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While looking for some inspirado in the hood last night, I ran into buddy Ben Mor (music video and commercial director at RSA as well as half of the hip-hop duo Blood of Abraham) at Skylight books. It turns out Ben is the one responsible for the epic out-of-this-world music video for the Black Eyed Peas, “Meet Me Halfway”. And if you’ve yet to see the clip, you most likely have seen the DIRECTV spot which was partially lifted from the music video and has been on constant network rotation. While spending several weeks in New York at Method Studios with a team of visual effects artists working around the clock, the ever-talented Mor was not only able to bang out two slick looking projects at once but he also was able to do what few others have: make Fergie actually look attractive again. Check the clip and spot below:

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For the past few weeks I’ve been in lockdown mode at Motion Theory in Venice cutting some creative projects, including the new Green Day music video. But I haven’t been the only one. I’ve been surrounded by artists and animators camped out in front of their computers working non-stop to get out the latest Black Eyed Peas music video for “Boom Boom Pow” which had it’s premiere last week to millions of viewers worldwide. Needless to say, top talented directors and hard working maniacs Mark Kudsi and Mathew Cullen brought their own brand of “Boom Boom Pow” in this electrifying clip:

Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow”

In addition to all the work they’ve put into the music video, Motion Theory is also designing the album’s cover and interior artwork (is there anything these guys can’t do?) According to BlackEyedPeas.com, the Peas’ fifth studio album titled The E.N.D. comes out in 45 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes, and 13 seconds from now. 12, 11, 10…

And one more thing…if you’ve been seeing these posters pasted around your city/town/area then this viral vid should help explain, and vice versa. Also created by the Motion Theory crew:

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Fernando Villena is one of my best friends as well as one of the most talented film editors I know (Rize, Battle in Seattle, music videos for Tupac, Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, and many more). Ever since I started my editing career at Brass Knuckles in Venice back in 2000, I’ve always looked up to Fern as one of the senior editors there. We quickly formed a bond through work and friendship over the years and I’ve seen Fern in different stages along the way; becoming the consummate professional who seems to always make the right calls, as my editing mentor as well as supervising editor of Beautiful Losers, and most importantly as one of my best friends who I explicitly trust. Being both little brown editors in a white man’s post production world and sharing our love of sports, which brings out some of our best shit talking (he’s not that good), has only strengthened our kinship and I am eternally grateful for all that he’s done for me over the years. So thank you Fern, thanks for taking me under your wing all those years ago and helping me realize my potential as an editor when I didn’t know I had it in me. This weekend Fern has not one, but two films he’s edited this past year coming to theaters this week and they couldn’t be any more different that each other…

• Crank: High Voltage (in theaters tomorrow, April 17th)

Picking up where the first Crank film left off, Crank: High Voltage keeps the ridiculously insane action going and manages to accelerate the pace even more. Starring Jason Statham and Amy Smart and directed by Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine, Crank: High Voltage will easily be the most electryfing sequel you’ll see in movie theatres this year. (Additional editing by our pal Doobie White and animations by Max Erdenberger)

• Every Little Step (in theaters tomorrow, April 17th)
  

Remember the musical A Chorus Line from when you were a kid? Maybe you know the film made about it starring Roy Scheider from Jaws? Well growing up in New York I couldn’t help but notice it as it was a Broadway staple for like, ever. To this day, the longest running American musical still continues it’s long standing run on Broadway and now the documentary directed by Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern premieres 33 years after the show’s original debut in 1976.

P.S.-Good luck this weekend Fern!

P.P.S.-You’re still aloof.

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