Evidence. The word alone implies naughtiness caught by someone or a group of people affected by a specific act. It is proof that can get you in deep, deep trouble. It is as well responsible for ruining a lot of people’s lives and causing life long regret.
For Urbandub though, who have just shot their video for the 2nd single off Under Southern Lights, Evidence was a brilliant way to move away from their usual norm and explore something they themselves had never tried before. From the sound of the song, to the time signatures used, and even the effects used like the radio sounding vocal intro. What’s more is that they’ve even used the song to do a video unlike any other Urbandub video before.
I was invited to come and experience what was bound to be a fantastic shoot from just the few details of information I knew going into it. These details were: Iza Calzado and Ryan Eigenmann were the hired actors for the shoot, the members of Dub would for the first time not be holding any of their instruments and would instead just act, that Gabby himself pretty much created the entire story line on his own, and that Quark Henares would be directing a Dub video for the first time. So, all in all, loads of firsts for the band and that in it self excited me to bits!
Upon arriving at the location in
Iza Calzado arrived soon after and went straight into make-up. I went in with her and introduced myself, asking if it would be alright if I take a few shots of her getting made up. She was so cool straight off! She let me take a few pictures of her while Quark and her caught up and as Alex had an interesting conversation with her about their history and background. Soon after, the set downstairs was ready for Gabby’s next shot.
This makes it my first time of the day to see how the crew and Quark work, not to mention my first time to watch Gabby do any kind of acting, aside from performance shots from the other videos that is. It was cool watching them! It was just a simple scene but I really dug how they lit up the bedroom and how the art team set up the room. And after a few takes the scene was done. Moments later, Iza was done with make-up and the crew was ready. A very unusual scene for me to watch I have to admit, although perfectly suited for the story and the details needed to complete the picture. It was a scene of Gabby and Iza on the couch taking pictures of themselves in that kilig fashion like it was their first time in love. You know, when a young couple falls in love and has that facial expression that some bitter former couples may reject. That was their expression and I loved watching a good friend like Gabby do it.
After that, Ryan arrived. Soon after settling down, he, Quark, and Gabby went through the big ending. Ideas went around the room and they progressed as they kept on talking about how to do it. In the end, it wasn’t entirely clear what was going to be done but they had pretty much sorted out what needed to get done.
Next, we were back in Gabby’s bedroom for the scene in which John (Dinopol – guitarist) rings him to inform him of some very bad news. It was another intense scene. I could see that Gabby actually did have some acting ability and thought that perhaps the jokes about this being a start into an acting career might not have really been a joke after all. He lit a cigarette, puffed it, put on his shoes, got the call, and after a couple of minutes put the phone down. Simple, dramatic, and emotional. I loved it!
At this point, I got started with my interviews. I must say that for a person who does not know how to interview, it really is quite intimidating, even if you’re good friends with the people you’re interviewing. I got started with Alex who I would love to add, was super helpful throughout the entire day. Not only did he sort out my interviews and permission from the director to be in every shot, but the chats we had were fantastic and our ideas for the future were new and exciting and I personally cannot wait to get started on the plans we’ve made. But I regress. Alex gave me the answers I asked for and was very informative with his words. Interviewing Gabby was loads of fun as well as he was in a very playful mood and we laughed quite a bit before we even got the camera rolling. Once we started with the interview, I was really pleased by his answers as he shared more from what was previously talked about. I was informed further on the many different things happening throughout the video’s story line. Quark was a fun person to interview as well because, if you know Quark, he is a very cool guy who smiles a lot and has this infectious energy that gets to everyone he speaks with. His answers and mood at the interview were fun to listen to and just watching him look into the camera with his bright eyes was a pleasant experience. I was very pleased to know that he’s been waiting to work with Urbandub and was happy at the opportunity to finally work with them.
Interviewing Iza and Ryan on the other hand were even more intimidating for me as these are not people I know from before. I literally met them just hours before and hadn’t exactly had a chat with them so as to know their personalities and what they like and don’t like and what not. I started with Iza. My first reaction was that she really is pretty. Much like a star of local television should be. Tall with a great figure, a smile that would light up a darkened dungeon, and that sweet voice that makes you smile inside and out with just a single syllable. I sat her down, informed her that I was going to be conducting the interview and let her know that id never interviewed anyone before. She was very accommodating and made the interview go much smoother by offering information pertaining to the shoot without my even having to ask. It was great and she was very supportive of what I was trying to achieve and for that I thank her so much.
