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On-Set: Erin McCarley's 'Love, Save the Empty' Music Video Shoot, 12/4/08
Part of an ongoing series.
Last week, singer-songwriter Erin McCarley (MySpace) -- previously mentioned here -- filmed the music video for her song "Love, Save the Empty", for the movie He's Just Not That Into You, at a studio in Downtown LA.
As envisioned by director Zach Merck:
The music video is a passage of time, set within one full day. At first we see Erin after a long night, dressed in the beautiful black dress from the photograph. I want it to feel like we are telling the photograph's story. Surrounding her are the crumpled phone numbers of failed advances -- men that seemed so perfect at first, but completely imperfect after that first date -- and random thoughts, lyrics, and personal expression. Throughout the video, and as night becomes day, then to night again, we see Erin at times look over at her phone, but no one is calling. [It's] that feeling like she wants that guy from the night before to reach out, and why is he just not calling, echoing sentiments expressed in the film... That is.... until he appears at her door in the final seconds...
As we capture perfect portraits of Erin singing, the camera moves past her, and through the surrounding walls, floor, and ceiling, seamlessly transitioning into select scenes from [the film]. Because the film is mostly set within the apartments of [its] main characters, it feels as though Erin's loft is in the same building, surrounded by the characters and situational drama... I want it to feel like the words to Erin's song are narrating what we are seeing. We shoot her in several different costume changes within the loft, signifying the passage of time.
Special thanks to Erin McCarley, Zach Merck, the music video crew, and Universal Republic.
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