Craft Is Not A Cost …
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April 25, 2019, 6:15 am
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Audio Visual, Comment, Craft, Creative Development, Creativity, Culture, Music, Queen
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Audio Visual, Comment, Craft, Creative Development, Creativity, Culture, Music, Queen
The picture above is a ‘behind the scenes’ photo of Queen preparing for a photoshoot.
Not just any photoshoot … but one that define their immortality.
Now looking at the state of them, you’d not thing that was possible.
John Deacon is wearing a Queen t-shirt for christsake.
But in the hands of the brilliant photographer Mick Rock, he turned these 4 lads into genuine music icons with an image that will outlive the band and define an album, a song and a video for decades ahead.
At a time where more and more people are trying to devalue the value of craft, I hope people see this and remember it’s not a cost, but an investment that pays for itself many times over.
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Funny how John Deacon is the only member of the band left with any cred. That’s a big jump for someone who wore bad tees of his own band.
Comment by Bazza April 25, 2019 @ 6:22 amYep … for all the shit bassists get, they seem to know how to play the game the best.
John Deacon.
Comment by Rob April 25, 2019 @ 8:10 amJohn Entwhistle.
Even the bloke from Bros – Craig – who walked away with a million pounds while the Goss brothers ended up bankrupt.
And married one of Mel and Kim
Comment by Northern April 25, 2019 @ 2:42 pmAnd I like this post. Most interesting article on ancient history I’ve read in ages.
Comment by Bazza April 25, 2019 @ 6:23 amAncient history. Funny. More suitable for National Geographic than MTV.
Comment by Pete April 25, 2019 @ 7:09 amExcept this year the 4 members of the band each earned more from the movie Bohemian Rhapsody than all the earnings of their career to date.
The National Geographic wishes it was that popular. Ha.
Comment by Rob April 25, 2019 @ 8:11 amBoth are brilliant photographs. They also perfectly capture the role marketing has in managing perception with reality. As you say, a single image that revealed an icon and a legacy. Great post Robert.
Comment by George April 25, 2019 @ 6:46 amYes to all this. If you passed the band before or after this shoot, you would never imagine they could be the icons in that photograph. More Spinal Tap than rock royalty.
Comment by Pete April 25, 2019 @ 7:08 amTell that to clients. In Sydney, craft is getting less and less respected. The amount of jobs I’ve quoted up with $100k+ scopes that have had actual budgets of less than $10k… Worse, when you point out how ludicrous expectations are, they act surprised…
Adland for a freelance photog/director has become unsustainable. At the rate we’re going, there’ll be nothing left in 5 years.
Comment by Alex Weltlinger April 25, 2019 @ 7:25 amThat’s incredibly sad to hear Alex.
Comment by George April 25, 2019 @ 8:03 amGod that’s depressing. I wonder if it’s because many clients – and agency folk for that matter – haven’t learned the craft and are evaluated on cost control rather than quality control?
Comment by Rob April 25, 2019 @ 8:12 amCost is a very big part of it. I suspect greed as well – pretty sure that, from the dozens of these kind of quotes from the past year or two, a large proportion of the agencies were actually keeping the majority of the production budget as part of their profit margin.
And then you have the idiot suits. On a job several years ago, I had a suit yarn my head off for several days about being more ‘flexible’. What she meant was be cheaper, give us more, let us use you til you break.
It seems no one on the business part of the chain respects craft anymore – the instagram mentality
– it’s just ‘content’ after all. …not something that could have impact and actually be effective for that business.
And it’s not just us – what about the rest of the production pipeline? Stylists, make up artists, DP’s, editors (i.e. The Butchery just closed down) etc. When that ecosystem dies, no one will be able to produce the work anymore.
It’s dying right now.
We see stunning, effective pieces of work like that Apple piece with FKA Twigs. Good work is possible. But now, only for the very few. The rest of us, we’re being pushed out.
Comment by Alex Weltlinger April 25, 2019 @ 9:17 amI love behind the scenes stuff. It shows how mundane craft actually is.
Comment by Marcus. April 25, 2019 @ 7:48 amGood point Marcus. I wonder if that is why less people appear to value it – only seeing the mundane rather than the end result. They need to remember anything worth doing takes time.
Comment by George April 25, 2019 @ 8:01 amTrue …
So much of life is standing around waiting for the moment to happen … whether that’s bands waiting to perform their concert, agencies waiting to present their pitch or parents waiting for their kids school report.
The great irony is the destination is always better when you’ve put in the effort, we just don’t like putting it in because even then, success isn’t guaranteed … but it sure as hell increases the odds.
Comment by Rob April 25, 2019 @ 8:14 amI spent hours in a darkened cellar studio yesterday filming some stuff for my new performance. Just me and a mate pottering around chatting, setting up shots, filming and discussing how to do things. Two people who kind of know their stuff. I think anyone watching would have found it utterly boring.
Comment by Marcus April 25, 2019 @ 4:06 pmQueen are an illusion. Got it.
Comment by John April 25, 2019 @ 10:22 amEven though it’s about Queen, this is a good post. I’ve got to say though, while I agree great craft is being squeezed out right now, I’m old enough to remember when agencies were more like the myth of New Order’s Blue Monday vinyl sleeve, looked amazing but so excessive the legend is that the best selling 12 inch ever lost Money. Which contradicts my point actually, because they pressed cheaper versions too in reality, but the story and sheer audacity of the Peter Saville Sleeve cemented the story and made even the cheaper versions more valuable
Comment by Northern April 25, 2019 @ 2:50 pmYes I’m babbling, but I’m tired and haven’t had any sleep
Anyway
I want some of the drugs you’re having.
Comment by Billy Whizz April 25, 2019 @ 11:52 pmHappy birthday Andy.
Remember, I remembered and Rob didn’t.
Comment by DH April 25, 2019 @ 5:28 pmAnd he did a Queen post on your birthday. Coincidence? I don’t think so. He’s so mean.
Comment by DH April 25, 2019 @ 5:28 pmHappy birthday my friend.
Comment by George April 25, 2019 @ 11:07 pmI hope you are enjoying the annual celebration trip.
Creep.
Comment by Billy Whizz April 25, 2019 @ 11:51 pmI met Queen in the backseat of a Chevy Chevelle racing through a neighborhood in high school. I was in the back seat as an 8 track blasted out Queen II “Ogre Battle” behind my head from two Jensen deck mounted coaxial speakers.
Queen II – this photo.
Comment by Paul Macfarlane April 25, 2019 @ 8:17 pmThe best Queen album.
Comment by Maryanne July 30, 2019 @ 11:03 pm