Ryan was a bit of a different story. Number one, he’s a guy. Number two, I just kind of know him…like we’ve met a few times but never really hung out. And never have we been in a working environment together. I also let him know that I would be asking him a few questions and he warned me that he has never been known to giving serious interviews as he was not capable of giving straight answers. I thought it was perfect. We got started and I actually found that he did answer his questions very well. He didn’t waiver away from the topic at hand as I had expected him to and he took the time to think about what he was saying, opposed to just brain farting. I really like Ryan too. It was a good experience for me to speak to both Iza and Ryan as they are professional actors whom I was speaking to regarding their work and I really appreciated that. I’ve met other actors and actresses before but always in a social setting, I loved the difference of talking with them about work for a change.
The timing was perfect as well as the next scene was Ryan and Iza’s first scene together. I believe that at this point I finally saw passed their individual personalities and saw how their acting skills really came shining through. A rather torrid kissing scene full of lust, it was a trippy moment to have been just a few feet away from them and when Quark said cut, it was interesting to watch them carry on with the work at hand when just seconds ago they were lip locked and groping each other. Other scenes to follow completed the story and helped me wrap my head around the twist. They also allowed me to further appreciate the talent that comes with acting as the demands of the job sound far simpler than they really are. From facial expressions to body movement to even dialogue which will never be heard but which are used to fulfill a mood or emotion. I guess you could say that I have a grown respect for actors and actresses and now know how demanding their work can be.
What really did it for me was the scene at the end of the video. I’d rather not say what happened but I can say this: Iza and Gabby in a crazy scene that will blow your mind. The way Iza did her first take sent shivers down my spine and raised the hairs throughout both my arms. It was a scene where everybody was made to leave the room, except those of course that needed to be there. I don’t think I was one of those that really needed to be there, and I stopped taking pictures at that point because I didn’t want the noisy clicks of the camera disrupting the focused silence, but I just couldn’t bring myself to leaving the room. I was way too moved and emotional to leave. I wanted to be there for the takes. I wanted to be there to experience more of that emotion. I wanted to remain there for the experience of watching a truly talented artist encompass what had to be done in order to make it believable. Picture this: throughout the whole day, there are all these noises and all these people going in and out and others here and there, and finally at night, everyone was made to be quiet and leave. The eeriness I spoke of earlier had now come full circle. The silence was deafening. Iza’s acting was dramatic and moving. It really is just short of saying that she must know what that thing I cannot speak of is like because she knew where to take it from and how to address it to the camera. Gabby and Quark were thanking her and for doing such an amazing job. I thanked her as well for doing such a great job and told her how moved I was during her takes.
At this point, it must have been about 4am and I was ready to go home. I never got to go to the next location where the other members of the band were to do their scenes although I knew what their scenes were. I’d even learned that there were issues with the time and how we were already over the budget and how someone even had to ring and wake up Director/Mogwai Owner Lyle Sacris to use his place for the rest of the shoot. I’d over heard someone saying that this was their longest shoot ever. I’d overheard another say that he’ll waive his own personal budget to help pay for electricity. I really just loved it how everyone really wanted what was best for the video and sacrificed themselves for the better of film and art and music.
At this point, I said my goodbye’s and thank you’s to everyone who had been so helpful that day and wished them luck for the rest of the shoot. Together with Alex and Ralf, we met the rest of the band, told them a few stories about the day at the shoot and how awesome it’s going to be, then went home when they left to go meet the crew at Mogwai. Finally home by 5am (whew I made it home before traffic), I simply crashed on my bed excited for the day ahead as we’ve now got Urbandub more hooked up to odysseylive.
Interviews, photos, and this article can be located on www.odysseylive.net/urbandub.
Evidence will first be shown on odysseylive, after the editing, even before hitting your local music channels. Music, Biography, Gig Schedules, and Photos of the band can also be found on their homepage.
WWW.ODYSSEYLIVE.NET
