Michael Maxxis

Young cuz @lelandjhaines , first shoot on the road, first time in NYC! That was a special one

Yonkers Ave

#Yonkers

@cowboycerrone in @billytalentband ’s FORGIVENESS — watch full film on YouTube #nmfilm #bmfranch

For me, the dancer in @empireofthesunsound ‘s HAPPY LIKE YOU represents the creative aspect in a young artist - this sort of caged potential that is finding form in the unconscious depths and expresses itself in an explosion of instinct. The video is the sublimation of the more shadowy side of our nature, that is looking to bring the self into balance. Emperor Steele is the divining voice that echoes in the corridors of our mind, tempering our substance, like the magic of music that lives invisibly in our heads. The actress, @chanyamcclory was so great at taking this brief and abstract direction, and channelling it in her very raw and visceral performance that is so full of subtlety and fire. She just went unconscious each take, allowing the music to take full possession, giving the song its own physical life. Like her performance, the approach to camera was also motivated by the bigger metaphor of instinctual expression, so for this video, we really just felt our way through the coverage, and allowed ourselves to be inspired by the moment. Thank you @chanyamcclory @lukesteeleofficial @nick_littlemore #Snaps @morgan.gold @preukzbank @_z_u_k_ / @gobthailand @noija @swerdy1111 @theboldsaint @ashleyjoybeck @supacha_sdudee @armfoo @annie_boon @at_easeladies @bird______bird @kbtiernan @camthecolorist

The Year of Completion continues with the release of “Forgiveness”, a short film I directed, working with @billytalentband , @cowboycerrone , @rosenamajunas , @hypeordie , @morgan.gold , and many others. We shot this three years ago, all over New Mexico and Arizona, but Covid derailed the production and release. We stuck with it over the last couple of years, shooting the final pieces when we could, and stayed determined to get it finished. The film is inspired by Billy Talent’s #CrisisOfFaith record, and is a surreal myth essentially about the journey towards individuation through virtue. Check out the full film on Youtube. People were hurt, people lost money, people were arrested, and people almost died getting this made, so I have many people to thank, @danbochenski , @normajean289 , @schoolediting , @_patricksamaniego , @katie_jordan_color , @darling_vfx @eric.s.robbins , @swerdy1111 , @malorieshmyr , @pdanielnewman , @d_rod_ufc , @at_easeladies , @bboxsound @sdmfx @alexanderarntzen , @ernievigil21 @lildave505 @atlaslensco , @tellingabetterstory , @airisuai , and @warnermusiccanada , #nmfilm #nmtrue

@empireofthesunsound #thefeelingyouget, music video out now. A look at some stills. Check video on youtube. This one was a lot of fun! Shot all over #Bangkok and the #5thdimension. So many people to thank! @lukesteeleofficial @nick_littlemore #Snaps #CruzSteele @morgan.gold @preukzbank @brigittehaynes @gobthailand @noija @swerdy1111 @theboldsaint @ashleyjoybeck @supacha_sdudee @armfoo @annie_boon @williambbinns #TaiTai @at_easeladies @bird______bird @sdmfx @kbtiernan @camthecolorist @pdanielnewman @roosterpost @chanyamcclory

Some images from @empireofthesunsound #cherryblossom, co-directed with @lukesteeleofficial , and shot in #Thailand at an abandoned temple we found the day before filming… Thank you to the incredible local production team of @gobthailand @noija and May, and of course @morgan.gold who made countless miracles happen throughout the shoot… From the very beginning @lukesteeleofficial wanted to work with this brilliant animation artist in Japan named @_aujik_ , and we really built this around his work. The concept grew from things we learned about Buddhism and Buddhist temples while scouting…. It really is wonderful to be in a country where people have so much respect for their faith and religion, and are therefore so deeply connected with it…. Was great working again with @prooooof who did a brilliant job with the cut, and another nod to @morgan.gold who DP’d it! Beautiful color by @camthecolorist and a very special thank you to our costume designer @armfoo who gave us something so beautiful to color! Snaps, @ashleyjoybeck @theboldsaint @swerdy1111 @at_easeladies and @bird______bird all out there making it all happen in the 100 degree weather on this one too!

On set of @empireofthesunsound #musicontheradio by @swerdy1111

Some stills from, @empireofthesunsound #Changes. This is the beginning of an incredible project we embarked on together back in November. I was introduced to Empire by my friend @revilopark last summer to record a song for my film @puppylovemovie (which is FINALLY coming out this year!), and we just really connected through that process. When @lukesteeleofficial mentioned they had a new album coming out, I humbly suggested that if they’re planning any music videos, I would love to pitch on one of them. Well, we started talking about ideas, and before long the idea grew into making an entire music film! We started working on the script in early November, prepped through the holidays, flew to Thailand in early January, and were there shooting until the middle of February. I feel like I passed through my own portal, entering a new and fantastic Empire Universe, and came out the other side in a new reality. It has been a transformative collaboration that has introduced so many incredible people and experiences into my life. There is so much more to come over the next few months with some more brilliant creatives like @_aujik_ , @chanyamcclory , @prooooof , and @brigittehaynes . Crazy thinking back to those first few days in #Bangkok scouting with @ginabkaren and @swerdy1111 when it all seemed impossible… And in the end, the story we tell in the videos seems to strangely parallel the story of making them… Life is Magic. #cinematography by @preukzbank

Some pics from #Thailand, on the set of @empireofthesunsound #Changes. This is the first of a series of videos that will be rolling out over the next few months... Thank you to all the incredible people who I was so fortunate to collaborate with on “Changes”. @lukesteeleofficial @nick_littlemore #Snaps #CruzSteele @morgan.gold @preukzbank @gobthailand @noija @swerdy1111 @theboldsaint @ashleyjoybeck @supacha_sdudee @armfoo @annie_boon @at_easeladies @bird______bird @davedecarlo @sdmfx @pdanielnewman @kbtiernan @jordanbenegbi @nickshadel @kvmeer @brigittehaynes @roosterpost @thevanityvfx @katetabor

#sylvia