The Making of "Demolition Derby Queen"
the music video.
the music video.
It was way back one hot August night in 2015 when this gem was shot... So, I'm super excited to finally be unveiling this music video of my sister's future classic rock jam, "Demolition Derby Queen".
Venturing out to the Dakota County Fair in Farmington Minnesota is a Lovejoy family tradition stretching back many years. My sister and I were always particularly fond of going to the demolition derby, and watching as the cars slowly ground each other into the mud over several heats. Perhaps it's my latent dystopian tendencies, but there's just not much quite so satisfying as watching people repeatedly smash cars into each other until there's just one left moving. It's like a modern gladiator spectacle of such grotesque proportions that it actually becomes beautiful, somehow.
Well anyhow, on a hazy August afternoon, my buddy and I drove down to the fairgrounds just in time to meet up with my sister and see what could be done about shooting a music video.
The way it all unfolded was quite surreal and informative! You see, my sister is a natural charmer... maybe it runs in the family, but boy she's got it in spades!
So, knowing just how outgoing she can be, there with her red helmet and her Kiss tank-top, we headed out into the fairgrounds with an eye on the grandstand, to see what we could get into.
We started wandering through the midway, was DP (Director of Photography) on the Canon 5d Mark ii, and I was Directing, Sound Recorder, and Camera Operator on the Canon T1i.
I said to Natalie, "Just start introducing yourself as the Demolition Derby Queen."
"Really?" She said.
"Yeah, who's to say you're not?" I replied.
You see, as far as the Dakota County Fair was concerned: There was never any such thing as a Demolition Derby Queen... but on the flip side of that coin, there never wasn't a Demolition Derby Queen either! So who was going to say otherwise!?
Cue the magic of
, with a small film crew entourage. ;)
We rolled into the grandstand, Natalie shaking hands with curious onlookers and introducing herself as the Demolition Derby Queen. We strolled to the back where the crews were hard at work preparing their cars for battle.
We met some of the organizers, and when they learned that the Demolition Derby Queen had arrived, boy... it's like they knew we were coming! They just rolled with it! Instant all-access granted, they promptly gave all three of us 'pit-passes' so we could wander freely back where pit-crews wrenched on their derby cars and the announcer's booth loomed over the track, with firefighters at the ready all around.
We were invited up into the announcer's booth, and we managed to get them to play Demolition Derby Queen, over the loudspeakers between heats!
We roamed around all the smashed up cars, and made some new friends, all of them delighted, or wholly confused by our presence there.
What you see in the video is just a fraction of the ridiculous and exhausting fun we had at the fair that day.
All hail the Demolition Derby Queen!
Demolition Derby Queen
Music by:
From the album: Hiding In The Light
Music Recorded & Produced by: Andy Thompson
Director of Photography:
Director / Sound / Camer Operator:
Hopefully you enjoyed the video! Please feel free to Resteem, and Vote!
This is my reward for all the hours of shooting and editing. :)
I'll buy a beer. ;)
I will get
to write an introduction soon, where you may shower her with praise, and welcome! =) Why not go give her a follow now!?
Oh and, , I suggested you as Natalie's Steemit role-model. I set her account to follow you and said, just try to keep up with this one! It's a tall order I know, but she'll figure it out! ;)