Playlist: Builders Club

Builders Club, the London-based film and motion design studio headed up by film and creative director Jonas Hegi; and digital artist, designer and creative director; Julien Simshäuser, step up for this week’s Playlist.

The pair, who have recently signed for Radical Media UK, have previously shot music videos for the likes of Laskaar, Len Sander and Cornelia.

What’s your all-time favourite music video?

Julien: I don't have an all-time favourite, but Brodinski - Can’t Help Myself shows really nicely how simple beautiful visual effects and a beautifully filmed narrative add up to each other in interesting ways. This is an approach that we're also interested in for our own work. Also - FKA twigs - How's That  shows really nicely how 3D art can be emotional and personal - if done well.

Jonas: Impossible question, simply too many good ones. The first ones that right now come to mind are probably Chandelier by Sia,  Yeasayer's Ambling Alp, Wintersleep by Amerika. I recently saw Kendrick Lamar's 'good kid m.A.A.d city' short film directed by Kahil Joseph again and it's really great.

What other directors/artists do you look to for inspirational?

Julien: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Lars von Trier, Hayao Miyazaki, Gaspar noe, Tim & Eric and Olafur Eliasson

Jonas: For me it changes all the time but ultimately it's cinema, I admire Antonioni, Kubrick, Kurosawa, Jodorowsky and since I love Blade Runner, Ridley Scott. But this list could go on and on. I also try to see as many different exhibitions as possible, art and photography are great to get a different perspective on things. 

What are you listening to at the moment?

Julien: I'm currently really into transcendental music by artists like Deepchord, Tim Hecker and Arvo Part

Jonas: Recently a lot of Philip Glass and John Adams but also Blood Orange, Childish Gambino, Frank Ocean and I still love the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack.

What’s your favourite bit of tech, whether for professional or personal use?

Julien: The gpu-accellerated 3d render engine octane - it allows us to create high production value 3d narratives without having to use time-consuming old post workfolows.

Jonas: I would say my laptop, as I can do everything on it. The object I'm most passionate about is my old 35mm Canon camera, it just works and never fails.

What artist(s) would you most like towork with and why?

Julien: I'd love to work with Kanye West on his presidential election Campaign.

Jonas: Maybe we can work with SpaceX on the Campaign and having Beyoncé as a pilot?

How do you feel the promo industry has changed since you started in it?

Julien: It feels like it's much easier than before to technically achieve things. So complex ideas are easier to realize than in the past - because of better communications through internet and also technical evolution.

On the other hand - people know this and there's more pressure than ever before to deliver more for less budget which makes things challenging again.  Furthermore, the mainstream becomes more and more open for experimentation as they are fed up with the average load media messaging. 

Jonas: I totally agree with Julien. I also think social media is changing the game a lot. There are new possibilities and you have to adapt constantly. Content became hugely important. All in all it's an interesting time we're living in.

Music videos have had a resurgence of late; where do you see the industry being in five years’ time?

Julien: I think brands are going to be much more involved in the music industry in the future as they realize how powerful influencer campaigns are.

Jonas: I think more and more artists will use the medium to get a message to the people. Especially in today's political landscape it's important to use every possible way to make your voice heard.

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…

Julien: I'm a tech startup designer/3d animator turned into a film director. Film direction and storytelling is just the most fun and creative thing to me - so this is what I've ended up doing.

Jonas: The first film I did as a kid (Mini DV yeah!) was a miniature train burning on a tiny wooden bridge I built over a little creek. My parents showed me a lot of Buster Keaton movies and I think I got very inspired by 'The General’.