Nigerian artist Timi Dakolo called upon FUGO Studios to shoot the music video for his song “Wish Me Well”. The video tells the story of a blacksmith during the Civil War who is haunted by the shame of making bullets and the lives lost as a result. The video deals with whether this shame is too much to live with, or if we always have the chance to turn things around.
A video of this nature requires a lot of pre-production, especially in the form of production design. To give an authentic feel we shot at Historic Westville in Lumpkin, GA, which has numerous buildings from the mid 19th century. We also had a group of Civil War re-enactors that brought with them replica uniforms and working rifles, which allowed us to shoot the fights using practical effects instead of relying on VFX for the gun smoke.
We had a great deal of fun on this project and are very proud of the results. Check out the video above and some stills below!
Unconditional
FUGO Studios set out to put a fresh spin on a beloved fairytale for Jeanette Illidge’s new single “Unconditional”. The sweeping Disney melodies composed by Alan Menken inspired the song, as well as the soulful pop of early Mariah Carey. FUGO Studios was left with the task of creating the visuals that would live up to Jeanette’s incredible songwriting and vocal abilities.
Along with excellent performances by Jeanette and the rest of the cast, the amazing locations for the video became characters in the video as well. The first day of production was located at the Edward C. Peters house, also known as Ivy Hall, in Atlanta. This Queen Anne style home offered the perfect architecture for this style of video.
Day two was spent at the magical Barnsley gardens in Adairsville, Georgia. This historic plantation came complete with a topiary labyrinth and a great ruined home that worked in perfect contrast with Jeanette’s flowing gown. All aspects of the project came together for a wonderful final product. Have a look and find out if this Cinderella gets her happily ever after.
After Hours
Outliers Music Group has teamed up with FUGO Studios for their latest music video production: Yani Simone’s “After Hours”. A music video wrapped in a short film, the video transports us to a Moulin Rouge-type setting where Madam Simone performs for crowd that has no idea that they are about to become the night’s entertainment.
The video boasts excellent performances by Lucky (Emcee), Sabrina Farmer (Madam Simone), Yani Simone (herself), and great hip-hop verse by rapper Vickz. The video was also brought to life through a colorful cast of extras, which gave the entire production unmistakable charm. Last but not least, the video’s breakdown was filled with an impressive black light sequence led by Choreographer Leshe Anderson.
As with any video we do, we always try and push our capabilities further utilizing the magic of Visual Effects. This video is no exception with over a dozen effects shots of varying levels of complexity. The video was post-production monster: with 3-D, rotoscoping, chroma-key, and digital painting sitting at the forefront of the post-production palette.
Disease
Recording artist Kyron Leslie has worked with FUGO Studios to produce a music video for “Disease”, the latest single from his EP The Weight of the World. This heartfelt duet featuring Kari Epps tells the story of two people trapped in a dysfunctional relationship. The video plays on the “duality” of the songs lyrical content, showing each artist making the same mistakes as the other.
The track also features an appearance by Atlanta rapper, producer and spoken word artist Big Rube. Known for his poetic interludes, Rube has been in the game a while recording with such artists as Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Cee-Lo Green.
The video’s dream sequences contain a stunning light show by Dancin Lights; it provides the type of dreamy club atmosphere needed for the scenes. The video also has a couple of effect shots created by the company’s visual effects department, but primarily focuses on beautiful cinematography and a simple concept.
Where Did You Go?
Westmob Entertainment’s new artist Veekee Mac teamed up with FUGO for her new single “Where Did You Go?” and ended up with this beautiful piece for her debut single.
Shot in black and white with a timeless Film Noir style, it’s FUGO’s first crack at a 1930’s-1940’s period piece. The video showcases the great lighting and costumes of the genre, with great attention paid to locations to give the video the realistic look it needed.
We also developed a nice story with a twist: A woman becomes suspicious of her boyfriends whereabouts and hires a private detective to investigate the matter. When the detective comes back with damaging photos, the woman confronts her man, but finds out the truth isn’t always what it seems.
We hope you enjoy this latest video from FUGO Studios!
Freedom
Acclaimed Syrian composer and pianist Malek Jandali has commissioned our Atlanta video production company FUGO Studios to produce his latest music video for “Freedom (Qashoush Symphony)”. The track is the first single off of his brand new album Emessa (Homs) released in February of 2012. The song and music video has already received attention from international news organizations CNN & NPR, among others.
The album consists of original piano & orchestra music combining Oriental melodies, Arabic modes, and Syrian rhythms with a western symphony orchestra.
The Virgin Records recording artist has often been in the news currently, given the unrest and bloodshed in his native land of Syria. As the violence continues, Jandali and his music have become a voice of protest in a land crippled by corruption and censorship.
THE STORY
The music video for “Freedom” tells the story of a composer (Jandali) being hunted by faceless soldiers for spreading his knowledge of music to children in a world where music is banned and illegal. The story loosely mirrors a real life situation in which Malek Jandali’s own parents were dragged from their home in Syria and severely beaten by pro-government assailants. The violent act was meant to send a message to Malek and all who speak out against the Syrian government. However, like the video, it only helped in galvanizing a revolution – a revolution that can be passed on through music.
PRODUCTION OVERVIEW
The production was shot in Cave Spring, Georgia, at the historic William S. Simmons Plantation. Built in the late 1840’s, the plantation home served as a great location for the video because of the aged interiors. The original hand-painted interior walls conveyed the video’s look and feel. The location also rests on a large plot of land, allowing for many diverse scenes and giving the crew plenty of creativity and room to film.
NOTES
Perhaps the most complex music video for FUGO Studios to date, the company’s visual effects department handled a plethora of spectacular special effects shots in which Malek Jandali plays a burning piano. These shots were no small feat; involving building an entire 3D model of the antique square piano, complex tracking, and plenty of rendering time. The composited shots add a level of climax, making the music video feel more like a short film.
Everyone is very pleased with how this video turned out and FUGO Studios is proud to give Malek Jandali a quality piece to accompany such an important cause.