Info

Jess McAvoy - The Sailor

My interpretation of the song for this clip was focused on how we often have to pretend to be something we're not in order to achieve what we want in life. We are often trapped fulfilling the role that other's expect us to play, whether that be ideas of our sexuality, our gender, our career, our private life. It's about the sacrifices that some people make to follow their heart.

Process

Preproduction
The biggest challenge we faced with this video was production design of the set and wardrobe. Trying to do a period setting on a low budget runs the risk of being cheesy or tacky, so I wanted to make sure everything on the set was worn and dirty, trying to create the feeling that they had been used and lived in for years.

Wardrobe
The other challenge was the cross dressing aspect of the story. We did extensive wardrobe tests before the shoot to make sure we got Jess's captain outfit just right. I was determined to steer clear of the classic drag king fake beard or moustache, as I wanted to try and achieve a more androgynous look, something less theatrical and more authentic. The first image below shows Jess in an alternative outfit as a common sailor, which we considered as an option early on.

Location
After a lot of hunting, we found the perfect location, complete with peeling paint and bare dusty boards. The final trick to creating a convincing atmosphere of ye olde times was the liberal application of haze from our smoke machine, giving a beautiful dusty diffusion to all the scenes. However, now when I watch any period drama, I can't help but hear someone call 'smoke!' before every shot...

The Shoot
Shot over one very long and busy day, the shoot went smoothly with few of the usual dramas.