Finally after squeezing into some black peep-toes, I was ready for makeup!
Stella and Patti were already done up, along with our fourth dancer, Victoria Vox, who had come in because of a no show. Victoria, a touring singer/songwriter, was the tallest and blondest and probably most excited of us all.
Soon after my face was painted and my nerves settled in, it was show time. We shot the same scene-- the one where we were cutting the rug with Bosley— maybe 10-15 times. The second scene, where we were at the bar, took three times. That was the maximum amount of screw ups allowed since we could only break three bottles over some poor actors head. The very last scene, where we were sitting on the sofa... well, I lost count. We were finally sitting after 12 hours in heels, so counting takes was the last thing on my mind.
I left Area 405 exhausted, freezing, and very enthusiastic. I knew the end result would be amazing. I didn't know it would take 6 long months to produce. And so, here it is: Neon Magazine by Bosley.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNtNkPh5fJ8
Bosley's new album, Honey Pig is available on iTunes now. You can preview the entire album at Bosleymusic.net. Your ears will thank you. Catch Bosley headlining at The Ottobar for his record release party August 27th.
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